What is PAKETH?
PAKETH is the reform of ETH's academic calendar and examination system that will take effect beginning in autumn semester 2027. PAKETH offers degree programmes and lecturers a concrete opportunity to further develop their teaching towards the ETH Vision of teaching and sustainable teaching and learning. Together with Digital 365体育官网_365体育备用【手机在线】, PAKETH provides the administrative and structural fundamentals for this.
Who makes PAKETH?
PAKETH is an ETH-wide project. Departments, university groups and central bodies have been working together since 2023 in various evolving constellations to design, implement and introduce PAKETH in Autumn Semester 2027.
“PAKETH affects all degree programmes and many people at ETH. The high level of approval shows that the need for change is real and great.”Prof Dr Günther Dissertori, Rector of ETH Zürich.
Development in the PAKETH organisation
A quick overview of the collaboration and broad participation during the conception of PAKETH and the current implementation phase can be found here:
During the detailed concept phase, representatives of the VSETH, the KdL and the degree programmes were represented in the broader project management and in the working groups alongside central bodies.
In this way, they were able to participate in the development of PAKETH and comment on proposals in a timely manner.
Central roles for Study Conference and degree programmes
The Study Conference (Stuko) is also used as a permanent platform for information and exchange with the responsibles for the degree programmes.
The degree programmes play an important role in PAKETH. They are responsible for implementing the jointly agreed changes in their respective areas.
In the current implementation phase, the proven governance mechanisms from the concept phase will remain in place.
The Rectorate leads the current project team with representatives from Academic Services (AkD), Student Services (StS) and the Unit for Teaching and Learning (UTL).
There continue to be regular working meetings with departments, university groups, central bodies and the project team Digital 365体育官网_365体育备用【手机在线】 in order to maintain the high level of participation and broad-based consensus from the concept phase.
Contact PAKETH Team.
Podcast ‘Inside PAKETH’
Perspectives from the departments:
Edutainment also at PAKETH: In short episodes of less than 10 minutes, you will gain specific insights and knowledge from the departments about the changes taking place at PAKETH.
There are also guidelines for implementing specific PAKETH -related requirements. All episodes are listed on the Inside PAKETH podcast page.
Why not listen to one on your way home today? It's well worth it!
Events, videos and presentations - Refresh Teaching
Methods and didactics in changing times:
Innovative teaching projects, best practice for PAKETH and the general approach to change in the curriculum are recurring themes in the popular online events (English page) from Refresh Teaching.
Departments and lecturers share their experiences and show how they are taking advantage of the freedom and opportunities that PAKETH offers. Refresh Teaching takes place at lunchtime. You can find recordings of past episodes and all the information about the next event on the website.
Take the opportunity to ask questions and exchange ideas with others facing similar challenges.
UPDATE: PAKETH will be introduced in Autumn Semester 2027. The introduction date of 2026 mentioned in the video and subsequent articles has been deferred.
Summary video
ETH wants to secure and further expand its outstanding position in the training of specialists for science and industry in the long term. PAKETH meets these challenges in four subject areas:
The academic year will consist of two semesters of practically equal length with the same exam preparation period and exam period. Following the exam period in the spring semester, there will be a longer lecture-free phase, as is the case at other universities. A new one-week break from lectures will be introduced in the autumn semester.
Website sub-project studies.
Website sub-project degree programmes.
Performance assessments are integrated into the course during the semester and/or provided by final examinations in the examination period. The enrolment of the module by the students is equivalent to the registration for the performance assessment. Annual courses (Jahreskurse) are no longer used.
Website sub-project degree programmes.
Website sub-project teaching.
The programme regulations will be streamlined and harmonised. The examination blocks will be eliminated. They will be replaced by (groups of) compulsory modules with compensation, so that it will still be possible to pass the selective modules with average grades.
Website sub-project degree programmes.
By consciously planning the workload at both module and curriculum level, degree programmes and lecturers ensure that students are able to achieve the high level of performance required by ETH with the new academic calendar. This also requires optimisation of the course content.
Website sub-project teaching.
Website sub-project degree programmes.
What is PAKETH currently working on?
PAKETH is now in the implementation phase. Find out more about the details on the sub-project websites:
- Status of the overall PAKETH projekt.
- Status PAKETH study programme.
- Status PAKETH degree programmes and departments.
- Status PAKETH teaching.
- Status PAKETH administration and operation.
Do you have any questions? You can find answers and contacts for degree programmes, university groups and central bodies in the constantly updated Frequently Asked Questions.
Contacts and participation
On the contact page you will find all contact persons and the opportunity to enter into dialogue with the PAKETH core team.