EPFL Together – Defining the values that guide us

Context

What makes EPFL unique, strong, resilient, and an inspiring place to study and work?

Our institution has undergone major developments over the past decades, establishing itself as a leading technical university in Switzerland, Europe, and worldwide, home to people from more than 120 nationalities. The years ahead will bring further transformation, as we navigate significant human, societal, and technological challenges. To face these changes, we need strong, shared human and ethical foundations that express who we are, what we stand for, and how we want to shape the future to the benefit of all.

While EPFL’s values are often mentioned, they have never been articulated through a community‑driven process. “EPFL Together – Defining the values that guide us” is part of the Rethink EPFL initiative launched by the EPFL Direction to strengthen the institution’s foundations. This project proposes a structured process to define EPFL’s values and embed them into the EPFL way of life by the end of 2026. This is not a top‑down exercise. It is a collective exploration.

Purpose

EPFL Together aims to align and reinforce EPFL’s identity, foster belonging, inclusion, and engagement, and guide decisions and actions across the institution. Clear values will serve as a shared reference for all members of the community — in daily interactions, in moments of challenge, and across all areas of EPFL’s impact.

These values must be authentic to EPFL, relevant to all bodies and missions, and capable of turning a shared vision into action. They will help make EPFL a place where everyone can excel, contribute meaningfully, and grow.

Project Steps

1. Foundations

The project began with a benchmark of value‑definition processes at peer institutions (ETH Zurich, MIT, Imperial College). The EPFL Direction also reflected on the values that guide their leadership. An AI‑assisted analysis of EPFL’s strategic documents will complete this phase.

2. Community engagement

Students, researchers, teachers, and staff will be invited to contribute through workshops, online forms, and a digital platform. Participants will be encouraged to share experiences, examples of meaningful behaviors, and what they believe makes EPFL a special place to study, work, and grow.

3. Drafting the Values Statement

All contributions will be analyzed to identify recurring themes. Based on these insights, the Steering Committee will draft a Values Statement of 4–6 values, each accompanied by a short explanation and examples of behaviors. A transparent report will describe how the values were identified and how they could be integrated into campus life.

The draft will then be reviewed by the EPFL Direction to ensure alignment with EPFL’s strategic goals, including the 2029–2032 Strategic Plan.

4. Finalization and implementation

The reviewed Values Statement will be shared with the community and representative bodies for consultation. After refinement, the final version and an Integration Plan will be submitted to the EPFL Direction for approval.

The Integration Plan will outline how the values will be embedded into daily life at EPFL — through communication, events, teaching and research practices, recruitment, onboarding, and leadership development.

5. Project closure and Value Integration Plan

Once approved, the Values Statement and supporting documents (report and Integration Plan) will mark the launch of the Value Integration Plan, guiding the long‑term embedding of EPFL’s values across the institution. Defining values is only the beginning. Living them is what will make the difference.

Timeline

Organization

Related Rethink EPFL initiatives