It does not necessarily have to be a (technical) university
PUBLIC LAW
Among public continuing education institutions in the field of marketing and communication, the selection has so far been limited. In Eastern Switzerland, there is the St. Gallen Academy, and in Zurich, the Cantonal Vocational School.
St. Gallen Academy
Since 2002, the vocational school has been under cantonal administration and is known as the St. Gallen Center for Commercial Vocational and Continuing Education (KBZ St. Gallen).The continuing education division of the KBZ, the St. Gallen Academy, headed by Dr. Thierry Kurtzemann, offers the following programs in the field of marketing and sales: edupool.ch Diploma in Marketing and Sales; Certified Event Manager; Marketing Specialists with a Federal Certificate; Sales Specialists with a Federal Certificate; Federal Diploma in Sales Management; and Federal Diploma in Marketing Management.While the introductory courses are aimed at individuals who wish to gain a foothold in the world of marketing and sales, the professional certification and diploma programs are designed for those who already have several years of experience in these fields and wish to deepen their knowledge. All courses are designed to be taken while working. There are 380 instructors for 1,200 students. These instructors are professionals with practical experience who have received training in teaching methods and are evaluated by the students at the end of each semester.
EB Zurich
Founded in 1973, EB Zurich, the cantonal vocational school for continuing education, offers a program of courses in marketing, social media, public relations, and journalism. About 30 courses focus specifically on marketing, including one that leads to the recognized certification as a Copywriter with a Federal Certificate. The courses are designed for employees of small businesses, self-employed individuals, and those returning to the workforce who need to refresh or quickly expand their knowledge, among other things. The number of course participants is approximately 250 per year, and there are 10 instructors. All courses are designed to be taken alongside work and are usually held in the evenings. EB Zurich’s continuing education program focuses on practical, quickly applicable knowledge. This complements the participants« core competencies and is offered in intensive »continuing education snacks” comprising between eight and 16 lessons. The rector of EB Zurich is Hugo Lingg.
PRIVATE
The list of private providers of continuing education in the fields of marketing and communication is long—they are located throughout Switzerland.
Digicomp Academy
The Digicomp Academy, led by Bak-Heang Ung, offers public courses on topics in the fields of marketing, digital marketing, social media, SEO, communication, and creativity. The seminars are designed for participants of all levels—from beginners to experts in marketing, communication, IT, and leadership.The learning formats range from one- or two-hour evening lectures to full-day seminars and intensive boot camps, as well as part-time continuing education programs held in the evenings and on weekends. Each year, 20,000 people take part in courses at the Digicomp Academy, which has seven locations. The school, where 250 industry experts teach, focuses on enhancing the employability of its participants through corporate continuing education.
KV Basel Business School
For more than 100 years, the KV Basel Business School has been one of the largest providers of vocational and continuing education in the Northwest Switzerland region. It comprises a public vocational school and a private continuing education institute. The latter is headed by Ozan Kaya. The courses in the marketing division are grouped under the Marketing and Sales segment. The program offers the KV Marketing and Sales Certificate/MarKom; Junior Manager in Marketing, Events & Sales; Junior Manager in Marketing, Events & Online; Marketing Specialists with a Federal Certificate; Sales Specialists with a Federal Certificate; Federal Diploma in Marketing Management; Federal Diploma in Sales Management; and various online marketing courses. All courses are designed for working professionals. They are aimed at newcomers and career changers (administrative assistant level), advanced learners with professional experience (certificate level), and experienced professionals (management level). Approximately 130 people enroll in the continuing education programs in marketing each year; the interdisciplinary curriculum is taught by 50 internal and external instructors. Close cooperation between the KV Education Group and its affiliated schools facilitates a nationwide transfer of knowledge.
KV Lucerne Vocational Academy
The Continuing Education Institute of the Lucerne Chamber of Commerce (KV Luzern), headed by Rector Peter Häfliger, includes the Center of Excellence for Marketing, Sales, Communication, and Foreign Trade. This center offers numerous programs leading to diplomas, professional certificates, and administrative specialist certifications, as well as various courses and seminars.This January marked the start of the fourth cohort of the Diploma in Marketing Management (HF) program. The six-semester, part-time program combines marketing with leadership skills and qualifies graduates to assume leadership roles in the marketing departments of SMEs or large corporations. The program is conducted in collaboration with the Swiss Institute of Business Administration (SIB) in Zurich. The marketing programs offered by the KV Luzern Vocational Academy are designed to reach marketing-oriented professionals from all fields who are interested in continuing education. Accordingly, all programs and courses are designed for working professionals and are held primarily in the evenings and/or on Saturdays. The 650 participants each year are taught by approximately 60 instructors. According to the academy’s own reports, the exam results at the KV Luzern Berufsakademie are mostly above the Swiss average.
