Programming for Digital Democracy

Graduates of Computer Science from ETH Zurich will shape the technological, scientific, and civic future through
the platforms and tools they build – such as recommender systems and digital identity infrastructures.
Understanding how design decisions shape collective outcomes is therefore part of a contemporary computer
science education by a leading technical university like ETH Zurich.

Accordingly, there is substantial student demand for interdisciplinary courses that address the interaction between
technology and democratic processes. Recent offerings in this area have seen enrollment numbers well beyond
capacity.

The project will develop a lecture which aims to provide students with hands-on experience through collaborations
with external organizations. Each rendition of the course entails a new case study developed in collaboration with
a partner involved in digital democratic infrastructure. The topic is first introduced to the students and motivated
theoretically during the lecture and then applied through a coding project in groups.

The strong focus on project-based work with real code-bases exposes students to the technical and social
constraints under which software is developed. Students gain experience with open-source collaboration, code
review practices, documentation, and maintainability. These skills are central to modern software engineering but
difficult to teach in conventional lecture formats.

Develop and implement an interactive lecture on Digital Democracy aligned with the PAKETH framework. The course should include:

• Clearly defined learning outcomes
• Structured modules
• Case studies
• Project assignments
• Integrated assessments

The course should emphasise active learning methods such as:

• Group work
• Peer feedback
• Practical platform analysis

Build structured collaborations with external partner organisations, such as:

• NGOs
• Civic tech initiatives
• Public institutions
• Industry partners

These collaborations should provide:

• Guest lectures
• Real-world case studies
• Project mentoring
• Internship pathways

The goal is to expose students to practical applications and alternative career trajectories.

Embed the course permanently within the Computer Science Bachelor’s curriculum as an elective.

This ensures:

• Long-term sustainability
• Continuous development of the digital democracy offering

Added Value – For Students

• Students gain an understanding of how their technical skills intersect with societal needs by applying ethical frameworks to real-world coding projects.
• They experience authentic software development through collaborations with external organizations, which expands their career horizons.
• The project’s emphasis on structured teamwork equips them with essential collaboration skills. As a student-led initiative, it is also deeply aware of the needs and perspectives of students.

Added Value – For Lecturers

• Lecturers benefit from students who approach their work with greater critical thinking.
• In addition, the project introduces a scalable model for training teaching assistants, developed in collaboration with PBLabs. This model includes ongoing pedagogical support, which enhances TA skills and improves the quality of assistance provided to lecturers.
• Furthermore, the project fosters cross-departmental collaboration between Computer Science (D-INFK) and Social Sciences (D-GESS).

Added Value – For the Degree Programme / Departments / ETH

• For the degree programme, departments, and ETH Zurich as a whole, the project contributes to the university’s goal of providing holistic education.
• It creates a coherent learning journey by bridging the gap between GESS coursework and technical studies, enabling students to integrate knowledge across disciplinary silos.
• Additionally, the initiative strategically positions ETH within the Swiss digital democracy innovation ecosystem. It strengthens ties with external partners and reinforces ETH’s role as a leader in socially responsible technology.