Customised events: Doctoral awards ceremony at the Scherrer lecture hall
Last Friday, ETH Zurich celebrated the completion of 145 doctoral theses. To give the doctoral students and their families a special experience, the Academic Services (AkD) calls on the event experts from the Campus Services department.
As Prof Dr Günther Dissertori congratulates the doctoral students and their families on their success in the packed Scherrer Auditorium (ETA) early on Friday evening, Alfredo Picariello sits in the front row and looks unobtrusively at Karin Emmenegger, who is standing by the entrances. Picariello and Emmenegger are there in different roles, but their goal is the same: to ensure that the doctoral candidates have a smooth graduation ceremony.
From concept to realisation on site
Karin Emmenegger, an experienced event manager, has been supporting ETH employees such as Alfredo Picariello, Head of Doctoral Administration, with her event expertise since 2012. "Together with our customers, we make sure that everything runs smoothly - from the initial concept to the realisation on site," says Emmenegger, explaining the role of the Campus Services event team. She has been on site since the morning and supervised the final set-up work on behalf of Picariello. Signposts were placed, the bar tables and drinks for the aperitif were set up and the flowers were moved into position.
“Having professionals at your side who think about the important details even in hectic moments is a huge relief.”Alfredo Picariello, Head of Doctoral Administration
Added value: experience and expertise
"Having professionals at your side who think about the important details even in hectic moments is simply valuable - and takes a huge amount of pressure off me," says Picariello, explaining the added value of Emmenegger and her team. Alfredo Picariello has been responsible for organising the graduation ceremonies since 2009 and the doctorates are awarded four times a year. Between 400 and 600 guests attend each time. The logistical effort is considerable.
"Before Covid, we still managed a lot of things ourselves," reports Picariello, "but increasing numbers of doctoral students and the need to organise the events virtually pushed us to our limits," he explains, "the event team from the Campus Services department then took on more and more tasks to relieve us - and to our good fortune."
Cooperation pays off
Emmenegger and Picariello are a well-rehearsed team and the roles are clearly divided. Campus Services coordinates and takes care of permits and room reservations, the recruitment of student helpers to look after registration and cloakroom, event technology, catering and the musical programme. Picariello bears overall responsibility for the event and can concentrate on its guests in the evening.
Routine procedures
The awarding of doctoral certificates begins shortly before six o'clock. One after another, Picariello invites the 145 new doctoral candidates onto the stage. Certificates are presented and hands are shaken. This is followed by the obligatory photo with the Rector, Prof Dr Günther Dissertori.
After a musical interlude by the ETH Big Band, the official part of the ceremony ends and the Rector invites all participants to a convivial aperitif in the nearby ETZ foyer. The hall empties quickly and the mood of the guests is exuberant. Only Emmenegger and her colleagues remain in their seats. They wait until the last person has left the room. And while the first toasts are being raised next door, they begin to quietly disassemble their equipment.
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