Decision in principle on the organisational development project “FIT for the Future” in the ETH Domain
Switzerland faces a number of major challenges. The ETH Domain therefore needs to be organised in a way that makes it as agile and flexible as possible, in order to swiftly address major new issues such as digitalisation, artificial intelligence, health, energy and the environment. Adjusting the ETH Domain’s organisation and structure to make it more future-oriented is intended to strengthen collaboration between the institutions, leverage synergies and avoid administrative obstacles. It will also enable partners from the areas of business, science and administration to access the institutions of the ETH Domain more easily, and will strengthen collaboration with them. At the beginning of the year, the ETH Board and the six institutions of the ETH Domain defined eight objectives to be achieved in the “FIT for the Future” organisational development project, and developed corresponding sub-projects (see website). From August to October 2024, the ETH Board conducted an internal preliminary consultation with the institutions of the ETH Domain relating to these objectives and the status of the project. The feedback received formed the basis of the decision in principle.
Plan to bring the research institutes together under one roof
As part of its decision in principle, the ETH Board is commissioning the project managers, consisting of members of the ETH Board as well as leadership staff from both ETH and the four research institutes, to develop a proposal for the research institutes’ future structure and governance. With the existing research institutes and new, future units placed under a shared roof, the area of research will be strengthened and developed further as a key pillar within the ETH Domain with its own legal personality. This reform is based on the ETH Domain’s Strategic Areas.
The brands of the various institutions and the locations will remain the same. In addition, measures will be proposed on the basis of an analysis to examine how the opportunities can be achieved and the risks of the structural change can be mitigated, particularly for the research institutes and their employees as well as stakeholders. Finally, the transformation costs will be calculated and the potential benefits and synergies identified, also together with the two ETH.
The detailed decision in principle, also regarding the sub-projects, can be found on the website.
Next steps
The ETH Board is expected to decide at the end of 2025 or in early 2026 how the project as a whole should continue to be implemented, and will formulate an application to the Federal Council. The final decision will be made by the Federal Parliament. More detailed, continuously updated information on the “FIT for the Future” project can be found on the ETH Board website.
Thanks to EPFL President Martin Vetterli
The ETH Board officially bid farewell to Martin Vetterli, who is handing over the presidency of EPFL to Anna Fontcuberta i Morral as of the new year. Martin Vetterli has headed EPFL since January 2017, during which time he has strategically developed this top global university and further consolidated its position. He succeeded in shaping the university’s strong growth on a sustainable basis. EPFL is a key economic driver for Switzerland, and western Switzerland in particular. The key aspects of the consolidation in western Switzerland championed by Martin Vetterli include the most recent developments at the two campuses in Sion and Fribourg involving new agreements with the cantons, as well as the establishment of the Swiss Data Science Center at the Biopôle in Lausanne, which is supported by the Canton of Vaud. The EPFL is well-known for its innovative spirit, which has produced a large number of spin-offs over the past few years, and it maintains close relations with the private sector. Martin Vetterli has made a lasting impact on the Swiss research and education landscape over many years, having previously held a key position as President of the Research Council of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). As Professor of Computer and Communication Sciences, his work focuses on the latest digital topics such as artificial intelligence, and he co-founded the Swiss AI initiative in collaboration with ETH Zurich President Joël Mesot. This initiative aims to position Switzerland as a global leader in the development and use of transparent, trustworthy artificial intelligence. The ETH Board would like to thank Martin Vetterli for his tireless commitment to EPFL, the ETH Domain and Switzerland.
Adoption of the Strategy for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion
The Gender Strategy 2021–2024 applicable to the ETH Domain will be superseded by the Strategy for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion for the years 2025–2028. This represents a broadening of the strategy, as also recommended by the expert committee responsible for the 2023 Intermediate Evaluation of the ETH Domain. The strategy is being implemented in the ETH Domain institutions via a range of measures. Improving the gender balance by increasing the proportion of women in teaching and research, as well as in management and leadership positions and decision-making bodies, remains a core objective. In 2024, the proportion of women among new professorship appointments again reached a high level of 42%, meaning that the proportion of women in professorships in the ETH Domain should increase on the whole over the long term.
Lack of resources forces the ETH Domain to shift its priorities
In 2025, the ETH Domain institutions will have fewer resources available than in the previous year. The years from 2026 onwards are also extremely uncertain due to the federal government’s difficult financial situation. This means that the ETH Domain institutions will have to cancel some projects and postpone others. For example, despite a significant increase in student numbers, ETH Zurich will not be able to increase the number of professorships. This will reduce the student/teacher ratio, with lasting effects on the quality of teaching. A range of upgrades to the state-of-the-art research infrastructures such as SwissFEL and SLS at the PSI will also need to be postponed. At the WSL, for example, a reduction of around 30 jobs is likely, equating to just under 10% of its permanent employees. Further digitalisation and infrastructure projects, as well as building maintenance and renovations, cannot currently be completed as planned at various ETH Domain institutions.
Tuition fees for foreign students set to increase
In July, the ETH Board announced its intention to triple tuition fees for foreign students who move to Switzerland to study. In doing so, it took account of the Swiss Parliament’s clearly expressed intent, and offered its support in finding a solution that could be implemented swiftly. It then conducted an internal hearing and has now decided, at its meeting of 4/5 December, to implement this measure for the 2025 autumn semester. Under a transitional provision, students who have already enrolled will be able to complete their Bachelor’s or Master’s studies without paying triple the tuition fees. Moreover, tuition fees will be adjusted in line with the National Consumer Price Index every four years, to ensure that students’ contributions to their studies and the associated costs take inflation into account.
