Position on geopolitical conflicts
In recent years, geopolitical conflicts have led to tensions at universities worldwide. At ETH Zurich, too, there have been intensive discussions about how the university should deal with these issues. In response, the ETH Executive Board appointed an Ad Hoc Commission for Institutional Positioning in July 2024. Its mandate was to develop a basis for deciding whether ETH Zurich should take a stand as an institution on geopolitical crises and conflicts.
Decision
In February 2025, the Executive Board adopted the Ad Hoc Commission's Download Policy Paper (PDF, 109 KB) on institutional positioning. It concluded that ETH Zurich will not take an official position on geopolitical conflicts in the future.
“While members of the ETH community are free to form and express their own political opinions, the university as an institution has a distinct responsibility to uphold its core mission without being drawn into geopolitical debates.”Joël Mesot, ETH President
Summary of the rationale
- At the heart of the discussions was the question whether an institutional positioning aligns with the mission and values of the university. ETH's mission is to advance research, education, and knowledge transfer while upholding principles such as academic freedom and inclusion. For the commission, the conclusion was clear: a positioning on geopolitical issues is more likely to hinder than to support ETH's mission. By maintaining impartiality, the university safeguards its role as a place of open inquiry free from geopolitical entanglements.
- Not taking official stances on geopolitical issues does not mean that ETH is indifferent to global challenges. But it does take into account the fact that there are ongoing conflicts and crises all over the world. Geopolitical conflicts are characterised by complex historical, political and cultural factors. As an institution, ETH cannot fairly and consistently assess such conflicts.
- When geopolitical conflicts lead to tensions on campus – such as discrimination, harassment or disruptions – ETH has both the right and the responsibility to address these issues. In such cases, it is not a matter of taking sides in an external conflict, but rather of upholding ETH's own values of academic freedom, inclusion and mutual respect. It is ETH's responsibility to create a supportive and respectful environment on its campus.
Support for ETH members
ETH Zurich has chosen not to take an official stance on geopolitical conflicts, but of course global conflicts can have a profound impact on our diverse community. The following support services are available for ETH members who are directly affected by geopolitical conflicts.