A total of 357 students, employees and partners of the ZHAW attended the ZHAW International Evening 2021 – including 91 participants from Europe, Africa and Asia as well as North and South America. The event thus more than lived up to its motto of “Building Global Bridges With You”. This provided the ideal starting point to explore why international and intercultural skills are pivotal. These skills are essential for anybody who wants to help successfully shape a globally networked society. The International Evening’s new hybrid format made it possible for ideas to be exchanged across national borders and different time zones. The event was designed and held by more than 50 employees from the Schools, the President’s Office and Finance and Services as well as the ZHAW Students’ Union (also called Alias).

Examples of international networking

The podium discussion debated why a global mindset and intercultural action are required now and will remain necessary in the future. Nadia Rahim, CEO of itnetX and Head of Enterprise Consulting Services at Swisscom, and Martin Hirzel, President of Swissmem, were also on hand as guests from the business world to contribute their extensive practical experience. Various breakout sessions also turned the spotlight to current projects at the ZHAW and examples of how students and teachers, employees and researchers can learn and work as part of an international network. With the ZHAW International Evening 2021, the ZHAW demonstrated that it is an internationally oriented, interculturally competent and globally networked Swiss university of applied sciences. This event will continue to build bridges in future both internally and externally, very much in keeping with the International Strategy 2025, which is aiming to further strengthen the ZHAW’s international importance.