History

The IAP Institute of Applied Psychology was founded by Prof. Dr. Julius Suter in 1923 as the " Zurich Psychotechnical Institute ".

In the first decades of the 20th century, the application of psychological knowledge to practical problems in Switzerland was more or less unknown. From the outset the IAP was a pioneer in this field, and has since made a sustained contribution to the establishment of applied psychology as a field of study in Switzerland. Innovative employers quickly understood the practical advantages of psychological aptitude tests, work analyses and psychology-based professional training. They also quickly saw the value of scientific potential and aptitude tests in the field of vocational and career guidance and planning. Psychology-supported guidance and further education have always been and still are the core expertise and business foundation of the IAP.
 
In 1937, the Seminar for Applied Psychology was founded as the IAP's reaction to the increasing demand for psychological services and the resulting lack of trained specialists. Students initially attended a 1 to 2 year training course, which developed during the 20th century into a general psychology course lasting 8 to 10 semesters and provided students with a practical qualification in applied psychology.
 
In 1947 the Management Seminar, a milestone in the training of managers in Switzerland, was launched. The IAP then started developing a great number of training courses for people who carried organisational responsibility at work. Then as now, the IAP's clients included managers, HR officers, teachers and consultants.
 
Postgraduate courses (today the Master of Advanced Studies) for personnel managers and supervision and coaching courses were introduced in 1970.
 
In 1999, the Seminar for Applied Psychology was granted the status of a university of applied sciences, and the HAP University of Applied Psychology was established.
 
In 2004 the IAP Institute of Applied Psychology became a university institute of the HAP University of Applied Psychology. The Foundation of Applied Psychology is the supporting institution of the HAP University and the IAP Institute.
 
In 2004 the Management Seminar established in 1947 launched its 100th course, now in the form of a four-semester postgraduate course in leadership and management.
 
In 2007, the Management Seminar established in 1947 was replaced by the Master of Advanced Studies in Leadership and Management. This innovative management course combines the fields of psychology and management in a single course.

In 2007 the HAP University of Applied Psychology and the university institute IAP merged with the Hochschule für Soziale Arbeit HSSAZ, the Hochschule Wädenswil (HSW) and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences Winterthur ZHW to become the ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences. The HAP (incl. the university institute IAP) became subject to cantonal supervision and changed its name to the ZHAW School of Applied Psychology.