Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva

Services & Facilities

The "Campus de la paix"

In 2012, the Institute will inaugurate the «Campus de la paix», a site comprised of several buildings which will house all of its activities. The site will include two important brand new constructions, the «Maison de la paix» and the Student Residence, and several renovated buildings, including the Villa Moynier and the Villa Barton, or buildings allocated to new uses, such as the building in the Rue Rothschild.

Thanks to the «Campus de la paix», the Institute will be at the heartland of the international organisations which will help to strengthen its interaction with international actors based in Geneva and the surrounding region.

The «Maison de la paix»

The «Maison de la paix» will be built on land situated between Chemin Rigot and the railway lines. At its heart will be a library, auditoriums and seminar rooms, and a cafeteria. The offices will be positioned in a manner which facilitates interaction of people and ideas within the Institute as well as with partner institutions.

Indeed, the «Maison de la paix» will also house as tenants, three international centres supported by the Confederation: the Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD).

Thanks to the «Maison de la paix», the Institute will gain an extra 12,000m2 which, when added to the premises of Villa Barton and the Rue Rothschild, will double its current surface area.

The Student House

The planned construction of the Student House will be situated above the future Sécheron P+R (Park and Ride). The lodgings will be on the upper floors to minimise the impact of rail traffic on the occupants.

Some 200 lodgings (studios and apartments) are planned and should be available starting in 2012.

The residence will be joined to the "Maison de la paix" by a pedestrian walkway, planned by the City of Geneva. This will allow the students to access the lecture halls and the library on foot.

Geneva architects Lacroix/Chessex were selected for this project following a call for tender.

The building will have a panoramic view of Geneva taking in both the lake and the Place des Nations. It will be surrounded by greenery and a tree-covered walkway.

Villa Moynier

Inaugurated in October 2009, The "Villa Moynier" houses the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights and the Geneva Master of Advanced Studies in International Dispute Settlement, created jointly by the Institute and the University of Geneva in 2007. The Swiss Chair for Human Rights, managed by the Institute, is also based there. Use of the Villa is provided by the City of Geneva which financed 50% of its renovation. The remaining 50% was put forth by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.

The historical Villa Moynier is situated in the Mon Repos Park a few hundred metres away from Villa Barton, the current headquarters of the Institute. This key building in the Institute’s “Campus de la paix” was built between 1846 and 1847 and was owned by Gustave Moynier, the first president of the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC). It was subsequently used by the League of Nations from 1926 and was the headquarters for the ICRC between 1933 and 1946

Portail des nations

The “Portail des nations” project is the final element of the Institute’s “Campus de la paix”. The Pictet Foundation will finance the construction of the structure, which is estimated to cost around CHF 12 million, under the condition that building permission is granted by the summer of 2013.

The Institute has engaged the architect Mr Charles Pictet to design a sketch of the project. Mr Pictet envisages the building to be “topographical” because it creates a flowing path between the United Nations Plaza and Rigot Park, giving the first location a decorative architectural element while being part of the redevelopment of the second site transforming it into a leisure area for the people who live and work in the neighbourhood.

The “Portail des nations” is intended to be a space for people to meet, engage in dialogue and to learn about Geneva’s international sector as well as the global problems tackled in the city. In addition, it will provide the Institute with further space (1000 m2) for its activities, the equivalent of Pavillion Rigot, where generations of the its professors and students taught and studied international economics and political science. The Pavillion will be demolished once the “Maison de la Paix” is complete.

State council member Ms Isabel Rochat, who represented Geneva’s government at a reception in September 2010 organised to announce the establishment of a partnership between the Institute and the Pictet Foundation, expressed the State Council’s support for the project which she said was “a point of entry into Geneva’s globally important international sector” as well as support for the Institute which she said “is currently an asset and at the same time a project for the future of Geneva and Switzerland”.

Resources

Library

The library houses more than 300,000 specialist works, 1000 journals and 4500 films on the topics of international relations and development. Located close to the international organisations, it is open to any individual interested in international relations or development.

CAREER SERVICES

Career Services matches public and private sector employers with highly motivated and skilled students and recent graduates. Among other activities, this service provides recruitment assistance to companies and organisations as well as hosts career events including workshops on professional skills and disseminates exclusive internship and job offers to a well trained public.

Public Events

The Institute contributes to its outreach by providing a repository of thematic and geographical expertise along with forums for debate and forward-looking reflection on important international issues.

Multimedia

This platform was designed to introduce the professors, students, and key figures who visit the Institute. In interviews, audio and video presentations, they express their views on current events, teaching and research, or simply discuss their personal experience at the Institute.

Student Life

Geneva is a city offering significant advantages, thus attracting a constant flow of visitors, students, artists, companies, workers, ideas, specialty foods and capital.

International Geneva

Geneva is home to the European headquarters of the United Nations and hosts about 200 distinct international organisations. Consequently, the city’s population is extremely diverse, uniting cultures, traditions, cuisines and languages from all parts of the world. Approximately 40% of Geneva’s inhabitants are foreigners.

Health and Accident insurance

Health insurance is compulsory for all students.

Culture

Geneva’s cultural life is active and diverse. Thanks to the high standard of living of its population, the city offers performances and exhibitions for all tastes. Furthermore, its vast show-room ("Geneva Palexpo") attracts some of Europe’s largest shows.

Sports and Skiing

Geneva is an ideal city for amateurs of sports. Walk into the train station early on a Sunday morning and you will be surprised by the number of people with back-packs on their shoulders, ready for a long day hike. In the winter, Geneva offers some of the best skiing in the Alps as close as 45 minutes away. Local buses bring skiers to the nearby slopes of Chamonix, Flaine, Les Portes du Soleil, Zermatt, Verbier and other such renowned ski areas. Alternatively, Lake Geneva – the largest lake in Europe – is an inviting environment for water sports.

Quality of life and Travel

Geneva offers a very high quality of life, as the city is clean, safe, small enough for getting around by bike, boasts an extensive public transportation network.

It also enjoys an easily accessible international airport and is well connected by train to most other major European cities (for instance, approximate hours of travel are: Milan – 4, Paris – 3.5, Frankfurt – 5).

Accreditation

The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies is accredited by the Conférence Universitaire Suisse.