Self-test: Is the HF Construction Management Technician course the right one for me?

What does the day-to-day work of construction supervisors with a federal HF diploma look like?

Certified construction management technicians organize, coordinate, manage and monitor construction projects in building construction, civil engineering and road construction. They work in construction companies of all sizes, where they take on responsible specialist and management tasks, initially at lower management level and then at middle management level. They ensure that the individual orders are carried out and completed as requested and in compliance with cost and deadline specifications. To this end, they carry out their work both in the office and directly on the construction site.

Qualified HF construction management technicians are responsible for work preparation. This is based on the respective work contracts, which the construction managers have also helped to draw up. Together with the specialists involved in the construction process, they plan the necessary documents, the construction site equipment (materials, machines, tools) and the construction process. They also plan the individual work steps including the schedule for the various professional groups and take precautions and measures for occupational safety and health protection on the construction site.

During the execution process, site managers give the teams appropriate instructions for each construction phase. They also monitor and control the construction progress, keeping an eye on the budget and schedule. They draw up construction reports to ensure traceability for all those involved.

Finally, the construction foreman's job also includes acquiring new customers and new projects as well as preparing quotations and invoicing completed orders.

Target group, personal characteristics and skills: For whom is the construction management training course for HF construction management technicians suitable?

Do you like taking the lead? Do you enjoy organizing projects - with everything that goes with it? Do you have a technical background and want to take on responsible and demanding tasks in construction management? Then perhaps you belong to the target group for this course at a higher technical college.

The HF Construction Management Technician course is aimed at professionals from the construction industry who are interested in a sound, practice-oriented generalist training course with good career prospects.

Site managers should have the following personal qualities and skills:

• Organizational talent
• An eye for detail and for the big picture
• Quick comprehension
• Sense of responsibility
• Practical/handicraft skills
• Systematic and solution-oriented thinking
• Leadership skills and assertiveness
• Communication skills
• Team player

Prerequisites for admission to the construction foreman course at a higher technical college with the study objective of technician HF construction management:

Admission to the HF course of study for HF construction management technicians can vary from school to school.* In principle, the following requirements are to be expected (good to know: The training providers may set additional admission requirements based on these):

• Completion of a relevant basic vocational training (apprenticeship) with EFZ** (for example: construction worker, draftsman, gardener, bricklayer, electrical planner)

Or

• Apprenticeship certificate (EFZ) in another profession or other upper secondary level qualification (high school diploma, technical secondary school certificate) or another equivalent qualification and one year of relevant professional experience in the field of construction management.

And

• During the part-time degree program, at least 50% of the time must be spent working in a field related to the degree program.***

In addition:

Depending on the school: entrance examination or aptitude test and/or attendance of a preliminary course, for example in mathematics. In some cases, a recognized language diploma in English (level B1/B2) is also required.

Note: In some cases, it is possible to have educational achievements already completed credited. The school of your choice will provide detailed information.

* The universities of applied sciences (HF) decide independently on the admission procedure. There may therefore be differences between the providers. The admission procedure is set out and regulated in the study regulations of the respective HF. It must comply with the relevant legal requirements. More information on this can be found in the answers.

** In the framework curriculum "Construction management" you will find a list of the relevant EFZ with which an examination-free admission to the construction manager training at a higher technical college is possible.Hereyou can download the framework curriculum in PDF format.

*** In a full-time training course, the work experience or the transfer from specialist training to practice is regulated via work placements (at least 720 learning hours).

Subject matter and content of the training

The construction manager training course for HF construction management technicians is available with three specializations: structural engineering, civil engineering and road construction. The learning content and (practical) skills taught in the training course are based on the "Construction management" framework curriculum. The framework curriculum sets out the basic points for the course (including the competencies to be achieved). It is backed by a sponsoring body that is responsible for drawing up the framework curriculum and also periodically checks it for up-to-dateness and quality*.

Despite the framework curriculum, the universities of applied sciences (HF) have a certain amount of leeway in the design of their construction supervisor training. Which learning content and specializations are ultimately covered or how they are structured and deepened can therefore vary from college to college.

Below you will find a list of the topics that are often covered in a HF course leading to the qualification of HF Construction Management Technician.

• Fundamentals of construction technology
• Business Administration (BWL)
• Project management
• Accounting and finance
• Civil engineering
• Construction management
• Communication
• English
• Management and leadership of employees
• Management

The HF course in construction management teaches you the following skills:

• Leadership, social and communication skills:Leading people, making decisions, planning and managing projects, communicating and presenting effectively
• Management:Understanding and helping to shape company processes, achieving business goals, taking the environment into account
• Knowledge management:Analyze and solve problems, develop personally
• Technical and professional skills:Processing the market, preparing work, processing orders, implementing construction site controlling, completing orders, planning resources, managing logistics

* The association "Trägerschaft für den Übergangs-Rahmenlehrplan Baufführung für die Vertiefungen Hochbau, Tiefbau und Verkehrswegbau" is responsible for the framework curriculum.

