Dear members of the academic mid-level staff,

The summer break is over, the university is coming back to life – and calendars are probably filling up again. As the Autumn Semester 2026 begins, we are back with news from the MOL and plenty of opportunities to step away from your desk, meet colleagues and exchange ideas.

In this newsletter, you’ll find:

• a recap of the MOL retreat and the next steps in the MOL’s development
• the upcoming MOL lunches and apéros, offering informal opportunities to connect across faculties
• updates on the Digital Skills Course Programme as well as information on sustainable business travel
• Women in Academia’s autumn programme – from lunches and writing retreats to a fondue evening

We wish you a great start to the new semester and look forward to seeing many familiar and new faces in the months ahead – at a lunch, an apéro or one of the many other occasions this autumn.

Warm regards,
Your MOL Board

Andrea Aegerter (faculty-independent); Lea Keller (RF and treasurer); Alexander Ort (GMF); Alejandra Rodriguez (WF), represented by Peter Francis Raguindin (GMF); Laura Hoffman (KSF); Severin Schnurrenberger (TF); Flavia Tinner (VPF) represented by Stella Brogna (VPF)

MOL Retreat

On August 5th and 6th, the MOL-Board met for a two-day retreat. In addition to discussing ongoing projects, the retreat focused primarily on the BCP workshop on the MOL’s strategic and structural development. The goal was to reflect collectively on where the organization stands today, where there is potential for growth, and how exchange within the MOL-Board and with members can be further strengthened in the future. 

Based on the results of a member survey, the MOL-Board discussed four key areas of action: better working conditions and structures for the MOL-Board, stronger networking with the faculties, increasing the MOL’s visibility, and the question of how the connection between the organization and its members can be further improved. Concrete next steps were agreed upon for all four areas and will be further developed in the coming weeks.

Business Travel and Climate: Tips, Facts and Alternatives

How can business travel be made as sustainable as possible? How do air travel, rail and car travel compare? The sustainability website now offers practical tips, interesting facts and further information on business travel – from climate-friendly travel planning and comparisons of different modes of transport to background information on air travel in the higher education context.
More information: Mobilität - Universität Luzern

MOL lunches and apéros

The MOL lunches and apéros offer an informal opportunity for members of the academic mid-level staff to exchange ideas, make new contacts, and strengthen the community. These gatherings take place regularly during the semester and are announced via Teams and on the homepage.

Autumn semester

• Lunch: Monday, 5 October 2026 – 12:00 Tibits Lucerne
• Apéro: Tuesday, 3 November 2026 – 17:00 Suite Rooftop Lounge & Bar Lucerne
• Lunch: Wednesday, 2 December 2026 – 12:00 L'Osteria Lucerne

No registration is required. We look forward to seeing you there!

Monthly Events

Digital Skills Course Programme

Until now, the courses offered as part of the Digital Skills Programme were separate from the regular study programme and could be found on the following website: Website

From the Autumn Semester 2026 onwards, this will change for several reasons. The courses can now be found under KSF/Diverse in RD3 and therefore also in the course catalogue. To make them easier to find, all course titles now begin with “Digital Skills”.

Another change concerns the registration period. The KSF registration deadlines now apply. Master’s students and doctoral candidates can register from two weeks before the start of the semester until two weeks after the semester begins. Late registration will no longer be possible. LUMACSS students will also now be given priority if a course is oversubscribed. Previously, places were allocated according to the time of registration. Postdoctoral researchers can register via lumacss@unilu.ch. In the event of a withdrawal after the registration period, participants are kindly asked to inform the lecturer and/or lumacss@unilu.ch.

Women in Academia: Events in the Autumn Semester 2026

Women in Academia invites you to a range of events during the autumn semester:

• Lunch at tibits: Join us at 12 noon for a free lunch, conversation and networking. Details and registration
• Female Classics Festival Lucerne: WiA is supporting the festival. More information. To request a pay-it-forward ticket, please contact wia@unilu.ch.
• Writing retreats at Hof Tannhüsern: 12–18 October 2026 (registration deadline: 24 September) and 16–22 November 2026 (registration deadline: 19 October). Shorter stays are possible; accommodation and full board are included. Register via wia@unilu.ch.
• Fondue evening: 10 December 2026 at 5.30 pm in the KSF staff room. Registration

The full programme and further information are available on the Women in Academia website.