1. Bern University of Applied Sciences
  2. School of Architecture, Wood and Civil Engineering
  3. Continuing Education
  4. Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS)
  5. Human Resource Management Foundation
See table of contents See table of contents

Human Resource Management – Foundation

Are you aware of the value that successful HR processes add to a business? Ensure that your business’ HR organisation and HR services are effective and profitable.

Up-to-the-minute and practice-based. Our programme is aimed at specialists and managers who are looking to consolidate their future in HR. This continuing education programme focuses on the interface between the operational side of the business and HR, ensuring you have the skills to align HR processes and their organisation to the needs of your business.

  • You will be able to tailor HR processes to your HR strategy.
  • You will have an excellent understanding of labour and social security legislation.
  • You will be familiar with the different roles involved and the value that HR adds to your business.
  • You will have practised the basic methods and techniques involved in HR.

Factsheet

  • Degree/Certificate Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS)
  • Duration 17 Unterrichtstage zzgl. Aufwand für Vor-/Nachbereitungen und Abschlussarbeit
  • Schedule Thursday, Friday, Saturday
  • Application deadline 6 weeks before start, later registration also possible if places are available
  • ECTS credits 12 ECTS-Credits
  • Costs CHF 8,500
  • Teaching language German
  • Location Bern, Schwarztorstrasse 48
  • School Business School
  • Next session Please visit the German website for more information

Contact

Downloads (in German)

For further information and registration, please visit the German website. 

Content + Structure

Portrait

Social and economic developments constantly present new challenges for HR. As an HR professional, you are continuously forced to rethink processes and organisational structures to adapt to changing circumstances. Given this backdrop, it is vital to have a fundamental understanding of the processes and organisation involved in HR and their potential for your company as a whole.

The CAS Human Resource Management Foundation focuses intensively on the following areas:

  • Strategy and structure of human resource management
  • Value-adding HR processes
  • Basic principles of labour and social security legislation
  • Methods, tools and techniques in the fields of communication, process design and project development

Learning outcomes

Create a sustainable, agile HR organisation, tailored to your needs. Become your company’s go-to expert for all HR-related questions and concerns. On graduating from this continuing education programme, you will have expanded your expertise in the following areas:

  • You will develop specialist knowledge and management skills.
  • You will be familiar with the methods used to analyse and design HR processes and the HR organisation.
  • You will be able to transfer what you have learned into practice.
  • You will be able to reflect on your own professional role.

This continuing education programme, which combines academic study with practical elements, focuses on the basic principles and processes involved in HR.

The CAS is split into four learning modules. If enough places are available, you can also book these modules individually. To earn the CAS qualification, you must complete all four modules.

Module 1: Strategy and structure of human resource management
 

  • Strategic HRM
  • HR organisation
  • HR marketing
  • HR controlling

Module 2: Value-adding HR processes
 

  • HR planning
  • HR recruitment
  • HR development
  • HR retention
  • HR redundancies

Module 3: Legal basis of human resource management
 

  • Labour and social security legislation

Module 4: Methods, tools and techniques of HRM
 

  • HR communication, systems and projects (with excursions)

Adults tend to have a different approach to learning. Not just because they usually have work and family responsibilities alongside their studies, but also because their learning needs are very much shaped by their own experience. Examining the content of the module on your own in advance will ensure that you reap maximum benefit from each learning unit. Even during self-study phases, students and staff remain in contact via an interactive, digital learning platform, allowing an exchange of information, clarification of any questions and a sharing of results from preparatory or follow-up activities.

You will benefit from didactic approaches that will advance your professional and personal development:

  • Lectures, tutorials, exchange of experience
  • Use of MS Teams as a learning platform
  • Presentations and technical discussions
  • Group work and action learning
  • Study of best practice with reflection, case studies
  • Networking and exchange with lecturers and participants

Our focus is on a transfer-oriented approach. At the end of the CAS, you will therefore write a final assignment, known as a transfer report.  Using defined, scientific criteria, you will evaluate approaches to a specific problem in your professional environment.
To earn the CAS qualification, you must attend the teaching sessions regularly and pass the assessments.

Title + qualification

Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) of Bern University of Applied Sciences in «Human Resource Management – Foundation» (12 ECTS credits)

Lecturers

Our lecturers are proven experts with extensive practical and theoretical knowledge in their subject areas. They have at least a university degree plus many years of experience in higher education. 

