History

The school was founded in 1942 by the apple juice trade association to train fruit juice producers. The training of specialists in related professional fields followed. The range of study programmes offered, from vocational training to further education at proficiency and master craftsman levels, led to the school being approved as a higher technical college in 1970.
 

From Higher Technical College (Ingenieurschule Waedenswil) to the University of Applied Sciences Waedenswil

Over the years, the range of study programmes was steadily expanded to include Food Technology (1988), Biotechnology (1994) and Facility Management (1998). Following the reform of the universities of applied sciences in 1998, the Ingenieurschule Waedenswil became the University of Applied Sciences Waedenswil.
 

Chemistry comes to Waedenswil

In 2004 the Council of Universities of Applied Sciences of the Zurich Association of Universities of Applied Sciences (ZFH) decided to concentrate Chemistry and Life Sciences at the University of Applied Sciences Waedenswil. As a result there has been a degree programme in Chemistry in Waedenswil since autumn 2006.
 

The University of Applied Sciences Waedenswil (HSW) becomes the ZHAW School of Life Sciences and Facility Management

At the end of 2007 the HSW was merged with other universities forming part of the Zurich Association of Universities of Applied Sciences to become the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW). Since 1 September 2007 it has been known as the ZHAW School of Life Sciences and Facility Management. The vocational education and training centre (BZW) remains affiliated to the ZHAW as a vocational college in its own right.