Technical business management assistant training: Field report with tips from the head of the EBZ adult education center Solothurn-Grenchen

Portrait-Foto Regula Meister
Regula Meister, Head of the EBZ
Adult Education Center Solothurn-Grenchen

School managers have to deal with many people interested in education and have a lot of background information about various training courses and continuing education, further training. In an interview with Regula Meister from the EBZ Adult Education Center, for example, we were able to find out more about the continuing, higher education course in Technical Business Management with Federal Diploma of Higher Education. We don't want to withhold these insights from you.

Who are you and what is your role at the EBZ?

My name is Regula Meister, I have been head of the EBZ Adult Education Center Solothurn-Grenchen since August 2019. I am also head of the continuing education, further training "Caretaker with federal FA" and currently head of the training course "Technical Businesswoman / Technical Businessman with federal FA". I teach in various areas to stay on the ball. We are currently working with teams on "online teaching", which is an exciting challenge.
 
How do I manage the EBZ and what is important to me?

  • I don't avoid risks and decisions.
  • Loyalty and honesty are very important to me.
  • I keep a cool head in stressful situations.
  • I really appreciate contact with a wide variety of people.

What is your professional background?

After completing my basic pedagogical training, I went on to complete continuing education, further training in teaching and training as a technical business administrator. This training gave me a sound insight into business management contexts. In my role as head of the Feusi training centers in Solothurn and Olten at the time, I was able to put what I had learned into practice 1:1 in the areas of IT, marketing, management and much more. This training also provided me with a wonderful foundation for my continuing education, further training as a business economist UAS. After a few years as a professional inspector, I am now working in the education sector again and am also training to become a qualified adult educator CHE.

Who is the Technical Business Management Assistant course particularly suitable for?

Technical business management assistants work in a wide variety of companies and industries and can take on demanding tasks in all areas of operational performance.
Higher vocational education and training prepares students for demanding specialist or management positions as a technical business management assistant. It is based on a close link between theory and practice. The knowledge and skills taught are directly applicable in everyday working life. Higher vocational training opens up excellent career prospects: The professional and industry associations determine the course content and ensure that the Federal Professional Examination in Technical Business Administration is tailored to the needs of the economy. This practical relevance explains the high acceptance of the qualifications on the job market. Every year, around 27,000 professionals throughout Switzerland complete the Federal Professional Examination for Technical Business Management Assistants. This is an important step in their professional development and career.
The SERI 2020 figures show that the Federal Professional Examination in Business Administration is the most popular, with just under 800 people taking it each year, followed by HR specialists, police officers and social insurance specialists.

What career opportunities and possible jobs are there after continuing education, further training as a technical business administrator?

Technical business management assistants work as executives in lower to middle management positions in companies in a wide range of sectors such as industry, commerce, administration or the service sector. The combination of technical and commercial knowledge opens up a wide range of planning and organizational tasks in many areas of the economy. As qualified all-rounders, technical business management assistants find employment opportunities in a wide variety of functions. It is also possible to work as a project manager or in a specialist function.
 
Employment in the areas listed below is common as a technical business administrator:

  • Administration
  • Business administration and management
  • Automotive industry
  • Electrical engineering / building technology: operation and maintenance
  • Wholesale
  • Wood processing and interior fittings, interior decoration
  • Floor layer or tiler
  • Glazing
  • Plastic
  • Paper
  • Surface technology
  • Painting and plastering
  • Mechanical engineering and metalworking
  • Foundry, plumbing
  • Planning, building construction and civil engineering
  • Sanitary, heating, ventilation, air conditioning
  • Watches and microtechnology

Before training as a technical business administrator, participants have often completed a 3- to 4-year apprenticeship.

 

Possible career paths that are supported by the "Technical Business Management Assistant" training are:

  • From car mechanic to sales manager and then founding his own company
  • A painter in a large company moves into middle to upper management by training as a technical business administrator
  • Employee assumes responsibility for projects, including the management of major projects
  • Change from the front line of a practical activity to an administrative activity

What are the classic positions of technical sales representatives?

Typical positions after training as a technical business management assistant are usually:

  • Management function
  • Management functions
  • Acquisition of companies
  • Independence
  • Project management

What would be possible alternative training courses instead of Technical Business Management Assistant with Federal Diploma of Higher Education for a change from trade to office?

There are already a few alternatives worth considering to switch from the skilled trades to the office through continuing education, further training:

  • Commercial school, commercial diploma/office diploma
  • New: Technical clerk edupool.ch - can also be attended as preparation for the technical business management apprenticeship
  • Catch-up training KV or Federal Vocational Baccalaureate
  • Management expert

What are the advantages of a technical business management assistant compared to the alternative educational paths, what are its strengths?

Thanks to their technical and commercial/business knowledge and skills, they often take on management functions at lower management level. One of the strengths of this continuing education, further training in technical business management is its polyvalent orientation. It allows technical business management assistants to take on tasks at the interface between technology and business management and to work together across departments.

The advantages of being a technical salesperson are

  • get ahead
    Optimal preparation for demanding specialist and management functions
  • Federally recognized qualification
    Supported by the economy, in demand on the labor market
  • Flexible planning
    Different time models
  • Close to the practice
    Close link between theory and practice
     

What are the advantages and disadvantages of continuing education, further training full-time as opposed to part-time?

Technical business management assistants can put what they have learned directly into practice during continuing education, further training. Topics and problems in the company flow directly into the training with questions and input. The exchange within the company is important and beneficial. For this reason, the EBZ only offers the Technical Business Management Assistant course on a part-time basis. This is an additional burden in terms of time management. However, this aspect is also good preparation for a career as a technical business administrator.

What advantages does the EBZ Adult Education Center offer for technical business management training?

The EBZ Adult Education Center is part of the BBZ Vocational Training Center and has strong regional roots. Thanks to our close and good cooperation with the commercial-industrial vocational school, we can benefit from each other and build on the knowledge of vocational education and training (VET). We offer our customers professional services as well as flexible and individualized training opportunities - e.g. training as a technical business management assistant. We maintain uncomplicated and personal customer contact. Our customers not only appreciate the high quality of our continuing education, further training courses, but also the courteous and friendly way in which we impart knowledge at EBZ. I am personally proud of our success rates in all external examinations - over the last three years, our success rate has been just under 90%, which is well above the Swiss average. A really good reason to complete the Technical Business Management Assistant continuing education, further training at EBZ.

What are the best continuing education, further training courses after technical business management?

No training or further education without a connection - this also applies to continuing education, further training in technical business management. All technical business management graduates with a degree have a wide range of opportunities for further training or specialization in business management. Below are a few examples:

  • Diploma examinations:
    • Diploma in Business Administration CHE
    • Postgraduate studies in Higher Education (CHE) in General Management
    • Sales Manager (AFPE)
    • Business economist SME
    • Sales Manager
    • Purchasing Manager
    • Etc.
  • University of Applied Sciences / Bachelor of Science:
    • Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
    • Bachelor of Science in Business Informatics
  • Various CAS courses at the University of Applied Sciences

Overview of "Technical Business Management Assistant" providers