The centrally located building, situated right next to the railway station and the lake, inevitably draws attention with its distinctive façade. Yet the University is, of course, far more than its architecture and modern infrastructure. It is the "content" - the people who work and study here - who bring the structure of stone and glass to life, making it a dynamic place of research, teaching and learning. That is why the cover of the freshly printed annual report, along with several double-page spreads inside, features portrait photographs of those who shape the University: researchers, administrative and technical staff, lecturers and students, as well as employees of the Lucerne Central and University Library housed in the Uni/PH building, and staff of the "1574" canteen, operated by the ZFV-Unternehmungen cooperative.

Focus on people

The focus on people is no coincidence. On the one hand, the University of Lucerne aspires to be a personal institution. On the other, in keeping with its motto, “We are moved by what moves people”, its researchers study people, their behaviour and their integration into social contexts from a variety of human science perspectives and in an interdisciplinary manner. In doing so, they generate valuable new knowledge that contributes to the advancement of humanity and society, and they pass these insights on first-hand to students through their teaching, nurturing the next generation of professionals in positions of responsibility.

Armin Hartmann, Director of Education and Culture for the Canton of Lucerne and President of the University Council, refers to the anniversary in his foreword: “The path that the University of Lucerne has taken since its founding is remarkable and gratifying.” Reflecting on the past year, he highlights the successful launch of teaching at the new Faculty of Behavioural Sciences and Psychology, as well as the establishment of the Zug Institute for Blockchain Research - an externally funded institute approved by the Zug Parliament in May 2024. University President Martin Hartmann underscores that, regardless of the anniversary - which will be marked on 25 October with a celebration open to the entire public - the University of Lucerne is in a state of continuous development: “It explores the past, present and possible future of society with alert, active and critical curiosity, thereby helping to offer a measure of orientation amid the bewildering tangle of today’s pressing issues.”

Diverse research at the cutting edge

The breadth and dynamism of research and teaching at the University of Lucerne is illustrated in the Annual Report, which features projects from all six faculties: "Recht als Bedingung für Freiheit" ("Law as a prerequisite for freedom", Faculty of Theology), "Moralische Akzeptanz von künstlicher Intelligenz" ("Moral acceptance of artificial intelligence", Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences), "Den Grundlagen des Rechts auf der Spur" ("Exploring the foundations of law", Faculty of Law), "Was bewegt die Beschäftigten in der Schweiz?" ("What motivates employees in Switzerland?", Faculty of Economics and Management), "Künstliche Intelligenz in der medizinischen Diagnostik" ("Artificial intelligence in medical diagnostics", Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine), and "Psychische Gesundheit: Personalisierung als Chance" ("Mental health: personalisation as an opportunity", Faculty of Behavioural Sciences and Psychology).

The Annual Report also presents facts and figures from the past year. As of the autumn semester, a total of 3,816 students were enrolled at the University (4,563 including further education programmes). The financial year closed with an almost balanced result, showing a surplus of approximately CHF 261,000. Third-party funding for research secured from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) in 2024 amounted to around CHF 5.37 million. In a commitment to transparency that goes beyond legal requirements, the report also lists donations of CHF 10,000 or more.

The printed Annual Report is available in the entrance area and on the 3rd and 4th floors of the Uni/PH building on Frohburgstrasse. Subscribers receive a free copy by post or as an email newsletter.

Access the Annual Report online, order a hard copy or view the archive