Costs and financing of further training

The cost of an HF course to become a HF construction management technician depends on the provider, the training location and the training model, among other things. They can therefore vary.

In general, the following costs must be expected for the one to three-year construction foreman training course:

• Tuition fees:The semester fee depends on the school and your canton of residence. For students residing in the canton of training, you can expect to pay an average of around CHF 13,800 to CHF 18,420*. The costs for the examinations and the diploma thesis are usually included in the course fees.
• Fees for additional certificates:For example, in English or project management (IPMA) etc. Whether you can complete additional certificates during your studies depends on the provider.
• Other extra costs:At some schools, you can expect to incur additional costs for various services when training to become a certified HF construction management technician. For example, for enrolment and the student ID card, for preliminary courses, teaching materials, training documents and exam repetitions (not an exhaustive list). Find out about the additional costs directly from the HF of your choice.

* Courses at universities of applied sciences are financially supported (subsidized) by the cantons. Students from outside the canton pay higher tuition fees. The following requirements apply in order to receive cantonal subsidies:

• at least two years of residence in the canton
• The course is listed on the EDK (Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education) list of eligible courses (you will find the link to the list in the answer texts).

The cantonal subsidies are usually regulated by the school, and these subsidies are usually already included in the tuition fees stated by the schools.

Duration of study, number of learning hours, forms of learning, teaching times, teaching format and learning effort

• Duration of study:The construction manager training course to become an HF construction management technician at a higher technical college lasts between two and six semesters. It is offered on a part-time and full-time basis.
• Number of learning hours:There are different curricula for people with a relevant occupation and those with other occupations, which differ in terms of the total number of hours. With a relevant EFZ, the course comprises at least 3600 learning hours. For courses without a relevant EFZ, the number of learning hours generally increases to 5400 learning hours.
• Forms of learning:The learning hours are divided into the following academic and practical educational components:
  • Guided lessons (e.g. theory, learning tasks, exercises, project work, excursions)
  • Independent learning
  • Qualification procedures (e.g. semester examinations, term papers, module completions, diploma thesis)
  • Professional experience and internships (e.g. relevant professional activity, internship in a real field of work)
• Lesson times:The extra-occupational training to become a HF construction management technician at a higher technical college (HF) is offered at different times, as the schools set their own timetables. Classes often take place once a week on a full working day, two evenings a week or on individual half-days. Lessons may also take place on Saturdays. In full-time studies, lessons usually take place every day.
• Teaching format:In addition to traditional classroom teaching, many schools now also offer online teaching formats, such as online teaching, hybrid teaching or blended learning. This gives you the opportunity to choose exactly the format that allows you to combine your construction management training with your family, career and free time. Not sure about the differences between the various teaching formats? In the answers you will find a helpful link to an overview of the teaching formats.
• Learning effort: You should allow sufficient time to prepare for and follow up the lessons and for self-study - how much depends on your prior knowledge, working style, learning speed and chosen training model. We recommend that you allow at least 4-6 hours per week for the part-time model.

Note: Some schools offer so-called "taster lessons"/"trial lessons". This gives you the opportunity to gain an insight into the lessons and the learning atmosphere. Important aspects on the way to a successful graduation. Take advantage of this opportunity and contact the school of your choice directly.

Degree, diploma and title

During the HF course of study to become a certified HF construction management technician, you will have to achieve various qualifications. These can take the form of examinations, for example semester or intermediate examinations, or independent work, for example semester or project work and presentations. The grades for these qualification achievements then flow directly into the final grades.

Have you completed all the previous qualifications during your studies in construction management? Then you will be admitted to the final qualification procedure, which consists of a practice-oriented diploma thesis. The dissertation must be written on a topic from the specialist area and have a practical or economic benefit. Candidates write their thesis individually and usually at the end of their construction management training. Here too, the time frame in which the thesis is to be written is determined by the respective HF in its study regulations. The thesis is presented to a panel of experts (a group of specialists) and then defended in an expert discussion.

The details of implementation are regulated by the respective HF in its study regulations.

Diploma and title

Graduates of the course receive an HF diploma and are entitled to use the federally recognized and protected professional title "Dipl. Techniker HF Baufführung / dipl. Technikerin HF Baufführung". (formerly "Technician HF Mechanical Engineering, specializing in Production Engineering")

In French: "Technicien diplômé ES en conduite des travaux / Technicienne diplômée ES en conduite des travaux"

In Italian: "Tecnico dipl. SSS conduzione di lavori edili / Tecnica dipl. SSS conduzione di lavori edili"

The recommended translation in English is as follows: "Advanced federal Diploma of Higher Education in Site management". This is not a protected title.