A University of Applied Sciences specialising in healthcare, a member of the HES-SO network.

The La Source Institute and University of Health Sciences is affiliated with the La Source Foundation, a non-profit organisation which also oversees the La Source Clinic. Combining training, research and high-quality care, the foundation has always been guided by the values of excellence and humanity held dear by its founder, Countess Valérie de Gasparin.

The annual reports of the Institut et Haute École de la Santé La Source are published online on the Fondation La Source website.

La Source's movie

Our areas of focus

From training to innovation, we are working to advance healthcare.

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Training: our founding mission

Since its inception, education has been the raison d’être and the very essence of La Source. We develop undergraduate and postgraduate nursing programmes, grounded in sound scientific, clinical and interpersonal foundations. Our programmes aim to ensure the quality of care, patient safety and professional accountability, whilst remaining closely aligned with the realities of healthcare settings.

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Research, innovation and laboratories

Our Teaching and Research Laboratories (LER) and our Laboratories (LAB) generate scientific knowledge, support training and contribute to the quality and safety of healthcare. This ecosystem is complemented by the H4, Hands-on Human Health Hub, which connects entrepreneurs with healthcare and health.

Services and simulation

We offer services to institutions and organisations in the healthcare sector. We support them through consultancy, practice analysis, targeted training and simulation, based on applied research and the expertise of our teaching and research staff.

The Living Legacy of La Source

An active and supportive alumni community

La Source’s alumni embody the fulfilment of this founding mission. Through their commitment to healthcare, research and institutions, they contribute to the quality, safety and advancement of care, in the service of public health.

Find out more about the Alumni Association

An institution committed to networking

As a recognised figure in the field of nursing, we have co-founded several leading institutions:

  • the International Secretariat of Nurses from the French-speaking World (SIDIIEF)

  • the Foundation for Research in Healthcare (FORESO)

  • the University Institute for Training and Research in Healthcare (IUFRS)

  • the Coordinated Centre for Clinical Expertise (C4)

La Source thus makes a lasting contribution to the development of healthcare, research and professional networks.

What is our vision?

La Source, a benchmark

La Source has established itself as a leading academic and professional institution in the field of nursing. We are recognised for the quality and relevance of our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, as well as for our scientific contribution to the development of nursing sciences, particularly through rigorous clinical research and recognised expertise in the historical study of the profession.

La Source: a state of mind

Thanks to its size and structure, La Source fosters a close-knit environment that is conducive to student and professional life based on respect, dialogue and commitment. As an institution with a humanist tradition, we maintain an ongoing dialogue with the student body, encouraging participation, initiative and autonomy, whilst supporting each and every student towards a responsible and confident professional practice. The student body, together with the administrative, teaching and research staff, are actively involved in the life of the School and foster a strong sense of belonging, particularly through the La Source Alumni Association.

La Source, a place of openness and exchange

We maintain close links with healthcare services and clinical settings, which inform our teaching, research and service provision. Open to the local community and the wider world, La Source contributes to contemporary discussions and debates on healthcare education and healthcare policy. Through our recognised international partnerships, we offer our students and our teaching and research staff numerous opportunities for exchange and collaboration.

La Source: a pioneer and innovator

A pioneer since its foundation in 1859, La Source plays a leading role in the development of interprofessional education and interdisciplinary collaboration. We foster a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, which is reflected in knowledge transfer, project development and initiatives that contribute to the evolution of practices and the efficiency of care, whilst remaining closely attuned to the realities on the ground.

What are our values?

These values guide the actions of staff and management as they work to fulfil La Source’s vision and missions

Trust

Trust is nurtured through mutual respect. It develops in an atmosphere of listening, sharing, transparency and fairness, guided by a humanistic ethos and personal and professional ethics.

Enjoyment

Enjoyment is essential to both personal and professional balance and fulfilment. It contributes to the energy and enthusiasm of every employee, as well as to job satisfaction.

Professionalism

Professionalism is characterised by rigour, creativity and consistency in our work. Underpinned by our staff’s skills and wealth of knowledge, it safeguards La Source’s reputation and the quality of its services.

Performance

Performance is demonstrated by achieving objectives efficiently, by drawing on one’s capacity for initiative and innovation in an entrepreneurial spirit.

Responsibility

Responsibility means being accountable for one’s actions and decisions within a given framework and accepting the consequences. Everyone is responsible both for their own work and for their contribution to the collective effort, in a spirit of teamwork.

Openness

Openness is a state of mind that enables one to accept and embrace the diversity and plurality of people and perspectives.

Find out more

La Source's journal

La Source's journal is published four times a year. It features news, personal accounts, experiences and stories.

See the Journal page

The Foundation’s archives

The Foundation’s archives have been preserved since its inception in 1859 and constitute a rare collection dedicated to nursing.

See the Archives page

The library, CEDOC

An information and documentation service specialising in nursing and public health.

See the CEDOC page