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    1. The University
    More: The University

    University Development Office

    The University Development Office is the central strategic unit within the Rectorate of ZHdK. It strengthens the university’s capacity to learn from experience, data, dialogue, evaluations, and external developments, and to translate this learning into strategic action. That way, it contributes to the further development of ZHdK as a coherent, decisive, and internationally connected university of the arts. It provides direction, prepares strategic decisions, and supports their institutional implementation. 

    The mission of University Development is to connect strategy development, governance, quality assurance and development, institutional research, foresight, and global cooperations in such a way that they work together—providing guidance and coherence internally and strengthening the university’s ability to shape and engage with its external environment. University Development is responsible for ZHdK’s institutional accreditation. 

    The unit is divided into three teams, each with its own responsibilities and focal points, while also collaborating across areas of shared objectives.

    → More about ZHdK's Strategy

    • Strategic Projects and Accreditation

      The Strategic Projects and Accreditation team steers and coordinates university-wide strategic development initiatives and designs and supports transformation processes. It translates strategic priorities into actionable project and development frameworks, takes on project leadership responsibilities, and ensures progress, accountability, and institutional coherence. Acting as an interface between strategic concept development and organisational implementation, the team helps embed strategic initiatives in the day-to-day operations of the university. It also leads the institutional accreditation process and manages other peer-review and recognition procedures.

      → Accreditation and quality development

    • Institutional Research and Quality

      Institutional Research and Quality serves as a strategic sensor and enabler of ZHdK’s institutional learning capacity. It brings together institutional research, quality development and assurance, monitoring, and foresight to provide an evidence-based foundation for the university’s strategic development.

      The team designs and maintains the university-wide quality framework, defines binding standards, and assesses their implementation and effectiveness on behalf of the Executive Board. In doing so, it provides the conceptual foundations, methodologies, and instruments that support continuous improvement, while academic and operational responsibility remains with the Departments, vice-rectorates, and central services.

      → Accreditation and quality development

    • External Affairs and Cooperations

      The External Affairs and Cooperations team is responsible for ZHdK’s strategic international positioning as well as the development, management, and coordination of university-wide collaborations and partnerships. It monitors international developments, identifies relevant networks and opportunities, and translates these into institutionally aligned collaborations and strategic relationships.

      The team strengthens ZHdK’s compatibility with the international higher education, culture, research, and innovation realm, and helps position ZHdK as an internationally connected, visible, and collaborative university of the arts. It works closely with the offices of the vice presidencies, departments, central services, and external partners, supporting them in their international activities.

      → ZHdK International 

    Contact

    Zurich University of the Arts
    University Development Office
    Toni-Areal, Pfingstweidstrasse 96
    CH-8005 Zurich

    • Prof. Dr. Elena Wilhelm (Head of University Development)
    • Michèle Graf (Head Strategic Projects and Accreditation, Deputy Head University Development)

    • NN. (Collaborator Strategic Projects and Accreditation)

    • Dr. Hanja Blendin (Head Institutional Research and Quality)

    • Denise Kuehlwein (Collaborator Quality, responsible for university surveys and EVASYS)

    • Florence Balthasar (Head External Affairs and Cooperations)

    • Jennifer Buckley (Collaborator External Affairs and Cooperations)