Where Are They Now? 42 Lausanne, Accelerating Switzerland’s Tech Scene

A little over 6 years ago, 42 Lausanne launched. Back then, it was one of the first campuses to launch outside of France. After drawing initial curiosity from the local press and academies, the campus has evolved into a powerhouse of the local tech ecosystem. We took a closer look at the campus’ achievements and milestones over the past 6 years.

42 Lausanne launched at the very end of 2019. At the time, the peer-learning method instantly drew a great deal of attention and curiosity from the local press. In the midst of a very codified and well-established ecosystem, with major players such as the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 42 Lausanne first entered a phase in which it had to find its place. It initially did so by adopting a companies-oriented strategy, building a tightly-knitted network of partners and working closely with several economic actors to ensure alignment between their needs and 42 students’ profiles.

To this date, around 300 students have completed the Core Curriculum at 42 Lausanne, and an estimated 90% of them are employed, reflecting both the relevance of the training and the strong demand for digital skills in Switzerland.

A wide spectrum of careers and industries

Rather than feeding into a single job pipeline, 42 Lausanne’s Alumni work in a broad range of different sectors, including finance & insurance, industry & manufacturing, healthcare, public sector companies, and of course, tech.

Most of 42 Lausanne’s students stay in Lausanne after they finish the program, a lot of them opting to work for companies with direct connections to the EPFL. Others integrate SMEs, large international groups, or pursue entrepreneurship and freelance careers.

This diversity of outcomes reflects one of 42’s core principles: developing agile and adaptable mindsets, rather than training for specific jobs or predefined career paths..

What companies say: “ 42 students are operational, autonomous, and adaptable”

Feedback from companies hiring 42 students across Switzerland is both positive and consistent. What strikes employers first is the fact that graduates are quickly operational. Being used to self-learning and problem-solving, they can catch up fast, even in complex technical environments.

Second, they demonstrate strong autonomy and resilience. They know how to experiment, iterate, and collaborate to find solutions, integrating seamlessly into real-world workflows.

Lastly, their team spirit stands out. The peer-learning model translates directly into the workplace: they know how to give and receive feedback, integrate into teams, and contribute early. 42 Lausanne students are continuous learners built for evolving environments.

A growing role in Switzerland’s digital future

As Switzerland faces a projected shortage of tens of thousands of ICT specialists by 2030, 42 Lausanne is gradually morphing from a regional to a national platform: 42 Switzerland.

With nearly 2,000 applications for its 2025 intake and a deliberately diverse student body (including career switchers and international profiles), appetite for the training shows no signs of slowing down. What’s more, 42 Switzerland is planning on expanding its reach to the German-speaking part of the country by opening a campus in Zürich, as well as strengthening its presence in the French-speaking part of the country.