Boards, university groups and commissions

The Academic Association of Scientific Staff at ETH Zurich (Akademische Vereinigung des Mittelbaus an der ETH Zürich, AVETH) represents doctoral students, research assistants, postdocs and all other non-professorial scientific staff.

The Lecturers' Conference (KdL) is composed of six members of the General Conference of the Faculty Members, one representative from each department, and the Rector. It advises the Executive Board on all matters which concern the faculty as a whole and represents faculty interests, e.g. by issuing position statements on consultation issues.

VSETH (Verband der Studierenden an der ETH Zürich) is the union of students at ETH Zurich. It represents the interests of ETH Zurich students to the university (Executive Board, ETH Board, University Assembly, etc.) and third parties (the general public, media, etc.).

The Staff Commission represents the interests and concerns of administrative and technical staff to the Executive Board of ETH Zurich.

The GSP Commission is a forum where the 16 Delegates for Good Scientific Practice of ETH's departments come together to develop a common understanding of GSP at ETH Zurich and to support and advise the Executive Board when it comes to taking concrete measures.

The Digital Transformation Committee (DTC) advises and supports the Vice President Finance and Controlling with the digitalisation of administrative processes, the implementation of the digitalisation strategy and its periodic further development in accordance with the overall strategy of the ETH Zurich. In doing so, it focuses on the overall interests of the institution.

The Environmental Commission is responsible for the operative realisation of environmental management at ETH Zurich. It sets the environmental objectives, initiates measures and is responsible for monitoring and reporting on behalf of the Executive Board.

The ETH Zurich Ethics Commission evaluates all research projects by members of ETH Zurich that involve human subjects and do not fall into the competence of the Cantonal Ethics Committee. 

The Integrity Commission independently investigates reported suspicions of scientific misconduct referred to the Scientific Integrity Office, independently of the ETH Executive Board, and provides recommendations for measures to the Executive Board in cases where misconduct is identified.

The Prize Commission supports and advises the Executive Board in matters relating scientific prizes.

The Research Commission supports the Executive Board in research matters. It examines applications for funding for research projects and acquisitions using ETH Zurich finances.

The Risk Management Commission advises the President and the Executive Board on matters relating to risk management, risk financing and insurance. It regularly assesses the risk, damage and insurance situation at ETH Zurich and supports the university’s various institutions in coordinating and organising risk management.

The Strategy Commission advises the President and the Executive Board on developing the strategy for ETH Zurich. It consists of eight to ten representatives of the professorial staff and one representative from each of the three non-professorial university groups.

The Teaching Commission is an advisory body to the Executive Board. It is responsible in areas of teaching innovation management ("teaching and learning") in the context of the university development of ETH Zurich.

The Global Advisory Board advises the President of ETH Zurich in matters regarding its international strategy.

Two boards are working on the continuous improvement of and the strengthening of the awareness for information security at ETH Zurich.

ITEK (IT expert commission) is a board of experts at ETH Zürich dealing with issues relating to IT.

The Pensioniers Association of ETH Zurich (PVETH) was founded in 1976 by a group of retired ETH employees. Its aim is to foster inter-personal relations among the retired employees of ETH Zurich and its four research institutes by organizing social and cultural events.

The Science-​Policy Advisory Board advises the Executive Board and especially the President as well as the Vice-​President for Knowledge Transfer and Corporate Relations on issues at the interface of science and policy. This board evaluates the work and activity of ETH Zurich at the interface to policymakers and makes recommendations for the further development of this area.