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 Management Training (SVF). Only after successful completion of these modules is admission to the Federal Professional Examination for Management Specialist with Federal Diploma of Higher Education possible.

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.

The Federal Diploma of Higher Education in Management is only open to those who can demonstrate experience in managing groups or teams in addition to practical experience. This means that continuing education, further training is aimed specifically at people with practical responsibility in their day-to-day work.

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.

Management specialists work in companies in a wide range of sectors - for example as team leaders, group leaders, branch managers or project managers. The Management Specialist with Federal Diploma of Higher Education qualification documents practice-oriented management skills and is established in many organizations.

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)which ensures a high level of employer acceptance in all sectors.

Much of the content is taught on the basis of specific leadership situations. The aim is to be able to apply leadership knowledge directly in everyday working life - for example in discussions with employees, conflict situations, project work or organizational changes.

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 is usually divided into practical modules (leadership and management). It is often recommended to start directly with the leadership module in order to consolidate your own leadership role.
• 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:At the end of continuing education, further training as a management specialist, you should be able to lead teams in a methodical and professional business manner and tackle challenges in a solution-oriented and structured way.