ETH position on the major teaching reform

Overall, the PAKETH project (Examinations and Academic Calendar at ETH Zurich) is recognised as important in the consultation process and the objectives are approved. The majority also believe that the measures are a step in the right direction. Rector Günther Dissertori says, “I am delighted about the outcome of the consultation in view of the far-reaching consequences of the reform. PAKETH affects all degree programmes and many people at ETH. The strong approval shows that the need to act is genuine and significant”.

As expected, the shorter exam preparation period in the summer attracted the most discussion. Many see the risk of increased stress for students or a loss in terms of educational quality.

All departments, as well as many university groups, Executive Board domains and directly affected administrative departments took part in the consultation.

More scope for development and freedom in teaching

PAKETH proposes that the exam period should now begin three or four weeks after the end of the semester in order to create an exam-free period later on in the summer. A lecture-free week is to be introduced in the middle of the Autumn Semester to match the existing one in the spring. Examination blocks and two-semester courses are to be abolished and the examination regulations standardised in order to simplify administrative procedures.

To ensure that the reduced revision period does not lead to more rather than less stress, greater consideration is to be given to student workload when structuring curricula and courses in order to facilitate a manageable workload during all periods of the academic year.

Due respect for implementation

And yet many consider precisely this task to be a challenge. Extensive coordination among the lecturers is needed in order to manage the workload in a sensible manner. Günther Dissertori: “This feedback doesn’t surprise us. On the contrary, we are pleased that the departments have recognised this challenge and are prepared to embark on this path.”

Many also see an IT environment that supports the new administrative processes as a prerequisite for the implementation of PAKETH. The procurement and development of this is currently being driven forward in the Digital Campus project.

The participants in the consultation also have due respect for implementation. They anticipate a large amount of work and to some extent question whether this can be stemmed with the existing resources.

The Rector intends to support the departments in implementing PAKETH with funding from the Innovedum Fund. Funding applications can be submitted as of now and for the next two years for innovative solutions pertaining to the adjustment of degree programmes and course units within the scope of PAKETH.

He also intends to strengthen the administrative departments of the Rectorate in key areas in order to enable them to discuss the necessary next steps together with the responsibles for each degree programme and support the lecturers, students and staff in switching to the new mode of operation.

Sustainable solutions by the end of the year

Based on the feedback from the consultation, the project team will revise some of the proposals in the concept and submit them again to the departments and university groups in a small consultation round. This includes the structuring of the exam preparation and exam period, the arrangements for repeat exams and the examination committee to monitor critical examination results in place of the grading conference. Decisions are to be made in early 2025 at the latest.

The Executive Board will decide on the overall implementation of the reform at the end of August. It will decide at its next meeting on introduction of the reform in the 2027/28 academic year and the financial resources required for this.

Dissertori: “The decision of the Executive Board will definitively turn a project of the Rectorate into an ETH-wide project. This is the go-ahead for the implementation of PAKETH in the departments and individual degree programmes. I look forward to proceeding to this next stage.”