Universities of applied sciences are undeniably successful: the number of students is growing throughout the canton of Zurich, as is the number of buildings. We no longer speak of a campus but have been using the plural form instead for quite some time. The Europaallee and Toni-Areal campuses in the city of Zurich, along with the ones in Winterthur and Wädenswil, are clear signs of the success of the Zurich University of Teacher Education (PHZH), the ZHAW and the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK). Over the past decades, the canton has made significant investments – in lecture halls, laboratories and libraries.

To outsiders, this growth may sometimes appear uncoordinated. But that is not the case. There is a master plan, and it goes by the somewhat bureaucratic German name “Teilportfoliostrategie”, or sub-portfolio strategy. This strategy outlines the overarching and comprehensive development of the PHZH, the ZHAW and the ZHdK across the three locations Winterthur, Wädenswil and Zurich. It helps to secure spaces in the long term and set the right priorities.

We have reached a point where we must reassess and reprioritise elements of this strategy, not least due to the canton’s current financial situation. In addition to quantitative growth, there is an increasing need for growth in quality and for solutions that make the best possible use of the available resources. Ideas that allow academic programmes and learning processes to become more independent of physical spaces can provide a valuable contribution here.

The question is no longer primarily “how much”, but rather “in what form” the canton’s universities of applied sciences should grow. After all, the way in which we manage our resources is just as important as the number of resources themselves. The goal is to use them effectively and efficiently to ensure not only that the PHZH, the ZHAW and the ZHdK stay connected to society and the professional world in their research and teaching, but also to allow them to keep building meaningful bridges between vocational education, businesses and academia.

I will continue to advocate for education with deep a commitment. It is important to emphasise that investments in education benefit everyone – especially the economy. Attractive infrastructure is a key factor in combatting the shortage of skilled workers and increasing the number of graduates in the relevant fields.

It is also important that the universities themselves are able to decide how they would like to grow. This requires well-thought-out strategies to prepare for the future. If we rethink growth, universities of applied sciences will be able to continue their success story despite the challenging conditions.

The annual financial statements of the PHZH, the ZHAW and the ZHdK were reviewed for the first time by the newly established finance and risk committee. The Zurich University of Applied Sciences Council recommends that the cantonal government approve the annual reports.

Dr Silvia Steiner, Government Councillor and President of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences Council

The ZHAW can look back on a very successful year. As one of the leading universities of applied sciences in Switzerland, the ZHAW not only benefits from strong networks, but, driven by its spirit of innovation, also plays a key role in shaping the future of our country. In 2024, our university continued to nurture its excellent international relationships. These achievements are most notably the merit of my predecessor, Jean-Marc Piveteau, who retired at the end of January 2025. I would like to express my gratitude to him for his great dedication and vision in establishing the ZHAW’s strong role in addressing topics relevant to society.

During the 2024 reporting period, our university expanded its collaboration with the European university alliance EELISA (European Engineering Learning Innovation and Science Alliance). In addition, for the fourth time in a row, the ZHAW was once again chosen as Leading House South Asia and Iran. Acting in this role on behalf of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), the ZHAW promotes and fosters scientific cooperations with key institutions across South Asia and Iran. Such international networks enable our university to transfer knowledge and technology while benefiting from exciting opportunities for study and research stays. I firmly believe that gaining valuable insights into other universities and cultures and collaborating with international teams is vital for our students to be prepared for the international labour market.

In order for our university to stay successful in the long term, it needs to constantly adapt to new challenges. The fact that some of our Schools recently celebrated key anniversaries demonstrates that the ZHAW is fully capable of mastering this task. Following the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the ZHAW School of Applied Psychology in 2023, the ZHAW School of Engineering marked its 150th anniversary in 2024. To maintain its leading position in research and in training future professionals, the ZHAW requires state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities. In autumn 2024, the groundbreaking ceremony for two new buildings at the Technikumstrasse campus took place in Winterthur. In Wädenswil, a former industrial building will make way for the new university library and new lab facilities.

However, growth in merely quantitative terms is not our objective. Instead, our focus lies on achieving growth at the intersections of interdisciplinary collaboration. Major challenges of the present and future, such as climate change and social integration, cannot be solved by one subject area alone. Tackling these challenges will take the collaborative effort of multiple disciplines, and this is how we will continue to share our expertise. As a university of applied sciences with a multidisciplinary approach, the ZHAW has the knowledge and skills to find solutions to the complex questions of our society through interdisciplinary collaboration. 

It is therefore my great pleasure to take on the leadership of the ZHAW during these exciting times. In line with the new university strategy, which came into effect at the beginning of 2025, I am also delighted to focus more clearly on entrepreneurial thinking – an approach that will benefit our students and promote innovative solutions and good cooperation with other research institutions and the business sector. 

Prof. Dr. Regula Jöhl, ZHAW President