For today’s students, education is no longer just about desks, notebooks and traditional classrooms. Chalkboards have increasingly given way to interactive displays, digital learning platforms and online communication tools. Across Switzerland, digitalisation has become an important part of education, supported by initiatives such as the Digital Switzerland Strategy and the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK/CDIP), which coordinates work on digitalisation in education across the cantons.
Digital technology has changed how students communicate, access learning materials and organise their time. It has created new opportunities for flexible learning, but it has also introduced challenges, particularly around online security, privacy and screen use. Understanding how these changes affect students is therefore becoming an increasingly important part of the discussion about education in Switzerland.
Is Studying Online Really More Convenient?
The use of digital platforms for assignments, course materials, communication and assessments has made studying more accessible and flexible. Students can work from home, on campus, on public transport or while travelling, provided they have an internet connection.
This flexibility is particularly relevant in Switzerland, where students may commute between municipalities or cantons to attend school or university and where higher education institutions increasingly provide digital learning environments alongside traditional teaching.
However, studying online also creates security and privacy concerns. Students frequently connect through public Wi-Fi networks in libraries, cafés, railway stations and other public spaces, or occasionally use shared devices. University accounts, personal information and academic materials can become vulnerable when basic security precautions are overlooked.
Good digital habits therefore matter. These include using strong and unique passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication where available, keeping devices updated and being cautious about links and unexpected login requests. Students using public networks may also consider tools such as a VPN (Virtual Private Network), which encrypts internet traffic between their device and the VPN service and can provide an additional layer of protection on untrusted networks.
Learning how to study safely online is no longer simply an additional technical skill; it is becoming part of being a responsible student in a digital environment.
The Relationship Between Students, Teachers and Families
Digital communication has also changed the relationship between schools, students and families. Depending on the canton, municipality and individual institution, schools may use online portals and applications to communicate timetables, assignments, absences, grades and administrative information.
At university level, learning-management systems and student portals are now a normal part of academic life. They allow students to access course documents, submit assignments, communicate with instructors and manage parts of their studies online.
Greater access to information can improve transparency and make communication more efficient. At the same time, constantly available updates and notifications can create a sense that students are always connected to school.
For some students, having deadlines, results and learning materials available in one place makes organisation easier. For others, constant notifications and the expectation of being connected can contribute to stress. Swiss schools and universities therefore face a broader challenge: making effective use of digital technology without allowing it to undermine students’ wellbeing or their ability to disconnect.
Smartphones in the Classroom: Where Should the Boundaries Be?
Smartphones remain one of the most debated pieces of technology in education. They can be useful for quick research, educational applications, translation, collaborative work and specific classroom activities. At the same time, messages, social media and other notifications can easily distract students during lessons.
In Switzerland, education is largely the responsibility of the 26 cantons, meaning there is not necessarily one identical approach to smartphone use across every Swiss school. Rules can differ between cantons, schools and educational levels.
This decentralised approach makes the debate particularly interesting. Schools need to decide where smartphones genuinely support learning and where they interfere with concentration, classroom interaction or wellbeing.
Rather than viewing the issue solely as a choice between unrestricted access and complete prohibition, digital education can also focus on teaching students when and how technology should be used. Knowing when to put a device away is itself an increasingly valuable digital skill.
Digital Skills for Studying in Switzerland
Preparing students for the future now means developing more than subject-specific knowledge. Students also need the ability to find trustworthy information, evaluate online sources, protect personal data, communicate responsibly and manage their screen time.
These competencies are reflected in Switzerland’s approach to education. For example, the Lehrplan 21, used across German-speaking cantons, incorporates Medien und Informatik (Media and Computer Science), while digital competencies also feature in educational approaches in Switzerland’s French- and Italian-speaking regions.
The topic extends beyond compulsory education. Swiss universities, universities of applied sciences and other higher-education institutions increasingly expect students to navigate digital learning environments independently. From accessing academic databases to submitting coursework and collaborating remotely, digital literacy has become closely connected with academic success.
For international students arriving in Switzerland, developing these skills can make the transition easier. Understanding an institution’s digital platforms, cybersecurity requirements and communication channels should be among the practical priorities when beginning a new course.
Preparing for the Future Starts at School
Digitalization is unlikely to make traditional education obsolete. Instead, the challenge is finding the right balance between technology and the elements of education that remain fundamentally human: discussion, concentration, collaboration and direct interaction with teachers and other students.
Used thoughtfully, digital tools can make education more flexible, accessible and efficient. Used without clear boundaries, they can create distractions, security concerns and additional pressure.
