Self-test: Is the "Public Transport Manager with Federal Diploma (HFP)" course the right one for me?

What does the day-to-day work of a public transport manager with a federal diploma look like?

Public transport managers work in management functions or as project managers in rail, bus or shipping companies. They use key figures to analyze the profitability of services and develop new concepts for public services based on market observation and statistical figures.

Public transport managers prepare offers, negotiate with subcontractors and suppliers and maintain contact with authorities. In public, they represent their company in working groups, committees or commissions and are responsible for public communication, advertising and PR.

Target group and skills: For whom is the Advanced Federal Diploma in Public Transport Management suitable? What qualities and skills are required?

The following groups of people are the target group of the course and the higher professional examination for "Public Transport Manager with a Federal Diploma" and "Public Transport Manager with a Federal Diploma":

• Managers with a passion for public transport who want to develop themselves further
• People with professional experience and initial management experience in the public transport sector who wish to have their skills certified with a corresponding federal diploma

Public Transport Managers should have the following personal qualities and skills:

• Networked thinking
• Reliable and correct way of working
• Reliability
• Sense of responsibility
• Organizational talent
• Ability for planning work
• Interest or passion for vehicles, transportation and logistics
• Ability to work in a team
• Willingness to work irregular hours

Requirements for admission to the Advanced Professional Examination for Public Transport Managers:

In order to be admitted to the Advanced Professional Examination for Public Transport Managers, the following conditions must be met by the time of the examination or registration for the examination:

• Be in possession of the federal certificate for public transport specialists (BP) and be able to demonstrate at least two years of professional experience in a management position* in public transport

Or

• Have a federal certificate from another professional examination, a federal diploma from a higher professional examination, a diploma from a higher technical college, university of applied sciences or university and at least four years of professional experience in public transport (including two years in a management position)

Or

• Have an upper secondary level qualification or equivalent and at least six years' professional experience in public transport, including two years in a management role

You will find out whether you have been admitted to the higher professional examination at least three months before the start of the examination with a written notification including reasons in the event of a negative decision.

Note: Some schools are prepared to admit you to a preparatory course for the Advanced Professional Examination for Public Transport Managers if you do not (yet) meet the criteria for admission to the federal examination. It is your responsibility to ensure that you meet the necessary requirements at the time of the examination/application for the examination. At some schools, it is also possible to attend the course without the intention of taking an examination. In this case, the admission requirements vary depending on the provider.

Subject matter and content of the training

The subject matter of the preparatory courses for the Higher Professional Examination for Public Transport Managers is based on the requirements of the sponsor of the federal examination, the Association of Public Transport (VöV)

As a rule, the following topics are addressed:

• Public transport system-Switzerland
• Traffic planning
• Operation and production
• Strategy and organization
• IT and digitization
• Self-management
• Communication
• Customer orientation
• Financial management
• Methodical work
• Leadership

Costs and financing of further training

In addition to the examination fee, which is set by the body responsible for the higher professional examination, the costs vary depending on the provider.

In general, the following costs must be expected for the 3-semester part-time training course to become a public transport manager:

• Course feesBetween CHF 17,000 and CHF 20,000. You will receive around 50% of this back from the federal government upon application (regardless of the result).
• External examination feesCHF 2200 (as of April 2023). As mentioned above, the examination fee is set by the sponsoring body. It is paid by the candidate after admission has been confirmed.
• Extra costsSome schools do not include the costs for teaching materials, training documents, practical weeks or simulation exams in the course fees. Please contact the provider of your choice directly to find out what additional costs you can expect.

*Since 1.1.2018, preparatory courses for federal professional examinations (BP) and higher professional examinations (HFP) have been financially supported by the federal government. Graduates of these courses will therefore be reimbursed up to 50% (max. CHF 9,500 for BP, max. CHF 10,500 for HFP) of the course costs paid upon application after taking the federal examination. In exceptional cases of hardship, the federal contributions will also be paid out in advance.

Duration of studies, teaching times, teaching formats and learning effort

• The public transport manager course lasts three semesters. It also has a modular structure and is offered and completed on a part-time basis.
• The course is offered at different times. These time variants are determined independently by the respective schools, so there may be differences. Please contact the provider of your choice directly for more information.
• Many schools now offer a mix of face-to-face and online courses (online, hybrid teaching, blended learning) as well as self-study. This gives you the opportunity to choose exactly the format that allows you to combine continuing education with your family, career and free time.
• Thanks to the in-service training concept, you can apply and deepen the learning material in practice straight away. Nevertheless, you should allow sufficient time for preparation and follow-up of the lessons and for self-study - how much depends on your prior knowledge, working style and learning speed. We recommend that you allow at least 4-6 hours per week as a precaution.

Note: Some schools offer so-called "taster 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. It is best to contact the school of your choice directly for a taster lesson.

Degree, diploma and title

The Higher Professional Examination for Public Transport Managers (HFP) is held every year if at least 10 candidates meet the admission requirements after the call for applications, otherwise at least every two years. The Higher Professional Examination can be taken in German, French or Italian.

Candidates are notified at least six weeks before the start of the examination. The invitation includes the examination program (location, time of the examination, permitted aids) and the list of experts.

The higher professional examination is structured as follows (type of examination, time, weighting):

1) Diploma thesis (written, in advance, weighting 2)

In the diploma thesis, candidates deal with a complex issue from their practice. The focus of the thesis should be on the integration of analytical, conceptual and technical skills. The thesis follows a structure defined in the guidelines: describe the initial situation, analyze the problem holistically, derive the question, develop solutions based on theoretical approaches, derive consequences and develop an implementation concept, reflect on own work and formulate a recommendation/conclusion.

2) Presentation and technical discussion (oral, 10 min or 30 min, weighting 1)

This second part of the examination consists of two examination items, both of which are based on the previous diploma thesis. First, the candidates present their diploma thesis, taking into account the appropriate presentation techniques. They then answer questions from the experts in a technical discussion.

3) Complex case study (written, 240 min, weighting 2)

In this part of the examination, candidates work on a complex case study on an entrepreneurial issue. The focus here is on management skills.

4) Demanding action situations (oral, 30 min, weighting 1)

In the fourth part of the examination, candidates work on three to five challenging situations. Here they can demonstrate their ability to deal with critical situations and act accordingly (e.g. take and implement measures).

Diploma and title

Successful graduates of the higher professional examination receive a federal diploma and are entitled to use the federally recognized and protected title "Certified Manager of Public Transport".

In French: "Manager en transports publics diplômé / Manager en transports publics diplômée"

In Italian: "Manager dei trasporti pubblici diplomato / Manager dei trasporti pubblici diplomata"

In English (This is only a recommendation/translation and not a protected title): "Manager of Public Transport, Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education"