Former Federal Chancellor Thurnherr becomes professor at ETH Zurich
Published: Thursday, May 23rd 2024, 16:40
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Former Federal Chancellor Walter Thurnherr will become a professor at ETH Zurich from October. He will teach students the basics of the Swiss political system, as the university announced on Thursday.
The 64-year-old is thus returning to his place of education: he once studied theoretical physics at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich). However, he will not be a professor of physics but of the Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences. According to the ETH, he was officially given the rank of "Professor of Practice".
"As Federal Chancellor, it was important to me to improve mutual understanding between science and politics. I would particularly like to continue this commitment at ETH", says Thurnherr according to the press release.
Building a new center
In addition to his teaching activities, Thurnherr will be involved in setting up the "School of Public Policy", according to ETH. From 2025, this center will bundle policy-relevant research at the university, intensify the exchange with political decision-makers at all levels and contribute to education and training in the field of policy analysis.
After working as a diplomat in Moscow, Bern and New York, Thurnherr was Secretary General of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs and the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications. He was elected Federal Chancellor of Switzerland in 2015. He held this office until the end of 2023.
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