System design respect and conflict management

Over the last few years, ETH Zurich has been intensively involved in respect management (campaigns, training courses, lectures), has set up a structured conflict management system and has created professional contact and advice services. ETH Zurich has defined the values that should guide cooperation at the university and which behaviours are unacceptable. Procedures, regulations and a code of conduct have also been drawn up, which form the foundation for the implementation of constructive conflict and respect management.  

The results from staff surveys, the survey on complaints processes and the evaluation of the many years of experience of the various counselling centres serve as the basis for further development.  

The individual elements of conflict and respect management are to be coordinated even more and existing processes adapted further to the needs in order to

• create more clarity for those seeking advice with regard to services, procedures and access options, levels of confidentiality and processes,
• to make the responsibilities of the contact and counselling centres more visible,
• to support the prevention of dysfunctional escalation,
• to further anchor the protection of personal integrity in ETH Zurich,
• to clearly address the issues of respect (discrimination, sexual harassment, threats/violence, bullying) and workplace conflicts in different procedures.  

The System Design project is led by the Diversity & Cooperation unit, Cooperation Team, with the support of the VPPL Staff. It is being developed in close cooperation with all VPPL units and in consultation with the various ETH Zurich university groups and committees.  

There are at least two possibilities:

• An organisational unit invites the cooperation team to an online exchange.
• Concerns and ideas can be recorded anonymously on this external pagepadletcall_made

The concept outline has been available since late autumn 2022 and initial measures have already been implemented, such as: 

• external reporting office
• anonymous report form
• training of helpdesks
  
  

The revision of the RSETHZ615 regulations is currently in the sounding phase. The consultation period ends on 31 March 2024.

The revised regulations will be discussed by the Executive Board on 7 May 2024 and are expected to enter into force on 1 June 2024.

The Cooperation Team will be happy to answer open questions or provide information on the project status: .