Increasingly digital, increasingly consolidated: A new chapter for the ETH annual report

As of today, the ETH Zurich annual report for 2021 is available online. This is the last time it will appear in its current form. Robert Perich, Vice President for Finance and Controlling, reveals what readers can expect in the future.

Illustration for the digital annual report
As of today, the ETH Zurich annual report for 2021 is available online. This is the last time it will appear in its current form. (Photograph: ETH Zurich)

In 2021, reporting at ETH Zurich underwent a comprehensive review. What did this involve?

In the course of an internal review, an interdisciplinary working group examined the content and preparation of the annual report, the sustainability report and the equality monitoring report, comparing them with current trends in business reporting. The results of this evaluation were then subjected to peer review by external experts.

Robert Perich
(Photograph: ETH Zurich)
«Our motivation, our goals, and the factors that ensure we deliver an excellent performance and thereby cement our position at the top.»Robert Perich

What were the key findings?

Among other things, the review concluded that the reports – which, to date, have been largely independent of one another – should be linked more closely in order to produce a more consolidated style of reporting. In addition, it was decided that more should be done to explain how ETH works – our motivation, our goals, and the factors that ensure we deliver an excellent performance and thereby cement our position at the top. The review also addressed the need to improve the annual report’s web presence.

What concrete changes can readers expect?

The annual report for 2021, which is published today, already has a stronger digital flavour. This will continue with the annual report for 2022, which will be the first to be designed digitally from the very outset. One of the aims here is to use existing content so that this does not have to be created anew. In addition, the annual report for 2022 will have a consolidated form, bringing together the most important information from the previous annual report as well as from the sustainability report and equality monitoring report.

What significance does the annual report have for ETH and to whom is it addressed?

The ETH Zurich annual report provides an important channel of strategic communication with the Swiss Confederation and with society at large. It is also addressed to members from throughout the broader ETH community – from students and employees to alumni and donors.

Annual report 2021

The ETH Zurich annual report for 2021 is available for download here. The printed version can be obtained from the order form.

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