University of Zurich (UZH)

UZH boasts a wide and interdisciplinary range of study programs. The curriculum is now set to become even more attractive and offer even more opportunities to students. We sat down with Deputy President Gabriele Siegert, Dean Katharina Michaelowa and nt Gabriele Siegert, Dean Katharina Michaelowa and Vice Dean of Studies Nick Netzer to find out what’s in store for the UZH community. As a comprehensive university with the most extensive and diverse range of academic programs in Switzerland, UZH provides excellent conditions to facilitate interdisciplinary and flexible educational pathways. UZH aims to make the most of this potential. Following the establishment of the one-of-a-kind School for Transdisciplinary Studies in 2021 and after becoming a member of the Una Europa interdisciplinary university alliance in 2022, the university has now taken another significant step in this direction. The Executive Board of the University and the faculties have agreed to prioritize interdisciplinary courses, simplify the transfer of credit for studies completed elsewhere, and facilitate cross-faculty studies. This means that UZH now has improved conditions for future-oriented teaching, allowing students to make the most of the diverse disciplines on offer and achieve their individual study goals in a flexible way. Gabriele Siegert: There are multiple reasons for this. Firstly, as a society we are confronting complex challenges like climate change and digital transformation. These issues cannot be addressed from the perspective of one field alone – they demand a multidimensional approach, which requires interdisciplinary thinking. The coronavirus pandemic is a prime example of this: It wasn’t just about medical issues, but also about social behavior, political decision-making, economic consequences and cultural dynamics. Our goal is to respond to multi-layered challenges of this kind with an equally multi-layered curriculum. Secondly, scientific knowledge is expanding at a rapid pace while also being in a state of flux. This makes it increasingly important for students to learn how to recognize connections, incorporate different perspectives and take a flexible approach to thinking. What long-term goals is UZH pursuing by strengthening its interdisciplinary and cross-faculty programs? Siegert: A strong foundation in specific subjects remains crucial – traditional disciplines will still form the core of what we teach. At the same time, it should become easier and more commonplace for all students to engage with different academic perspectives and develop skills that transcend individual fields. There doesn’t need to be the same level of interdisciplinarity in every study program; it’s fine to have some variance here. What’s important is that students from all subjects and faculties have the chance to incorporate interdisciplinary elements into their studies. With more than 27,000 students, the University of Zurich is Switzerland's largest university. UZH occupies a leading position among European research institutions and, in several disciplines, it numbers among the world’s best. Lars chose to study at UZH because of the wide range of courses and research opportunities. He likes the fact that he is constantly meeting many different people from a wide range of backgrounds here. The University of Zurich is an autonomous institution of the Canton of Zurich and is subject to public law. The executive committees ensure that the university is run smoothly and efficiently, safeguard academic freedom and take into account the interests of the community. As a member of the "League of European Research Universities" (LERU), the "Universitas 21" (U21) network and "una europa", the University of Zurich belongs to Europe's most prestigious research institutions. Being Switzerland’s largest, most diverse university, UZH attracts the world’s best researchers and most promising students. Numerous distinctions highlight the University's international renown in the fields of medicine, immunology, genetics, neuroscience and structural biology as well as in economics. To date, the Nobel Prize has been conferred on twelve UZH scholars. The academic excellence of the University of Zurich brings benefits to both the public and the private sectors not only in the Canton of Zurich, but throughout Switzerland. Knowledge is shared in a variety of ways: in addition to granting the general public access to its museums, collections and many of its libraries, the University makes findings from cutting-edge research available to the public in accessible and engaging lecture series and panel discussions. Moreover, the high quality of the University’s medical institutions translates into first-rate health care for the population of Switzerland. ...view more