Outgoing President Lino Guzzella led ETH for four years. We asked politicians, business representatives and ETH members what he was like as a president and how he shaped our university.
During his tenure, he dedicated himself to ETH Zurich and to promoting Switzerland as a research powerhouse. He has driven forward important initiatives and launched new projects such as the Bachelor's in medicine, the project ETH+ and the Critical Thinking initiative.
At the end of his presidential term, we are giving the floor to some of Lino Guzzella's companions.
Corine Mauch, Mayor of Zurich
“ ʻThe brightest minds come to the coolest cities.’ I like to use this quote from Lino Guzzella when I’m talking about Zurich as a centre of research and education. It shows that, as President, Lino Guzzella was capable of joined-up, creative thinking that went beyond the confines of ETH. It wasn’t just ETH that benefited from this approach – it was the whole of Zurich.”
Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum
Lea Stöckli, President of the ETH Entrepreneur Club
“Lots of people appreciated the fact that Lino Guzzella was always open to new ideas from students, not least the ETH Entrepreneur Club. At our ʻFuckUp Night’, he talked about how he deals with setbacks and expressed his appreciation for our commitment. It was a very informative and motivational speech. We are particularly grateful to him for this support.”
Michael Hengartner, Rector of the University of Zurich
Johann Schneider-Ammann, Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
“Lino Guzzella leaves behind an ETH flagship that is right on course. His concerted efforts as President led to advances in teaching, research and international networking. Working with industry was also an important priority for him. In this way, he opened many doors for young researchers and improved their prospects on the job market.”
Sarah Springman, Rector of ETH Zurich
“Working so closely with Lino was an honour. Out of everything he has done for ETH, I would particularly like to mention the Bachelor’s in medicine – which was Lino’s idea. It is thanks to Lino’s persuasive power and political skills that students can now combine medical and technical/scientific aspects in one study programme, enabling them to shape the medicine of the future.”
Mirko Meboldt, Professor of Product Development and Engineering Design
“ ʻLearning with head, heart and hands’ is a quote from Pestalozzi that I often heard Lino Guzzella use in speeches. He always stressed that the university was about more than just learning, thinking and research. By initiating the Student Project House and the Critical Thinking Initiative, he brought about a change in the teaching culture that will have a lasting impact at ETH. I am grateful for that and I’m glad to be a part of it.”
Patrick Warnking, Country Director, Google Switzerland
“It is thanks to ETH that Google’s largest research location outside the USA is now in Zurich. This has required a great deal of communication between science, society and business over the past few years, and Lino played a pivotal role in ensuring that this dialogue kept moving forward. I would like to thank him with all my heart for a highly rewarding partnership built on trust, and for his tireless commitment to Switzerland as a centre for innovation!”
Vanessa Wood, Head of the Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering
Lino made every effort to recruit and nurture young talent and to create an environment in which students, lecturers and employees can give free rein to their creativity and benefit from one another. This is also clear from his ETH+ initiative, which enables crossdepartmental bottom-up projects. I am confident that we will look back in ten years’ time and see the lasting impact that Lino’s commitment and passion have had on ETH.
These articles first appeared in life 4/18, the journal for all ETH members.