“Our team is passionate about creating inspiring spaces, user-flexible buildings and durable furnishings.”
Fabian Lüthi has worked as an operations project manager and architect at the University of Bern since February 2013. In this interview, he talks about the social relevance of his work and the remarkable diversity at the University of Bern.
Interview with Fabian Lüthi, Team Lead, Operations and Strategy
What do you think makes the University of Bern special as an employer?
In my view, the social relevance of the university is unique. Our work creates spaces for research and academic teaching – for the growing number of students as well as for lifelong learning. The university is an institution steeped in tradition. At the same time, it is deeply engaged with contemporary societal topics. I am particularly fascinated by the university’s immense diversity: It is a place where dedicated people work in teaching, service provision and research that spans nearly every conceivable topic –from theology, through human and veterinary medicine, to space science and archeology. This is why, after more than ten years, I am still constantly learning something new.
What does “The University of Bern is at the heart of things” mean to you?
That is a pretty accurate description of our daily work – both in terms of what we do and where we do it. We are a city university located close to the main station, and thus at the pulse of Bern. This has several practical advantages: We can reach almost every university location by bike or on foot in a matter of minutes. For our work, this means we can oversee construction and furnishing projects on-site and collaborate closely with students, staff members and partners.
How would you describe the work culture in your team?
Our work approach is solution-oriented and transdisciplinary, and we mediate between different perspectives to develop sustainable solutions. There is a family-like atmosphere in our team: We support each other, we often have lunch together and we enjoy doing activities together, such as visiting project sites or going for after-work drinks. Our team is passionate about creating inspiring spaces, user-flexible buildings and durable furnishings. My leadership style is built on collaboration and shared responsibility – I refer to it as shared leadership.
How does the University of Bern support your own professional growth?
The university offers superb continuing education opportunities. I found participating in the CLS Academic Leadership program to be particularly valuable, as it provides not only substantive knowledge but also promotes networking with other staff in leadership positions at the university. Since starting at the university, I have been able to steadily expand my role – from project management of highly complex laboratory buildings, through strategic planning, to Team Lead and Deputy Head of the department.