ETH:"Our goal as public universities isn't to top the rankings but to serve society" (M. Hengartner)

"We have outstanding education programmes, amazing scientists and an excellent reputation, but our goal as public universities is not to top the rankings but to best serve society. Rankings are a result of our strategy, not its driver. We want to be the best universities we can be, given our DNA", declares Michael Hengartner, President of the ETH Board in an interview with News Tank on 01/11/2024.

At the head of the board since 2020, the President says that each of the six institutions (two universities and four research institutes) making up the ETH Domain have their own strategy. "We are very international, both regarding our students and our scientists. We cooperate with hundreds of universities, we have thousands of co-publications every year with international partners."

The universities are still developing their international presence, with ETH Zurich having a base in Singapore: "At the ETH Singapore Centre, several hundred scientists are working on interesting societal grand challenges, we have been here for 15 years and it has been a great success."

The Swiss university will…