At Bachelor’s level, partnerships with companies and universities both in Switzerland and abroad have been established. The Design and Technology Lab features a unique interdisciplinary approach to teaching. It is operated jointly with the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering of ETH Zurich. Other examples of contacts in the research and development field are those with the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), Mammut Sports Group, Helbling Technik AG, the Swiss Energy Foundation, Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co, Sanofi AG and Sonova AG (Phonak), the University Hospital of Zurich, the Zurich Children’s Hospital, the Institute of Construction Materials of ETH Zürich, BS2 AG, V-ZUG and Helvetas.
Students of design and mechanical engineering work in groups of between two and ten on specific and relevant topics. Coaching and lab instruction take place equally at the ZHdK and ETH, and form part of the relevant curriculum training. As a result, the designers and engineers graduating from the course have a clear understanding of the other subject being taught within the partnership, and are able to combine and expand the strengths of both disciplines. Through the involvement of external partners, students are able to work on real design problems generating direct benefits within industry and society. This approach brings about an awareness within industry that design is an integral part of development. The resulting intensive exchanges within the teaching process, exchange of specialist subject knowledge and shared public relations activities in the form of lectures, exhibitions, etc. help to generate greater awareness of design and technology within academia, industry and wider society. The Design and Technology Lab is located in the Zurich Technopark.
For further information on partnerships, please enquire by email to Sandra Kaufmann and Nicole Kind.
More details available at www.designtechlab.ch.