ETH Zurich

Portrait

ETH Zurich – the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology – was established in 1855 and quickly became one of the most renowned universities of science and engineering in Europe. In its mission statement today, ETH Zurich embraces the following principles: advancing and supporting high-quality education and research at the highest international level; promoting networked and system-oriented thinking and acting; and maintaining intellectual and cultural diversity as well as academic freedom for education and research. ETH Zurich carries out education and research in the following areas: Construction and Geomatics, Engineering Sciences, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, System-oriented Sciences, Management and Social Sciences.

Based on the scientific knowledge generated through its research activities, ETH Zurich continuously updates its educational programmes to the latest level of knowledge and scientific qualifications and adapt them to the needs of business and industry, society and the environment. The Bachelor’s, Master’s and continuing education programmes are inextricably linked to the research conducted at ETH Zurich. This ensures that students get an excellent specialist education and develop outstanding all-round skills.

370 professors in sixteen departments are the backbone of research and education at ETH Zurich. Over 7 000 persons (30% women) work in research and education. ETH Zurich has 14 300 students, including 3 700 postgraduate (doctoral and continuing education) students. Each year, some 1 400 students graduate with a Master’s (diploma) degree and 570 candidates complete their doctorate. ETH Zurich’s international outlook is reflected in the international composition of its faculty and student body. The share of international graduate students is 43%, of the faculty members, over 60% are international.

ETH Zurich consistently holds a top place in international rankings, being ranked as the number one institution on the European continent. Twenty-one Nobel Prize laureates are associated with ETH Zurich, having either studied, taught or conducted research here. The roster ranges from Wilhelm Konrad Röntgen (Physics 1901) to Albert Einstein (Physics 1920) to Kurt Wüthrich (Chemistry 2002).

Continuing education as a core task

ETH Zurich is a leading provider of university continuing education in Switzerland and is committed to the highest international quality standards.
ETH Zurich defines continuing education as knowledge and technology transfer between academia and practice. The wide range of programmes offered are aimed at business and industry as well as academically educated managers and experts who want to specialise further in their professional field, expand their knowledge between disciplines, or prepare themselves for management positions.

Over 5,000 people from Switzerland and abroad attend our 150 continuing education programmes each year. They can choose between some 15 Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) and Master od Business Administration (MBA) programmes, 10 Certificate of Advanced Studies and Diploma of Advances Studies and 130 individual courses, some of which are run jointly with other universities and cooperation partners from industry and business.

Continuing education is also an important part of the alumni work and a window on the world. It reinforces the international presence of ETH Zurich, promotes goodwill in business and industry, among policy-makers and in society at large, creating space for further cooperation in research, education and services.

Links

ETH Zurich: www.ethz.ch

Centre for Continuing Education: www.zfw.ethz.ch