Our university is one of the leading universities of applied sciences in Switzerland. In our research and development work, the ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences concentrates on critical societal challenges, with a particular focus on energy and social integration. With Winterthur, Zurich, and Wädenswil, the ZHAW is firmly integrated into the local region while also collaborating with international partners. There are eight Schools in the University: Applied Linguistics Applied Psychology Architecture, Design and Civil Engineering Engineering Health Professions Life Sciences and Facility Management Management, and Law and Social Work.
Graduates of the ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences possess reflective, professional, research, and practice-based competencies that can be applied in demanding professional fields in our knowledge-based society. The dual emphasis of higher education is guaranteed by the programmatic coupling of studying with research and development and practical application. What is fundamental to all of our degree and continuing education programs is their scientific foundation and evaluation and the systematic reflection of the competence-oriented educational process involving students, lecturers, and external experts from the spheres of science, practice, and society. In this way, the basis for successful life-long learning is laid. Qualitatively and quantitatively vital research and development, which focuses on specific areas, give the Zurich University of Applied Sciences its incisive profile regarding content. The research and development are linked with our degree and continuing education programs, with business services and practice - conceptually and organisationally and in terms of subject and staffing. Furthermore, it is oriented to international scientific communities and standards.
Our society's sustainability is a central concern at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, which is an exciting place for transformative science oriented towards societal challenges. This knowledge is based on an understanding of innovation, which considers cultural, ecological, economic, legal, social, and technical challenges. Transformative education, research and development, and services are anchored disciplinarily and are often set up interdisciplinarily and transdisciplinarity and involving inter-university cooperation.
The Zurich University of Applied Sciences is regionally integrated and cooperates with international partners. It is oriented towards global challenges and markets, and it is a university with a focus on Europe. It actively participates in developing the European Higher Education and Research Areas and European economic, social, and cultural environments. Qualified and motivated service-oriented employees and management are prerequisites for the Zurich University of Applied Sciences to accomplish its mission and achieve its goals as a well-managed university. The university creates an environment that allows it to attract, promote, and keep the right people. It creates and lives out a university culture based on individual responsibility, creativity, and ability to reflect and deal with conflict, esteem, dialogue, participation, and its principles of diversity and equal opportunity.
The ZHAW fosters the independent, self-reflective, and cooperative development of knowledge and competence-based on internationally compatible competence profiles. Furthermore, the ZHAW supports individualized educational programs, insofar as this is possible because of subject-specific disciplinary requirements and available resources. At the ZHAW, fundamental and systematic importance is given to the research-based development of knowledge and competence («research-based learning»), which is seen as the basis for reflective and transformative cooperation with practical application. Digital educational programs and media support the cooperative, individualized development of knowledge and competence, independent of time and location. Both in admissions and during studies, the ZHAW considers knowledge and competence, which has been acquired by students through non-formal and informal education («recognition of learning»).
The ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences assumes joint responsibility for our society's cultural, ecological, economic, legal, social, and technical sustainability. The ZHAW offers its students transformative experience and educational formats and fosters competencies in developing and applying transformative knowledge. The ZHAW consolidates its transformative research and development, both methodologically and as regards content. The university sees itself as a societal knowledge transformer and fundamentally works together with its social partners creatively and in a multifaceted manner to understand research and its research profile. Researchers take part in joint transformative research and development areas beyond their schools' limits and the main research focus areas of the individual Schools. The ZHAW promotes its young academics at all levels and in a manner specific to their field. In areas in which years of continuity must be demonstrated and where the high, internationally recognized quality of research and development is provided and in its transformative focus areas, the ZHAW also promotes its young academics through participation in nationally or internationally networked post-graduate and doctoral programs.
We offer practice-oriented and scientifically based continuing education courses, from short courses to comprehensive professional Master's programs, focusing on reflection and practical application. The courses are suitable for university graduates with several years of professional experience or proven specialist expertise in their field.
