How was your start and your first impression?

As expected, the start in September was very intensive. I was able to hold important discussions with the university management, the Executive Board, the Faculty of Business and Economics, our professors and all employees. I also held talks with other faculties at the University of Zurich and, of course, gathered impressions from external stakeholders. My impression was very positive and I am particularly looking forward to working with an ExecEd team that is very open to new ideas and has great ideas for the future development of Executive Education.

What impressed you the most?

Executive Education was founded as an institute just over two years ago. I am impressed that the team has shown a more than solid result in this short and very crisis-ridden period despite international and national challenges (pandemic). We can build on this and I am very positive about the future. I look forward to mastering the challenges ahead together.

Where do you see the biggest challenges for the continuing education landscape and Executive Education?

We live in an increasingly complex world characterized by exponentially accelerating technological, economic and social change. These changes require additional skills in order to tackle and, in the best case, solve current and future problems. As part of the largest comprehensive university in Switzerland, at an internationally attractive and competitive location in Zurich, Executive Education at the Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics can make a major contribution to closing these skill gaps. In order to accomplish this mission, we need to be courageous and lead the way, which is not a given in this day and age. There is a lot to do!

Which new Executive Education offer are you particularly looking forward to?

Executive Education offers around 30 certification programs in the form of EMBA, MAS, DAS and CAS as well as over 60 courses in the areas of General Management, Finance, Information Technology, Urban & Real Estate Management, Intercultural Management and Medical Leadership. For example, we are the leading provider in Europe in the field of blockchain and rank 3rd worldwide. The Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics at the University of Zurich has a unique constellation: we teach and research in the fields of management, economics, finance, informatics and computer science. This means that, unlike other universities, we can credibly offer interdisciplinary courses in executive education.

Specifically, I am looking forward to the CAS program in Generative AI, which will be offered from 2024. But also to the upcoming programs in the areas of entrepreneurship, leadership, stakeholder management, technology and innovation. In addition, the modular approach of our programs allows even more flexibility for our participants.

Thank you very much, Jürgen Brücker!