The graduation ceremony took place during the IFM Symposium at the Zurich Technopark. The 56 BSc graduates received their diplomas from Institute Director, Prof. Dr. Antje Junghans, and Programme Director, Irene Arnold Moos. Michael Bürki, member of the executive board of IFMA (International Facility Management Association) Switzerland and member of the executive management team at Post Immobilien Management & Services AG, delivered the ceremonial address. The award for the best Bachelor’s thesis, entitled ‘Measures for reducing CO² emissions and their effectiveness at the Baloise offices in Basel’ went to Fabienne Gnos from Altendorf, SZ. She also received the alumni prize for the best degree result of the year. In addition, two Master of Science (MSc) diplomas and five Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) diplomas in Facility Management were also awarded. Matthias Wyss from Lenzburg was awarded the prize for the best Master's thesis and the best degree result.

Above-average career opportunities

Thanks to sustained demand for trained specialists in facility management, the career opportunities for the graduates are very good. This was confirmed by the fourth graduate survey, which is carried out annually approximately one year after graduation. According to the results, three-quarters of the BSc graduates had secured a qualified position at the end of their studies. Salaries for facility management graduates are, at 80,200 Swiss francs, well above the average income of all university of applied sciences Bachelor’s graduates in Switzerland, which is 76,000 Swiss francs.

The only institute with a university of applied sciences degree in facility management

The ZHAW with its Institute of Facility Management is the only provider of Bachelor's and Master's degrees in facility management in Switzerland. Facility managers and their teams take on the entire management of buildings, facilities, systems and services in order to optimally support the core business of a company.

Diploma class group picture - © Foto Tevy, Wädenswil:

• The new BSc graduates of the ZHAW Institute of Facility Management with Institute Director, Prof. Dr. Antje Junghans (3rd row, far left), Programme Director, Irene Arnold Moos (3rd row, 2nd from the left) and Deputy Dean, Daniel Baumann (3rd row, far right)

FM specialist for media enquiries:

• Irene Arnold, IFM Programme Director and Deputy Institute Director, School of Life Sciences and Facility Management, ZHAW / Wädenswil. 058 934 56 24; irene.arnold@zhaw.ch