1. Bern University of Applied Sciences
  2. School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL
  3. Continuing education
  4. Communication
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Communication

Is communication a key to your professional success? Put together your personal communication portfolio with our CAS Communication: digital and analogue.

The content of our CAS Communication covers individual, team and corporate communication. Instead of learning theories by heart, you experience and internalise communication. We offer you a carefully compiled mix of methods, theories, instruments and practical application.

  • You understand communication as an essential success factor in implementing goals and avoiding or overcoming resistance.
  • You feel confident in your daily communication with different target groups and their demands.
  • You develop communication strategies at different levels and implement them successfully.
  • You gain a broad understanding of communication and its effects on individuals, teams and the organisation.
  • You develop and establish a positive communication mentality.

Factsheet

  • Degree/Certificate Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS)
  • Duration 20 study days
  • Schedule Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
  • 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

To register, please visit the German website. 

Content + structure

Portrait

Versatile. Scientifically sound. Practice-oriented. Our CAS Communication covers a thematically broad base to meet the various demands of everyday organisational and corporate life specialists and managers. In addition to classic skills such as presentation, conversation and conflict communication, this course also improves your skills in digital teamwork, visual thinking, storytelling and issues relating to law.

The application of the methodological principles and scientific findings in practical situations, such as communication in teams, crisis management, contract negotiations or marketing, are equally important cornerstones of this course.

Course objectives

The CAS Communication helps you to create a "communicative toolbox" with general and specific tools. You will learn how to use them in different situations according to your needs:

  • You are aware of the basics and the effects of communication.
  • You feel confident in daily communication with different target groups and dealing with their demands.
  • You apply a wide range of methods, concepts and instruments of communication tailored to the target group.
  • You communicate effectively in digital and analogue form, as well as on the individual, team and company level.
  • You develop communication strategies at different levels and implement them successfully.

In this work-study programme you will deal intensively with one of the most important factors in changing your environment: communication. This includes speaking, listening, writing, visualising and discussing via "traditional” analogue and "new" digital communication channels. Whether with customers, business partners, your team or in your private life, communication is a key success factor. Expand your skill set and create your personal communication portfolio.

Basics and requirements of communication

  • Psychology, design and communication:
    basics of effective communication
  • Target groups and stakeholder management:
    clearly define stakeholder groups
  • Ethics, communications & media law:
    avoiding stumbling blocks, acting with legal certainty and ethical principles

Instruments of communication

  • Visual thinking, storytelling & videos:
    fascinating people with stories
  • Texts in the digital environment and social media:
    the boundaries of my language are the boundaries of my world
  • Creative, target group-oriented presentation:
    boring presentations were yesterday

Communication and interaction

  • Successful contract negotiations: Between Harvard Method and Intuition

  • Team communication: Understanding each other and working together

Digital and social media communication

  • Digital collaboration - Home Office 2.0.: MS Teams, Sharepoint and Co.
  • Digital communication toolbox: Social media platforms and instruments for a clear target group approach in everyday working life

Corporate communication

  •     Media relations: Understanding and dealing with the media
  •     Calm crisis communication: Confident communication in uncertain times
  •     Marketing and PR: Understanding contexts, developing storylines, using tools

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

  • Lectures, teaching and discussions, exchange of experience
  • Use of MS Teams as a learning platform
  • Presentations and technical discussions
  • Group work and action learning
  • Study of examples with reflection, case studies
  • Excursions
  • Networking and exchange with lecturers and participants
  • Transfer report, communication project
  • Presentation

Qualification & title

Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) of the Bern University of Applied Sciences in Communication (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. 

Requirements + admission

Do you work in marketing, communication or HR? Do you manage a team, a department or a company? Or are you in another position where you work with people every day? The CAS Communication is ideal for you if communication is an important part of successful collaboration and interaction.

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.

Language skills

The language of instruction is German. To a lesser extent, English language teaching materials may 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 20 study days. Maximum of 20 participants.

To register, 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

The duration of the programme is 20 study days. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, all-day, aapproximately every 3 - 4 weeks.

The registration deadline for the programme is 6 weeks before the start. If places are available, later registration is possible.

CHF 8,500

All compulsory literature, course materials and assessment are included in the price.

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, 81 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 the 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