#howsETHgoing? – the students respond
ETH students experience a high level of academic pressure, but they consider the way they are treated at the university to be respectful, with the vast majority unaffected by discrimination or unequal treatment. These are the key findings of a wide-ranging survey conducted by the Students’ Association.
The “#howsETHgoing?” survey conducted by the Association of Students at ETH (VSETH) is quite possibly the largest survey in its history. All 16,000 Bachelor’s and Master’s students were asked to answer 30 to 50 questions about their academic situation and their mental state in general, and in particular about experiences of discrimination or unequal treatment at ETH Zurich. The number of questions varied, since follow-up questions were asked if, for example, participants claimed to have experienced discrimination or if they described themselves as non-heterosexual or transgender at the beginning of the survey.
High response rate
40 percent of all those contacted – 6,240 students – took part in the survey. This overwhelming response rate was certainly due in part to the Rectorate’s support for the VSETH project and its efforts to encourage students to take part in the survey. The first evaluations of the data collected by the social research institute gfs are now available.
“It is pleasing to note that in general students perceive ETH Zurich as a respectful environment and that gender discrimination across the whole institution does not seem to be a problem,” says Joy Stekhoven, Vice-President of the Students’ Association. Only about seven percent disagree; i.e. answering the question on a scale up to 7 with values of 1, 2 or 3. “For the vast majority of students, the financial and housing situation does not seem to have a negative impact on their studies,” adds Micha Bigler, who supervises the university’s policy dossier at VSETH and was in charge of evaluation of the survey. However, VSETH wants to carry out programme-specific evaluations of both questions in order to be able to make a definitive statement.
High level of performance pressure
The students’ perception of academic pressure took a more critical tone. Only half consider the workload to be appropriate during their studies, with only six percent of all participants in absolute agreement with the statement (a score of 7). Roughly a quarter disagree or strongly disagree (values between 1 and 3). When asked whether they cope well with the academic pressure, 20 percent of the students answered no.
“The survey has shown that the pressure on students needs to be thoroughly re-evaluated,” says VSETH President Lewin Könemann. His initial assessment is that “the results strongly suggest that they do not perceive their life at ETH as particularly stimulating”. Only a third of all students agree with the statement that there is enough time for all that is important in life besides studying. This means that students are left with insufficient time for hobbies, social contacts and healthy activities. “If ETH Zurich wants graduates who are not only well educated in their subject, but who also think critically and are at peace with themselves, then the reasons for the academic pressure will certainly be an important issue in the coming discussions, since some are probably not conducive to the quality of their studies,” says Könemann.
Another issue that VSETH wants to take a closer look at is student mental health. “There are indications that mental health may be a widespread problem,” says Stekhoven. In fact, ten percent of students rate their mental state as “very bad to fairly bad” and 13 percent as fluctuating. Only half the students rate their general mental state as good or very good, a quarter as “fairly good”.
Harassment not a structural problem
About 12 percent of those questioned had been affected by discrimination in the form of derogatory remarks, exclusion, refusal to provide information or unjustified criticism. Women were more affected than men, predominantly in classes, and students were primarily the causers. Of non-German-speaking students, 21 percent stated that they had experienced disadvantages due to ethnicity, origin or language. “We will be analysing the responses regarding discrimination in even greater detail,” promises Bigler. For example, VSETH wants to take a closer look at the results in individual departments. The information entered in the comment boxes also needs more time in order to be evaluated.
Sexual harassment does not appear to be a widespread problem at ETH Zurich. Three percent of students stated that they had experienced intrusive behaviour, offensive remarks, harassing glances or a promise of benefits in return for sexual consent. Two percent said that they had been touched, “groped” or kissed against their will at some point; women more than men. “Each case is one too many, and in surveys of this kind one must always reckon with an unknown number of unreported cases,” Stekhoven points out, while noting that these are not figures that can be described as an ETH-wide problem. She added that the figures were very similar to those in equivalent fields at other Swiss universities. But even here, further evaluation is necessary to rule out possible accumulations in individual study programmes.
No major surprises
And how do ETH representatives rate the survey results? “Looking at the public discussion over the past months, we are relieved that the survey confirms our perception that ETH Zurich does not have a systemic problem regarding sexual harassment or bullying,” says ETH Rector Sarah Springman. “However, this is by no means intended to diminish the individual cases – on the contrary: every person who experiences discrimination at ETH Zurich is one person too many,” the Rector stresses. These results simply show that ETH is part of wider society, which inevitably also includes the unpleasant side of life. “It is important that everybody who experiences discrimination is familiar with our points of contact,” Springman reiterates. In order to ensure that there is sufficient capacity to provide help, the Psychological Counselling Services will be expanded substantially this year.
When asked about the heavy pressure on students, Springman said that the Rectorate was aware of this: “For some time now, we have been engaged in intensive discussions with all those responsible for teaching on how we can offer students more freedom in their curricula.” This issue plays a central role when it comes to reviewing degree programmes. Nevertheless, the Rector points out that it would be wrong to expect rapid solutions here. There will continue to be a certain amount of pressure, because ETH Zurich does not want to compromise its technical standards.
Both VSETH and the Rector stated that it was still too early to discuss specific improvement measures. Together, they intend to analyse the results in greater detail this summer. They both agree that ETH Zurich’s commitment to excellence should also apply to freedom from discrimination.
“The general state of mental health corresponds to the Swiss average”
The student survey focused on student mental health. But how should these results be interpreted? Psychiatrist Dr Helene Haker Rössler, lecturer at the University of Zurich, makes an initial assessment.
About ten percent of ETH students classify their mental state as “very bad” to “fairly bad,” and another 13 percent as “fluctuating”. How do you evaluate this feedback?
The proportion of students who rate their general mental condition as fairly poor to very poor corresponds to the Swiss average. As young people, students are exposed to the general stresses of growing up. If we also consider that they are in a high performance environment at ETH Zurich, with uncertainty concerning their future, it is not surprising that an additional 13 percent describe their mental health as fluctuating.
About five percent of students say they are currently undergoing psychological treatment. Does this proportion also correspond to that of the general population?
First, I would like to point out that not everyone who is temporarily unwell necessarily requires treatment. In fact, it is normal that only half of those who do not feel well for a longer period of time are in need of treatment. What we are talking about here is known as the “treatment gap”, which is also a problem outside ETH.
What can be done about it?
People can make use of support services only if they know about them. The survey shows that students are not familiar with the full range of support services. This is where a campaign could provide some help. An awareness campaign could also educate people about mental disorders, such as depression, and motivate them to talk about it. It is often not clear to those affected that the stress symptoms they suffer from could be considered an illness and that treatment could provide them with relief.
You are referring to those symptoms measured in the survey that can indicate mental illness when they occur together. It is noteworthy that nine percent of all students in the last semester suffered from anxiety and panic attacks for prolonged periods of time and six percent even thought about harming themselves.
These figures do not surprise me when I compare them with the figures for the entire population. For these people in particular, it is important that they not only have access to help, but that they also are aware of it and seek it out.