What the organisational development means to you
The President of the ETH Board, Michael O. Hengartner, answers three key questions about the organisational development that will shape the future of the ETH Domain.
What is the objective of FIT for the Future?
Michael O. Hengartner: Many challenges are so complex that they can only be overcome through cooperation between different participants. Examples include climate change, the energy supply and digitalisation. The new organisation of the ETH Domain is intended to achieve easier and closer collaboration between the two Federal Institutes of Technology and the four research institutes, as well as better strategic coordination.
By bringing PSI, WSL, Empa and Eawag under one roof, we aim to create a third strong pillar of the ETH Domain – in addition to ETH Zurich and EPFL. Failure to act would be a missed opportunity and would jeopardise the future effectiveness and efficiency of the ETH Domain – especially in the face of stagnating federal funding.
What does this mean for me as an employee of the ETH Domain?
Our researchers will benefit from the improved collaboration between all six institutions, the stronger coordination and the greater visibility of the ETH Domain. However, employees of the research institutes will no longer be employed at the PSI, the WSL, Empa or Eawag, but rather at the joint umbrella organisation.
The supporting services, such as IT, HR and legal departments, will be combined under the same roof. However, the jobs, locations and brands will be retained. The existing research areas will also remain in place, but will be able to work together more easily in the future. It is clear that an organisational development process of this kind takes time.
How can I participate in the process?
The institutions of the ETH Domain are closely involved in the process. They have a part to play in both designing and implementing the project. Employees can participate in planned workshops, townhall meetings and via consultations in the ETH Domain.
An initial consultation took place last autumn. You can find a summary of the results on our website. We are also holding regular talks with politicians, authorities and professional associations. It is vital that we involve all the relevant stakeholders and that they are able to participate, so that we can help the ETH Domain advance further while serving Switzerland even more effectively.
