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ZHAW School of Life Sciences And Facility Management

ZHAW School of Life Sciences And Facility Management

ZHAW School of Life Sciences And Facility Management

Introduction

Study and research in Wädenswil: practical, creative, passionate and reflective.

The ZHAW is one of the leading Swiss universities of applied sciences. Around 1,500 students are currently enrolled at the School of Life sciences and facility management, which has more than 600 employees. We offer five Bachelor’s and three Master’s degree programs, together with a wide range of continuing education courses.

Our expertise in life sciences and facility management in the areas of the environment, food, and health enables us to make a vital contribution to solving social challenges and improving the quality of life. Our success is based on five dynamic institutes with extensive competence in research, development, and services in the disciplines of chemistry and biotechnology, food and beverage innovation, natural resource sciences, applied simulation, and facility management.

Education and research in Wädenswil

About 1,300 students are currently enrolled in our practically-oriented range of courses at tertiary level:

  • Bachelor's and Master's degree programs
  • Continuing education at the tertiary level
  • Applied research and development
  • Services for third parties

Around 600 dedicated employees lecture, research, develop and provide services at our School. Their approach is both practical and reflective, and they work creatively and passionately in the following areas:

  • Applied Simulation
  • Chemistry and Biotechnology
  • Facility Management
  • Food Technology
  • Natural Resource Sciences

Cooperation and networking

Cooperation with educational and research institutions at home and abroad is important to us. In addition to a strong research network, we work closely with the following educational institutions and profit from their geographical proximity and related areas of study:

  • Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ)
  • Hochschule für Technik Rapperswil (HSR)
  • Schools of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)

In Wädenswil researchers and students also benefit from the immediate vicinity of Agroscope, the federal center of excellence for agricultural research. This provides ideal opportunities for cooperation in fruit-growing, viticulture, and horticulture as well as related processing technologies.

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Milestones

2007: ZHAW School of Life Sciences and Facility Management

At the end of 2007, the HSW was merged with other universities of the Zurich Association of Universities of Applied Sciences and Arts to form the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW).

Since 1 September 2007, it has been known as the ZHAW School of Life Sciences and Facility Management.

2006: Chemistry comes to Wädenswil

In 2004 the Council of Universities of Applied Sciences of the Zurich Association of Universities of Applied Sciences (ZFH) decided to concentrate Chemistry and Life Sciences at the

University of Applied Sciences Wädenswil. As a result, there has been a degree program in Chemistry in Wädenswil since autumn 2006.

1998: University of Applied Sciences Wädenswil

The Wädenswil School of Engineering (Ingenieurschule Wädenswil) became the University of Applied Sciences Wädenswil (HSW) following the reform of the universities of applied sciences. Over the years, the range of study programs was gradually extended to include further fields of study:

  • 1988 Food technology
  • 1994 Biotechnology
  • 1998 Facility Management

1970: Technical college for fruit-growing, viticulture, and horticulture

In 1942 the School was founded by the apple juice trade association to train fruit juice producers. The education of professionals in related professional fields followed. The range of study programs provided, from vocational training

to further education at proficiency and master craftsman levels, led to the school being approved as a Higher Technical College in 1970.

Growth statistics

Due to the expansion of degree programs and activities in research and development, the number of students and staff has steadily increased.

Growth of student numbers

  • Approx. 30 students in the 70s
  • Approx. 60 students in the 80s
  • Approx. 300 students in 1998 (start of the University of applied sciences status)
  • Approx. 700 students in 2005
  • Approx. 800 students from the winter semester 2006 (now with chemistry)
  • Approx. 1,000 students in 2009
  • Over 1,400 students in 2011 (now with Master's degree programs in Life Sciences and Facility Management)

The students are supervised by more than 40 professors and 100 lecturers. A total of around 600 employees work at the ZHAW School of Life Sciences and Facility Management in Wädenswil.

Locations

  • Wädenswil

    Grüentalstrasse 14, P.O. Box 8820 Wädenswil, , Wädenswil

Questions