(ae) ETH Zurich and the University of California at Berkeley (UC Berkeley) (1) want to strengthen their scientific co-operation. Among other things by exchanging students. At the beginning of July ETH Rector Konrad Osterwalder and UC Berkeley Vice-rector Donald A. McQuade met at Zurich's town hall to put their signatures to a document ratifying the agreement. "It's a big step forward! Contacts arising from this agreement will act as a motor for further, fruitful co-operation." This agreement is the first concrete result of the San Francisco-Zurich-Initiative (2).

Strengthening traditional relations

"ETH Zurich and the UC Berkeley have a long history of good relations. These will now be strengthened," said McQuade in his address. According to an internal survey carried out by the ETH Prorectorate for international relations, 35 chairs at ETH Zurich already collaborate in one form or another with the renowned university. Nina Buchmann, professor at the ETH Institute of Plant Sciences is one such. Asked about her collaboration by ETH Life, she explains, "Up till now my relation with Berkeley has been based on personal contacts. Now it will be possible to cultivate a more intensive, scientific exchange".

Fee waivers facilitate exchange

In order to foster the exchange of knowledge the two universities have a mutual agreement to waive exchange students' fees. For ETH students this means that the semester fee at UC Berkeley of around 12,000 US dollars will shrink to around 400 dollars. Nina Buchmann: "This lends considerable boost to studying abroad. What up until now often foundered for want of money, now becomes possible. It's great!"

Relations between the two universities now have an official character. Nina Buchmann says, "It could mean that it will be easier to raise funding for exchanges as well." On the submission of a research project, for example, it might be possible to put in a request for money for an exchange to UC Berkeley from the very beginning, with a reference to the agreement. She also emphasises, "It's important that students are encouraged to broaden their horizons. It expands their scientific minds and brings personal enrichment".