Chronology: History of the EDI Office and the related Commissions

The Gender Equality Monitoring 2025 showed: The share of female professors at UZH climbed to a new high in 2024, surpassing the 30 percent mark for the first time.
UZH News: Share of Female Professors Reaches 30%

35 Years of Equality

In June 2024, the EDI Office celebrated its 35th anniversary. A video (German) was produced to summarize 35 years of equality at University of Zurich.

New beginnings in late summer

The Office for Gender Equality and Diversity was renamed the Office for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) on August 1, 2024. At the same time, Karin Gilland Lutz took over leadership of the office. The performance agreement was also amended accordingly. The EDI Office continues to report to the Deputy President. 
The Office for Gender Equality and Diversity is now the EDI Office

Furthermore, Professor Elisabetta Fiocchi Malaspina was appointed the eighth chair of the renamed Commission for Equality and Diversity. Also on August 1, 2024, a new Commission for Inclusion was established, chaired by Professor Rolf Sethe.

Professor Katja Rost became the seventh president of the Equal Opportunities Commission. The Office for Gender Equality was renamed the Office for Gender Equality and Diversity.

The Office for Gender Equality was placed under the authority of the Deputy President of UZH, and the Executive Board of the University issued the Diversity Policy.
Diversity Policy: Promoting, Practicing, and Benefiting from Diversity

Dr. Christiane Löwe took over the management of the Office for Gender Equality.

Professor Tatiana Crivelli Speciale became the sixth president of the Equal Opportunities Commission.

The UniFrauenstelle was renamed the Office for Gender Equality and placed under the authority of the rectorate.

Professor Brigitte Tag became the fifth president of the Equal Opportunities Commission.

The Executive Board of the University issued regulations to ensure protection against sexual harassment at UZH.
Regulations to ensure protection against sexual harassment

The Executive Board of the University issued the Gender Policy Code of Conduct.
Gender Policy Code of Conduct

The fourth president of the Equal Opportunities Commission was Professor Brigitte Woggon.

In addition, the first edition of the Leitfaden zur sprachlichen Gleichbehandlung von Frau und Mann was published. This guide was subsequently revised several times. Later, a guide on the topic of job advertisements was added.

The Universitätsgesetz of 1998 states, that the university promotes the actual equality of women and men and strives for a balanced representation of both genders in all functions and committees.

Professor Margit Osterloh besame the third president of the Equal Opportunities Commission. Elisabeth Maurer took over the new UniFrauenstelle – Gleichstellung von Frau und Mann (UFG) as Representative for Women. This was a 50 percent position.

Professor Thanh-Huyen Ballmer-Cao became the second president of the Equal Opportunities Commission.

The Frauenförderungskommission was renamed the Equal Opportunities Commission.

The Frauenförderungskommission was founded in 1991. Professor Heidi Schelbert-Syfrig became its first president.

The Senate of University of Zurich appointed a committee of seven women. Chaired by Professor Heidi Schelbert-Syfrig and Professor Verena Meyer, this committee presented a concept to promote women at UZH.

In addition, Sylvia Derrer, legal advisor to the President, was granted a 20 percent position for her additional role as the first Representative for Women of UZH.

Professor Verena Meyer became the first female rector of University of Zurich. She was the first woman to head a Swiss university.