Apprenticeship completed, future in sight

The 51 apprenticeship graduates from twelve professional fields gathered at 5 p.m. in the Audi Max lecture hall in the Main Building of ETH Zurich. With a successful qualification under their belts, they are now on the threshold of moving from training to practice. ¡®Whether in your career, on the path to continuing education and training, or in your personal life, every milestone broadens your horizons. Your gaze is directed not only forward, but also outward, toward new opportunities and undiscovered horizons.¡¯ With these words, Fabienne Jaquet, Head of Vocational Training, opened the ceremony.

¡®We can broaden our horizons by postponing our own limits¡¯

Lukas Vonesch, Head of HR Consulting, tied in with the ETH vocational training strategy in his speech. Its task is to enable young people for the working world of the future. ¡®Towards new horizons¡¯ is the essence of this strategy, said Vonesch. He thanked the vocational trainers, who play a central role in broadening the horizons of their apprentices: It is not just about imparting specialist knowledge, but rather about opening up perspectives and encouraging people to push their personal boundaries. ¡®The horizon of the future is not a fixed place. It is a goal. An attitude. An invitation to develop further.¡¯ He invited the graduates to remain curious apprentices of life.

¡®ETH research is world-class ¨C thanks to experts like you¡¯

In the second part of the ceremony, Sebastian Huber, Managing Director of the Department of Physics, addressed the young professionals with words of appreciation. "It is not only the brilliant scientists who have earned us our place at the top of the world. It is also professionals like you whose work is indispensable: no quantum computer runs without reliable building services engineering; no small satellite takes off without the work of the polymechanics in the workshop." The graduates have also internalised ETH's values: precision, critical thinking, teamwork, solution orientation and curiosity are at the heart of ETH. ¡®These values are the foundation of our research success. And now you are taking them out into the world.¡¯

Summer finale with a view of Zurich

After the official part of the ceremony, guests were invited to an aperitif with barbecue in the Dozenten Foyer in the Main Building. In a festive atmosphere, guests raised their glasses, chatted and exchanged memories of their time at ETH. Here, too, their gaze turned to the horizon ¨C the terrace offered a wonderful view of Zurich. At the end of the ceremony, the proud graduates and their families strolled into the summer evening. On to new horizons!