KV Zurich Business School
The largest commercial vocational school in Switzerland, the KV Zürich Business School, is headed by Urs Achermann. In the continuing education sector, the Institute for Marketing, Sales, and Communication offers the following programs leading to federally recognized certifications: Sales Specialist, Marketing Specialist, Sales Manager, Marketing Manager, and PR Specialist.In addition, students can complete the edu-pool course for Marketing & Sales Specialists. Courses leading to a KV Zürich Business School certificate include Online Marketing Manager, Strategic Campaigning, and Publisher Basic. The program is designed for a broad audience. On the one hand, it is aimed at career changers, but also at individuals with many years of professional experience in the marketing and sales industry. It appeals to people who prefer part-time training while working and wish to further their education in a specific field. Depending on personal goals, the focus is on either a federally recognized degree or a degree recognized by the institute itself. The courses, which are completed by 500 participants per year and taught by 100 instructors, are all designed to be taken alongside work. According to the school, all programs have a strong practical focus. In addition, the instructors not only possess extensive practical expertise but are also required to regularly update their teaching methods to reflect the latest developments in their fields. With the Sihlpost Central Education Center near Zurich’s main train station, the KV Zurich Business School also boasts one of the most central locations in Switzerland.
St. Gallen Management School
Founded in 1994 and led by Mac J. Rohrbach, the Management School St. Gallen offers comprehensive consulting and support in the field of marketing. Among other offerings, it conducts the St. Gallen Sales Future Now Conference (one day), the St. Gallen Sales and Distribution Management Seminar (two days), the Seminar on Successfully Leading Salespeople (three days), the St. Gallen Key Account Management Seminar (three days), the “St. Gallen Leadership Coaching” (flexible number of days), the “Sales Power” team workshop (flexible number of days), various client-specific programs, and the “St. Gallen Sales Leadership” course (six days). The latter can optionally be completed with a certificate or diploma.All programs are designed for specialists and managers with responsibilities in sales, distribution, and marketing. The courses are designed to be taken alongside work; each year, approximately 200 participants are taught by eight marketing experts from the business world and industry. The Management School St. Gallen cites as its USP the wide range of different programs, which—depending on the specific needs—can be short- or long-term, standardized or customized, and designed for peer exchange or tailored to individual needs.
SAWI Academy for Marketing and Communication
Founded in 1968, the SAWI Academy for Marketing and Communication—with locations in Zurich, Lausanne, Bern, Biel, Neuchâtel, and Geneva—offers a wide range of training programs in the fields of marketing, communication, sales, and digital under CEO Yannick Chevailler.In addition to SAWI degrees for beginners and professionals, the academy offers preparatory courses for Swiss federal examinations. Part-time marketing continuing education programs include Marketing Manager HF, Marketing Specialist, Marketing Director, Marketing and Sales Specialist, Marketing and Sales Assistant (in English), Operational Marketing Project Manager, Self-Branding – The “I” Brand, MarKom, e-MarKom, and Certified Product Manager.In collaboration with SIMSA (Swiss Internet Industry Association), SAWI also offers numerous courses focused on the development of digitalization. These include Online and Mobile Marketing Management, Social Media Marketing (Basic and Advanced), Digital Marketing (Basic and Advanced), Content Marketing and Storytelling, Virtual and Augmented Reality, Marketing Automation, Search Engine Marketing, and Video and YouTube in Marketing.All programs are designed for working professionals and are aimed at individuals who wish to continue their education after completing their basic training. Across Switzerland, approximately 2,000 students per year participate in SAWI courses, taught by around 400 instructors with real-world experience. According to the academy, students achieve an above-average success rate on the federal exams. Furthermore, SAWI degrees are highly recognized in the job market.
SIB Swiss Institute of Business Administration
The SIB Swiss Institute of Business Administration was founded in 1963 by the Swiss Commercial Association and today focuses on management and business administration education and continuing education.As the first higher vocational school in Switzerland, the SIB designed the program leading to the Dipl. Marketing Manager HF degree and received federal recognition. This is the highest-level generalist training for practice-oriented marketers under the Swiss Federal Vocational Training Act. Admission requirements for the regular three-year program include a federal certificate of proficiency or a Matura and at least two years of professional experience in a marketing-related field. Individuals who hold a federal professional certificate as a marketing or sales specialist can complete the program in two years.In addition, the SIB offers the postgraduate Chief Digital Officer NDS HF program. Designed to be taken alongside work, these courses are aimed at practice-oriented professionals in marketing, sales, and communication who have recognized the importance of digitalization. Approximately 200 of the SIB’s 1,000 students enroll in marketing, sales, or communication courses each year. The institute employs 180 faculty members. Since 2003, it has been located in the Sihlhof complex near Zurich’s main train station. Its sister institution is the HWZ Zurich University of Applied Sciences.
SMI Swiss Marketing Institute
The SMI Swiss Marketing Institute was founded ten years ago in Bern-Liebefeld. The following courses are designed for individuals who are planning a career in marketing or who already have several years of professional experience in marketing, sales, or communications: MarKom Certificate (evening classes, Saturday classes), Online Marketing and E-Business Manager (daytime classes, evening classes), Marketing Specialization (Saturday classes, evening classes), Certified Marketing Manager HF (daytime program, Friday afternoons), Event Manager & Live Communications (evening program), Sales Manager (evening program, Saturday program), and Marketing Manager (Saturday program). The courses at SMI, all of which are designed to be taken while working, are taught by 85 part-time instructors. The institute’s director is Nicole Spycher.
