5 Facts about the Management Specialist with Federal Diploma of Higher Education

The continuing education, further training for management specialists covers both personnel management and business management topics. These include, for example, team leadership, communication, conflict management, organization, project management and the basics of accounting and business administration.

The Federal Professional Examination for Management Specialists combines the two worlds of leadership and management in order to lead teams and organizations to success in a holistic manner. Both pillars are closely interwoven in the day-to-day work of a management specialist:

1. Leadership (Leadership & People)
   
   • Focus:People, values, visions and social competence.
   • Core competencies:Motivate and inspire employees, resolve conflicts, manage communication and team dynamics and reflect on your own personality as a leader.
2. Management (administration & processes)
   
   • Focus:Figures, structures, efficiency and organization.
   • Core competencies:Understand business contexts, plan processes, allocate resources, manage budgets and control change processes (change management).

The Federal Professional Examination is based on the two module areas—Leadership and Management—of the Swiss Association for Leadership Training (SVF). To be admitted to the Federal Professional Examination, candidates must have completed the required SVF modules.

The modular structure in detail
The path to the federal certificate as a management specialist is divided into two mandatory module areas:

1. Leadership (SVF certificate)
   The focus here is on personnel and interpersonal management. The course generally comprises the following modules:
   
   • Self-knowledge:Reflect on your own strengths, weaknesses and behavioral patterns.
   • Self-management:Efficient work organization and prioritization.
   • Communication:Situationally appropriate and targeted employee communication.
   • Presentation technology:Convincing and appropriate appearance.
   • Conflict management:Recognizing and resolving conflicts in the team.
   • Team leadership:Control group processes and motivate employees.
2. Management area (SVF certificate)
   This part teaches the business and structural basics that are essential for a management position. The modules include:
   
   • Personal Management:From recruitment to employee development.
   • Change management:Support and design of change processes in the company.
   • General Management:Business contexts and strategic thinking.

Leadership experience is required for the Federal Professional Examination. Those who already lead a team or group can therefore use this continuing education, further training program to combine their existing practical experience with recognized leadership skills.

The specific admission requirements for the management specialist final examination are divided into two possible paths:

• Route A: With basic training
  
  • Basic training:Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training (FEDERAL VET DIPLOMA), high school diploma or equivalent qualification.
  • Professional practice:At least3 yearsrelevant professional experience.
  • Management experience:Of which at least1 yearas the leader of a team or group.
• Route B: Without basic training
  
  • Professional practice:At least6 yearsrelevant professional experience.
  • Management experience:Of which at least1 yearas the leader of a team or group.

The qualification as a Leadership Specialist with a Federal Certificate is federally recognized and protected. The leadership and management skills acquired can be applied in a variety of leadership roles and industries. However, the specific career opportunities that arise depend on professional experience, role, and specialized knowledge.

Why sector independence works

• Methodological competence:The focus of the training is not on specialist industry knowledge, but on universally applicable management disciplines. These include personnel management, change management, communication, team leadership, conflict resolution and general management.
• Swiss standard:The content of the Federal Professional Examinations is closely linked to theSwiss Association for Leadership Development (SVF)has been approved, which ensures state recognition.

This continuing education program combines theoretical foundations with their application to typical leadership situations. Topics such as communication, conflict management, team leadership, human resources management, and business management concepts can be applied to specific situations encountered in everyday professional life.

This strong practical relevance is evident in several areas of the training to become a management specialist with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education:

• Transfer to everyday working life:What is learned (such as methods of employee management or business administration) is not only dealt with theoretically, but also practiced and applied directly using case studies from your own working environment.
• Modular design:The training program is usually divided into practice-oriented modules (leadership and management).
• Development of social skills:In addition to management techniques, the focus is on people. Topics such as communication, conflict management, self-reflection and coaching feature heavily in the lessons.
• Diversity of methods:The course uses role plays, group work and presentations to train real-life situations (such as employee appraisals or crisis situations) in a realistic way.
• Target:Upon completion of the Leadership Specialist further training program, graduates should be able to lead teams and tackle challenges in a solution-oriented and structured manner.