Switch Portfolio

Paid Web

What Switch Portfolio is

Switch Portfolio is a browser-based service for university members to document and present achievements and expertise online. Users manage and share content, build websites and blogs, connect with others, create groups, and configure custom portfolios. Each portfolio belongs to its user, who chooses included content and viewing permissions. The service is based on the modular open-source Mahara project, which manages artefacts, creates views, and controls data access. A university must subscribe before members can use it; pricing is available on request and there is no free plan. Sign-in requires a Switch edu-ID account or an AAI login, with an account created automatically at first login. Users with a Switch edu-ID can continue after their studies. Switch hosts personal data in its Swiss data centre. Participating universities provide first-level help, while Switch provides second-level support. Accounts may be suspended after four years of inactivity and deleted after another year unless reactivated.

Who it suits

It is designed for university members and institutions building long-term portfolios, evidence collections, and shared academic or career materials.

What it does well

Users control portfolio content and visibility
Supports websites, blogs, groups, and sharing
Continued access after studies with edu-ID
Hosted in a Swiss data centre
Single sign-on through edu-ID or AAI

What to know first

University subscription is required
Pricing is available on request
No free plan
First-level support comes from universities

Limits

Use requires membership of a subscribing university, and there is no free plan. Accounts may be suspended after at least four years of inactivity and deleted after at least one further year unless reactivation is requested.

Getting started

Ask a university to subscribe to Switch Portfolio
Obtain a Switch edu-ID account or AAI login
Open portfolio.switch.ch or the service through the school platform
Sign in and let the account be created automatically
Create and configure a portfolio, then choose its content and viewers

Verdict

Switch Portfolio provides institution-backed portfolio and collaboration tools with user-controlled visibility. Its university subscription model, login requirements, and support arrangement matter when evaluating access.

Questions

Who makes Switch Portfolio?

Switch, a Swiss non-profit foundation established in 1987 by the Swiss Confederation and eight university cantons, provides it.

Is Switch Portfolio free?

No. It is paid, with pricing available on request, and a university must subscribe for members to use it.

Which platforms are supported?

It is web-based and works in a browser at portfolio.switch.ch or through a school platform.

How do users sign in?

Access requires a Switch edu-ID account or an AAI login. An account is created automatically on first login.

Can users keep their portfolios after graduating?

Users with a Switch edu-ID can continue using Switch Portfolio after their studies.

Who provides support?

Participating universities provide local first-level help desks, while Switch provides second-level support to subscribing institutions.

Facts from Switch Portfolio's own pages

Access: Access requires a Switch edu-ID account or an AAI login, and an account is automatically opened on the first login. · switch.ch, 8 Oct 2026
Access after studies: With a Switch edu-ID account, users can continue using Switch Portfolio after their studies, for example for career planning. · switch.ch, 8 Oct 2026
Account inactivity: Switch may suspend accounts after at least four years of inactivity and automatically delete suspended accounts after at least one more year unless reactivation is requested. · portfolio.switch.ch, 8 Oct 2026
After studies: Users with a Switch edu-ID account can continue using Switch Portfolio after their studies. · switch.ch, 8 Oct 2026
Content ownership: Each portfolio belongs to its user, who chooses its content and who can view it. · switch.ch, 8 Oct 2026
Features: Users can manage and share content, create websites and blogs, connect with other users, and set up groups and custom portfolios. · switch.ch, 8 Oct 2026
Founded: 1987 · switch.ch, 28 Sept 2026
Headquarters: Zurich and Lausanne, Switzerland · switch.ch, 28 Sept 2026
Hosting: Switch provides the software as a service and stores personal data in its data centre in Switzerland. · switch.ch, 8 Oct 2026
Hosting and data location: Personal data is stored in Switch's data centre in Switzerland. · switch.ch, 8 Oct 2026
Intended users: The service is designed for university members and institutions, with adoption typically initiated by programme heads, lecturers or e-learning managers. · switch.ch, 8 Oct 2026
Login requirement: Access requires a Switch edu-ID account or an AAI login, and an account is created automatically at first login. · switch.ch, 8 Oct 2026
Long-term use: The service is designed for long-term use. · switch.ch, 8 Oct 2026
Mahara foundation: The service is based on the modular open-source Mahara project, which manages artefacts, creates views and controls access to data. · switch.ch, 8 Oct 2026
Maker: Switch is a non-profit foundation established in 1987 by the Swiss Confederation and eight university cantons. · switch.ch, 8 Oct 2026
Ownership and privacy: Users own their portfolios and choose which content to include and who can view it. · switch.ch, 8 Oct 2026
Platform: The service is web-based and can be accessed through a browser, directly at portfolio.switch.ch or through a school's platform. · switch.ch, 8 Oct 2026
Portfolio tools: Users can manage and share content, create websites and blogs, connect with others, set up groups and custom portfolios, and control content visibility. · switch.ch, 8 Oct 2026
Purpose: Switch Portfolio lets university members document and present their achievements and expertise online. · switch.ch, 8 Oct 2026
Security measures: Switch says it uses technical and organisational measures to protect personal data and continuously improves them as technology develops. · portfolio.switch.ch, 8 Oct 2026
Support: Switch provides second-level support to subscribing institutions; participating universities provide local user help desks, and Switch does not provide first-level support. · help.switch.ch, 8 Oct 2026
University subscription: A university must subscribe to the service for its members to use it; the page does not state a price. · switch.ch, 8 Oct 2026

Where Switch Portfolio stands on Freedom251

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