Swiss university’s not-so-neutral policy to restrict applications from Chinese students
Top academic institute ETH Zurich has revealed a new screening policy which will limit students from countries including China
But a recent move by Switzerland’s ETH Zurich (Federal Institute of Technology Zurich) to restrict admission of students from countries including China has been heavily criticised, with one Chinese scientist who spent years working in the country labelling the act “discriminatory”.
For student applicants, there are four evaluation criteria. These include country of origin – both nationality and place of residence, previous education at an institution deemed a security risk, and any scholarships received from a sanctioned state, among others.
It is recommended to reject anyone with more than one “yes” on the checklist.
It is an unexpected move considering Switzerland’s principle of political neutrality has been deeply enshrined in its history for more than 500 years.
ETH Zurich said the rules are being implemented to “minimise the risk of misuse” of technology and knowledge developed at the institute that could be used for military purposes, something it calls “dual-use”.
