Network set up for ETH’s vocational education and training alumni

There was an excellent turnout in the auditorium of the Earth Sciences building when Dieter Schorno, Head of Vocational Education and Training at ETH Zurich, welcomed his audience on Friday evening. 179 former apprentices and trainees from ETH had accepted his invitation to attend – almost the same number as the 178 apprentices and trainees currently completing their vocational education at the university, and certainly more than a visibly delighted Dieter Schorno had expected: “I would like to welcome you all to a new venture at ETH.”

The guests had come to take part in the inaugural meeting of the “Interessengemeinschaft ehemalige Lernende/Praktikanten” (Interest group of former apprentices/trainees), which aims to provide the same service for ETH Zurich’s vocational training graduates in future as the Alumni Association does for its degree graduates: a network which enables alumni to meet, share their professional experiences or reminisce about the good old days at ETH and keep in contact with the university. Around 1,400 people have completed an apprenticeship at ETH Zurich to date.

Having increased the number of places on its vocational education and training programmes over the past few years, ETH Zurich now has trainees in 13 vocational fields. There were some surprised reactions amongst the alumni at the meeting when Dieter Schorno and his colleague Hans-Peter Widmer presented the professions for which training is now offered. A murmur ran through the auditorum as the occupation of “Laboratory animal keeper” was mentioned.

The simplest possible form of organisation

Then came the time to officially set up the interest group: “We wanted to keep the organisation as simple as possible so that we can manage it from ETH,” said Hans-Peter Widmer. In organisational terms, the group will form part of ETH Zurich’s Vocational Education and Training unit under Dieter Schorno and Hans-Peter Widmer for the time being.

The group’s management committee was elected on Friday, with Barbara Krummenacher, Beatrice Näf, Jenny West, Katrin Reichmuth and Helena Kordic chosen as its members under the leadership of Hans-Peter Widmer.

Normen Scheiber, who was once ETH Zurich’s first electrical engineering apprentice, and Sandra Monsch cut the ribbon to formally mark the opening of the inaugural meeting – and to declare the interest group officially established.

“ETH is a great place to train”

The foundation of the new interest group is not quite complete: first of all, the management committee needs to discuss matters such as the initial events and activities, process the members’ records and decide whether or not to charge a membership fee.

 “I like the idea that there is now an alumni organisation for vocational trainees and apprentices at ETH,” said one of the newly elected committee members, Beatrice Näf, who completed a commercial apprenticeship at ETH Zurich, “Now we have to identify the needs of our members, who come from all kinds of different vocational fields, and define what we will offer.”

Barbara Krummenacher, a biology lab assistant, is looking forward to this task: “ETH is a great place to train. Both the degree programmes and the vocational training schemes it offers are highly attractive."