Board of the University
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Regine Aeppli, President «Zurich, as a seat of education and business, needs a strong university. The University of Zurich must continue developing into a competitive, internationally recognized and diversified university with distinct research foci.» CV |
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Barbara Basting «The University of Zurich is doing very well at the moment – this, thanks to the university’s international character and the convenient structures existing in research and teaching. Further development depends on how well the university can deal with the consequences of the Bologna reform. Education for what and for whom? This is one of the core challenges facing the university, and the solution must not be reduced solely to the economic benefits of education or a merely statistical figure. Now more than ever, the factor of responsibility for society as a whole has become essential.» CV |
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Ulrich Jakob Looser «The University of Zurich with its international reputation for excellence in research and teaching makes a major contribution to enhancing Switzerland’s appeal as a place to live and work. UZH can rely on its strengths in research and teaching; in accordance with its organizational structure, the University takes advantage of creative freedoms to work toward the future, heightening the University of Zurich’s standing in global competition as a top institution for researchers, teachers and students.» CV |
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Hans-Rudolf Lüscher «Certain performance indicators dominate academic rankings and evaluations and serve as feedback for decision makers. The certitude that these figures transmit, however, detracts from values and content; the current practices in academic ranking favor research and teaching in their paradigmatic setting and, as a result, hinder new advances. A modern university with an obligation to the evolution of knowledge and scholarship must also find the courage to make decisions that are based on trust and instinct. It is precisely this trust – together with values and content – that lays the foundation for the freedom necessary to guarantee innovative research and teaching in the long term.» CV |
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Urs Oberholzer «Even in education, the competitive idea of better-higher-faster from the world of sports or business can have a motivating effect, and introducing competition into education is not fundamentally a bad idea. But quantitative aspects of knowledge can easily lead us to reduce intellectual activity to what can be measured and make us believe there is an absolute answer. I believe the most important measure of quality in academic learning – and the one most deserving of advancement – is the readiness to conscientiously question knowledge gained and taught at universities. Putting knowledge into context and testing it in practice ideally helps learners develop personally throughout their lives. Questioning results establishes our readiness for mindful interaction with all material and immaterial subjects of research, leading to a respectful attitude towards the secrets within every cognitive process.» CV |
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Kathy Riklin «The University of Zurich is of paramount importance to Zurich as a seat of education and business and provides expert training and research of excellent quality based on humanistic and ethical values. It is an internationally successful university and amongst the world leaders in several areas of research. As a deputy of the Canton of Zurich in the National Council, I am proud of our university.» CV |
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Christoph Wehrli «The demands on the university, its possibilities and services are enormous. But intellectual debate and exercises in truthfulness should not be sold short – even the ivory tower can keep its place if it is truly beautiful.» CV |
