Experience report on construction manager training: Rolf Kümin explains as head of school which construction technology training you can use to become a construction manager for building construction (AFPE).
Tell us about your background.
My name is Rolf Kümin, I am the Head of School at IBZ Schulen AG, where I am responsible for the construction technology and quality management courses. I originally come from a business management background and spent several years in the IT industry. I then switched to the education sector, where I initially developed, designed and sold e-learning solutions. Later, I worked as a freelancer in organizational and leadership development for training institutes, among others. I have now been working at IBZ Schools for 6 years.
What are the goals of the IBZ training institute in the field of construction technology?
We want to train our students so that they can develop further and gain new career opportunities. This is the primary goal of IBZ. IBZ Schools achieves this with the following measures:
- Qualified practice-oriented construction technology training such as construction manager AFPE
- Those interested in education can benefit from our 75 years of educational experience
- Modern learning and teaching structures (activity-oriented, digital, etc.)
- Offer market-oriented courses in the field of construction technology training at all educational levels
Construction technology training: Which courses can be attended at the IBZ schools?
We offer four courses specifically in the area of construction technology training. These are the courses:
- qualified technician CHE building construction management
- qualified CHE civil engineering technician
- qualified technician CHE construction planning architecture
- qualified technician CHE construction planning civil engineering
Graduates of the Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education (Achtung: English: Dipl. Bauleiter HFP) courses are also prepared for the Federal Examination for Construction Supervisors HFP and those who meet the relevant admission requirements can also complete this HFP construction supervisor diploma. Since the new guidelines for the Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) in Construction Management, we no longer offer a pure construction manager AFPE course, as 6 years of professional experience in planning and construction management are required for admission to the federal examination. In the CHE technician training course in construction planning, students learn more extensive course content and can also obtain the AFPE title in addition to the CHE title. This allows you to obtain two titles at the same time with a little extra effort.
For whom are the CHE Construction Management Technician or CHE Construction Planning Technician courses particularly suitable?
A special feature of the IBZ is that the courses have a modular structure and, depending on the subject, participants attend several courses at the same time. In particular, the exchange between construction supervisors and site managers (a unique feature in Switzerland) is very fruitful here and is seen as a great advantage by the participants. The courses in construction management are suitable for bricklayers in building construction, road builders or foundation engineers in civil engineering or for people who have already gained at least one year's professional experience in construction management. The courses in construction planning are suitable for draughtsmen or for people who have already gained at least one year's professional experience in construction management.
What is the difference between the functions of site manager and site supervisor?
The construction supervisor works for the construction company, i.e. the company carrying out the work, which is responsible for the majority of the execution project (especially the shell). He takes care of work preparation, financial aspects and controlling for the executing company. He ensures that the right material is on site at the required time. The site manager is the client's representative. He works for an engineering or architectural office and his task is to coordinate and control the companies and their execution of the construction project according to plan. He takes care of the flow of information, adherence to deadlines and checks the quality of the work delivered.
What career prospects do graduates have after completing the AFPE Construction Manager qualification?
Graduates of the CHE construction management technician course usually already work as construction supervisors during their continuing education, further training or develop into this position. Some also progress to continuing education, further training via the Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) in Construction Management, postgraduate studies or a CAS at the University of Applied Sciences to become a master builder or construction project manager. Graduates of the CHE construction planning technician course often already work as construction managers or construction technicians during their continuing education, further training or develop into these positions. Some also continue their education, further training in the form of postgraduate studies or a CAS at the University of Applied Sciences to become construction project managers or construction managers.
What do students learn on the preparatory course to become an AFPE construction manager?
The courses are structured in a very practical way and students not only learn the theoretical basics for carrying out the relevant positions, but also everything they need to successfully and correctly implement the projects in their work as construction foremen or site managers AFPE.
How much do the CHE Construction Management Technician and CHE Construction Planning Technician courses cost?
The tuition fee per semester is CHF 2,970 including teaching materials, licenses and examination fees (after deduction of the grant). In addition, there are one-off fees of CHF 250 for enrolment and CHF 1,200 for the diploma thesis, resulting in total costs of CHF 19,270 for the construction management or construction planning course. An examination fee of CHF 2,100 is charged for the AFPE construction manager examination. The AFPE Construction Manager Building Construction course, including the final examination, therefore costs a total of CHF 21,370.
What makes the IBZ training locations particularly interesting for students?
Several IBZ training locations offer flexibility in the event of a change of residence or job. If a course cannot be held at one location due to too few registrations, it can be completed at another location. In addition, all our educational institutes are easy to reach by car or public transport.
Why should prospective students choose the IBZ school and its construction technology training program?
Students who want to attend a practice-oriented course while continuing their full-time employment during their construction technology training are in exactly the right place with us. Our success rates are always slightly above the national level. In the 2019 exam, our AFPE pass rate was 75%, compared to 62% for the whole of Switzerland.
Overview of providers of the Building Construction Manager course (AFPE)
Overview of providers of the course Technician in Construction Planning Architecture (CHE)
Overview of course providers Technician in Civil Engineering (CHE)
