For techies with an ethical compass
For techies with an ethical compass
To strengthen sustainability and ethics in teaching, ETH Zurich has launched a university-wide project that embeds these themes across all its degree programmes.
After completing their studies, ETH Zurich’s graduates are uniquely positioned to drive technological progress in science, industry and society. In doing so, the skills they have gained in developing complex technologies should be put to use in the service of democracy, fairness and sustainability. To meet this ambitious goal, students need more than an outstanding disciplinary education – something ETH has long been renowned for. They also need broader skills, including a deeper, more holistic understanding of sustainability, ethics and social contexts.
Ethics, in this sense, is about reflecting on moral principles and social values while sustainability concerns the responsible, forward-looking use of resources – meeting today’s needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. Until now, these two perspectives have not been systematically integrated into ETH’s curricula. The new initiative “Sustainability and Ethics” aims to plug the gap.
“Before you are engineers, you are human beings.”
Responsible decisions
Going forward, the two topics will be revisited, built upon and explored in increasing depth across all degree programmes. The goal is to empower students to make responsible decisions and to actively contribute to tackling global challenges such as climate change, technological justice and fair resource distribution. Even more than today, ETH graduates will be encouraged to act as “Change Agents for a Better Tomorrow”, consciously helping to shape the world in a positive way. As all degree programmes are being reviewed as part of the PAKETH education reform, this presents a unique opportunity to set the right course for the future.
© ETH-Bibliothek Zürich, Kunstinventar / Ki-00008 / Frank Blaser, Zürich
Philanthropy creates momentum
The initiative is designed to have a broad and lasting impact across the university. Using a spiral curriculum, theoretical and practical applications of concepts and theories alternate with guided reflection. This approach allows students to develop hands-on skills in values-based design, systems thinking, stakeholder analysis and civic engagement.
At the same time, the project enables ETH lecturers to integrate sustainability and ethics meaningfully into their teaching. Many lecturers want to address these topics but are hindered by time constraints, limited resources, or uncertainty about how to teach them effectively. To help overcome these obstacles, the initiative provides teaching materials, peer-exchange platforms and continuing education in didactics. Incentives such as project funding, teaching awards and visibility at key ETH events will further boost motivation and institutional recognition. Together, these measures lay the groundwork for a lasting cultural shift – one that firmly establishes sustainability and ethics as integral elements of excellent scientific and engineering education.
To succeed with this transformation, ETH Zurich also depends on the support of donors and partners. Those who share this holistic vision of excellence in education and wish to strengthen the role of sustainability and ethics in teaching are warmly invited to reach out to the ETH Foundation.
“Education should not only enable young people to acquire technical expertise, but also imagine a desirable future – and their own role within it.”
Professor Joël Mesot
President of ETH Zurich,
Vice President ETH Foundation