  • Theodor Bichsel, lawyer, head of legal department at the DI office, Bern, lawyer for various social institutions and on a freelance basis
  • Urs Graf, Prof., advocate and notary, postgraduate diploma in Business Education HSG, president of Interlaken, member of the Grand Council of the Canton of Bern, professor of industrial law and state and administrative management
  • Nicole Jordi, lic. rer. pol., postgraduate diploma in HRM FH, partner at Avenir Consulting AG, experience as head of HR, HR business partner, HR project manager and HR specialist, support and consultancy for reorganisation processes and redundancies
  • Urs Klingler, Global Remuneration Professional (GRP), CEO Klingler Consultants AG, consultancy work for national and international businesses 
  • Regula Mäder Steiner, qualified business economist, postgraduate diploma in HR Management, owner and managing director Mäder&Partner New Placement, Zurich, career changes and potential analysis: location, careers advice, career coaching, assessments, outplacements, new placements and inplacements 
  • Stefan Schweizer, MAS in Human Resource Management FHNW, controller NDS HF, head of competence centre HR Controlling, SBB AG, Bern, professional experience at SBB AG: HR business partner for finance and group supply change management, head of management support, HR senior executive and group level 
  • Michel E. Segesser, lic. phil. nat., EMBA HSG, consultant for HR strategy, organisational development and strategy-oriented HR processes, experience of HR in service businesses and industrial concerns
  • Michael Zaugg, lic. rer. pol., senior vice president Human Resources, Ypsomed AG, experience in a range of HR roles: head of talent Europe (ABB), divisional HR manager, head of Graduates Recruiting & Development and University Marketing, head of HR Services, head of HR Recruiting

Requirements + Admission

The CAS is intended for specialists and managers from the following areas:

  • Human Resource Management
  • HR and organisational development
  • Business development
  • Innovation and change management
  • Consultancy

University degree

You will be admitted to the programme with a degree from a university, university of applied sciences, university of teacher education, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, or an equivalent foreign university and at least two years of professional experience.

Higher vocational training

If you have a qualification from a higher vocational education institution (Diploma Höhere Fachschule HF, Federal Diploma, Federal Certificate of Proficiency) and several years of professional experience, you will also be admitted to the programme. However, you will be required to attend our Introduction to Academic Study before starting the CAS. Completion of this module is a prerequisite for admission to the CAS.

Exceptions

In exceptional circumstances applicants may still  be admitted. The head of the degree programme will make a decision based upon your application and extenuating circumstances. Please contact us. If you are admitted, you will in any case attend the course «Introduction to Academic Writing» (in German) before the first CAS.

Knowledge + abilities

The CAS is intended for individuals who have already gained some initial experience in HR management or professionals who are looking to gain the qualifications to change to a career in HR. You must have at least two years of work experience. If you have any questions about the professional prerequisites for this programme, the head of programme will be happy to advise you.

Language skills

The language of instruction is German. Some English-language teaching materials may occasionally be used.

For all students of our CAS programmes we offer a half-day course Effective Learning. Attendance is recommended and is free of charge for CAS students. At this event, you will learn about the practice-oriented learning style used at universities of applied science.

Organisation + Registration

The duration of the programme is 21 study days. There are full-day teaching blocks from Thursday to Saturday every two to three weeks. Max. 24 participants.

For further information and registration, please visit the German website. 

Documents required for registration

You can register online via registration form. For registration we require following documents (in PDF format, max. 1 MB per document): 

  • Diplomas 

  • Curriculum Vitae 

  • Passport-sized photo (in JPG format) 

Please upload these documents even if you have already submitted them for another application. 

Organisational aspects of the CAS

17 teaching days plus time for preparatory/follow-up activities and final assignment.

The registration deadline for the programme is six weeks before the start. If places are still available, later registration is possible.

CHF 8,500

All required literature, course materials and the costs of the certificates of competence are included in the CAS fee.

The continuing education regulations of the Bern University of Applied Sciences and the implementation regulations for the continuing education regulations apply. The right to make changes is reserved. In case of doubt, the wording of the legal provisions and regulations shall prevail.

Continuing Education Regulations of Bern University of Applied Sciences (WBR) (PDF, 133 KB)
Implementation Provisions for the Continuing Education Regulations WBR in the Business School (PDF, 81 KB)
Implementation Provisions for the Continuing Education Regulations (PDF, 77 KB)
Framework Study Regulations at Bern University of Applied Sciences (PDF, 127 KB)
Regulations on Scientific Integrity at Bern University of Applied Sciences (WissIR) (PDF, 140 KB)
Legal foundations

Advice

Study Counselling

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Head of degree programme

Administration

Information events

In addition to the information events we offer you our personal advice. By telephone or directly online via MS Teams.

Please contact us!

E-mail: weiterbildung.wirtschaft@bfh.ch 
Phone: 031 848 34 02

Location + facilities

Bern Schwarztorstrasse 48