Management specialist: Experience report by Snjezana Zahner - the head of the BVS training center explains how this management and leadership training course prepares you specifically for a management position or greatly expands your leadership skills.
Who are you and what is your career to date?
My name is Snjezana Zahner. I completed my commercial apprenticeship many years ago. I then gained professional experience in various sectors in internal sales and consulting. I also completed part of the management specialist course myself. I have been working in adult education for 20 years now. I have been working at BVS as a divisional school director since January 2021. I directly supervise the management specialist course myself.
Who is the Management Specialist course particularly suitable for?
The Management Specialist course is suitable for people who have a Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training (VET Diploma), which can be a qualification from various professions. The continuing education, further training can also be completed without a Federal VET Diploma. We offer preparatory courses. Course participants may also have management experience, but this is not a requirement.
Who is the target group for the Management Specialist course?
The management specialist course is designed for professionals who ...
- who aspire to a management position
- prepare specifically for a management position
- already hold a management position
What are the admission requirements for this continuing education, further training?
There are different requirements for continuing education, further training as a management specialist depending on the degree. The module qualifications are possible without professional and management experience. For the Federal Diploma of Higher Education, the two module qualifications Management and Leadership as well as one year of team management experience (managing at least 2 employees) are required.
What is the content of the management specialist training course?
The course content of the management specialist training includes the following:
- 6 Leadership modules:
- Self-knowledge
- Self-management
- Team/group leadership
- Conflict management
- Presentation
- Oral and written communication
- 3 management modules for management specialists:
- General Management (Finance, Business Administration, Economics, Law)
- Personnel management (incl. labor law)
- Change management
How long does the continuing education, further training course take and how much does it cost?
The duration of the continuing education, further training is two semesters to complete all modules. The course costs CHF 8,620 plus examination fees of CHF 1,850. Preparation for the Federal Professional Examination for Management Specialists takes another semester and costs CHF 3,180 plus examination fees of CHF 850. The federal government subsidizes 50% of the course costs for the Federal Professional Examination, including those for the module qualifications.
What are the examinations for obtaining the degree?
The management module examinations for management specialists can be taken at the BVS training center (all written examinations). The leadership module examinations are conducted by the SVF association (externally) in the form of oral and written examinations.
What skills can be acquired with the management specialist training?
The following skills can be acquired with the management specialist training:
- the "soft" factors in leadership, such as
- Get to know yourself better as a leader
- get organized in everyday working life
- Recognize and resolve conflicts
- Management topics for management specialists such as
- Financial management (being able to interpret figures, how is the company doing financially?)
- BUSINESS STUDIES
- ECONOMICS
- Personnel management
- Labor law
What kind of qualification can be obtained through the training?
Two different degree levels can be achieved:
- Management Specialist BVS/SVF or Management Specialist BVS/SVF
- After the Federal Professional Examination: Management Specialist with Federal Diploma of Higher Education
What advantages does the St. Gallen school location offer students?
The BVS school site is located in the middle of the city of St. Gallen. It is easily accessible by train and bus. The school is a short walk from the train station. There are also numerous shopping and catering facilities in the immediate vicinity. Those arriving by car will find many nearby parking garages or can even park in the school's own small underground garage if they reserve in advance.
What are the goals of the BVS?
Practice-oriented continuing education, further training and qualifications at various levels are the goal of BVS's offerings. This means that we offer our students educational opportunities for qualifications ranging from internal school diplomas to Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) and College of Higher Education. In addition, we support and accompany our training participants and students personally and individually on their educational path. Continuing education, further training for management specialists in particular offers a good introduction to higher professional education and numerous opportunities for further development. Our training programs cover the following areas at various levels:
- Accounting
- HR Management
- Logistics
- Guidance
- Marketing, sales, communication
- Generalist continuing education, further training
- Business school
- Real estate
What prospects do you have as a management specialist?
As a management specialist, you will gain the following new perspectives:
- Assume a leadership position
- Expand leadership position
- Expand leadership position
- Accepting new management challenges
- Continuing education, further training at diploma level or Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE)
Why should students choose BVS as their educational institute?
The well-being of our participants is our top priority. We want our students on the continuing education, further training course for management specialists to be successful and achieve their goals. Individual learning support is also available if required. BVS is often perceived as "familiar", although we are not a small school. You benefit from the following advantages during your continuing education, further training at BVS:
- Central location
- Direct contact person per course
- Individual approach to problems and concerns
- Long-standing, highly experienced lecturers from the field
- Participants do not need to travel externally for the management module examinations, they can take these examinations in familiar surroundings. This is because all management module examinations for management specialists can be taken at the BVS training center.
- Many years of experience in running the management specialist course. Courses have been starting every spring and fall since this Federal Professional Examination was introduced. A number of examination experts help us to ensure that we are always up to date.
