Nomination process for SDG Impact Awards & Engagement Award

The award for scientific work with impressive impact in the field of SDGs honors theses that take up topics of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and develop foundations or elements for improvement in these areas. One thesis each on Bachelor, Master or Doctoral level will be awarded. The prizes are endowed with CHF 1,000 each.

All theses at Bachelor's, Master's or doctoral level (there is one award per level) that meet the following criteria can be nominated:

• The work addresses issues in the area of one or more SDGs.
• The work includes analysis, approaches, measures, models, algorithms, or similar elements that support the implementation of one or more SDGs.
• The lmpact on practice and/or society is addressed directly or indirectly.
• The paper demonstrates high scientific quality and has been graded at least 5 or higher.
• The thesis was submitted between 19 January 2024 and 16 January 2025 and has never been nominated for the corresponding prize.

How to proceed

The nomination must be submitted by the supervising professor or lecturer in the form of a letter of recommendation (similar to the semester prize). Please note that letters of recommendation from lecturers must be co-signed by a professor from our Faculty in accordance with the prize regulations.

Are you a graduate and would like to have your thesis nominated? Then please contact your supervising professor.

Please submit the nomination by 23 January 2025 at the latest at: promotionsfeier@oec.uzh.ch

The Faculty Council has appointed a prize committee to propose the winners for approval. The prize committee consists of professors from the Faculty and two student representatives from the student associations (one each from business and economics and one from informatics). The awards are given to one thesis each at Bachelor's, Master's or Doctoral level. The awards are endowed with CHF 1,000 each. They will be presented at the graduation ceremony on 24 May 2025 at the Kongresshaus Zurich. The authors, titles, content and supervisors of all nominated theses will be widely communicated – as a visible impact of our Faculty on current social challenges.

The prize for special commitment alongside studies recognizes the achievements of students or doctoral students of business, economics or informatics who distinguish themselves through their achievements, commitment or innovative strength alongside their studies.

The following criteria apply:

• The achievement was made alongside the studies in the university environment or in connection with what was learned during the studies.
• The achievement is outstanding due to its impact or the results achieved.

How to proceed
The collection of nominations is coordinated by the specialist associations fvoec and ICU. The Faculty Committee has appointed a prize committee, which then selects three nominees who are invited to the graduation ceremony. The prize committee consists of professors from the Faculty and two student representatives from the student associations (one each from business and economics and one from informatics). At the graduation ceremony on 24 May 2025 at the Kongresshaus Zurich, the audience will vote on which of the three nominees will receive the Engagement Award. The winner will receive CHF 1000 and the runners-up CHF 500 each.

The deadline for nominations for the Engagement Award is 23 January 2025.