The Department of Education: driving force behind practice-oriented degree programmes

This article is part of the content series marking the 40th anniversary of HWZ. Through this series, we aim to showcase the diversity of stories from our university and highlight the topics and individuals that have shaped, and continue to shape, HWZ.

Practice-oriented education as a core mission

The Department of Education is at the heart of practice-oriented teaching at HWZ. Our focus is on the employability of our students: we design degree programmes that specifically strengthen professional, methodological and leadership skills, ensuring they can be applied directly in the workplace. Through close collaboration with businesses, we ensure that our content remains current, relevant and market-oriented. In this way, our students are optimally prepared for their next career steps.

Developing study programmes and ensuring quality

The Department of Education is responsible for the design, further development and quality assurance of all BSc and MSc programmes at HWZ. We analyse market and skills requirements, develop forward-looking curricula, and ensure excellent implementation both in terms of subject matter and teaching methods.

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  Bachelor in Business Administration HWZ

  Start September & March

  Duration 8 semesters
• 

  Bachelor in Business Communications HWZ

  Start September

  Duration 8 semesters
• 

  Bachelor in Business Psychology HWZ

  Start September

  Duration 8 semesters
• 

  Bachelor in Digital Business & AI HWZ

  Start September

  Duration 8 semesters
• 

  MSc in Business Administration HWZ | Major in Digital Strategy

  Start September (places available in Bern, waiting list in Zurich)

  Duration 4 semesters
• 

  MSc in Banking & Finance HWZ

  Start September

  Duration 4 semesters

At the same time, we are driving forward innovation in teaching. One example is the development of an AI learning companion designed to provide individual support to students and, through data-driven analysis, offer guidance on learning progress. In this way, we combine academic rigour, technological innovation, and direct practical relevance.

The team behind the degree programmes

Behind the Department of Education stands a dedicated team that enables excellence from behind the scenes. Support, coordination, examination organisation and central planning form the organisational backbone of the degree programmes.

Our collaboration is characterised by flat hierarchies, trust, and mutual respect. Decisions are made where the greatest expertise lies. At the same time, the programme directors are closely connected with industry and bring new ideas directly into the programmes.

Putting Entrepreneurial Education into Practice

The Department of Education embodies the entrepreneurial DNA of HWZ in a particularly consistent manner. Our actions are characterised by a strong customer focus, pragmatism, and swift decision-making processes.

In everything we do, we ask ourselves one central question: What specific added value does this create for our students? Our approach is solution-oriented, based on responsibility, and closely aligned with professional practice. We rely on short decision-making paths and a strong culture of implementation.

Shaping the education of the future

Education of the future will be more personalised, technology-supported, and even more closely integrated with practical experience. Topics such as artificial intelligence, data-driven learning analytics, and new didactic formats are becoming increasingly important.

Our aim is to play an active role in shaping these developments. Technologies such as AI-supported learning guidance can provide individual support to students and make learning progress more transparent. In this way, we seek to further enhance the quality of education and enable new forms of learning.

The contribution of the Department of Education to the HWZ of tomorrow

By developing practice-oriented and future-focused degree programmes, the Department of Education makes an important contribution to the strategic advancement of HWZ.

With an eye on “40 years of HWZ”, we are united by a clear ambition: to consistently advance entrepreneurial education—innovative, practice-oriented, and dedicated to serving the next generation of professionals and leaders.