What do we offer?
The program aims to support the professional integration of Ukrainians with temporary S status residing in Switzerland through specialized training and employment assistance, leading to a CAS certificate. The program is carried out by the Business School Lausanne (BSL) in partnership with the Together and BEVEL ON Associations, with financial support from the Canton of Vaud’s Bureau for the Integration of Foreigners and the Prevention of Racism.
What is CAS?
Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) is an academic qualification for professionals earned upon completion of a short, practice-oriented postgraduate program. The CAS program is designed specifically for mid-career professionals who wish to deepen their knowledge and skills in a particular field.
Features of the CAS program:
- Learning format: Classes are held in a modular format over two and a half days, from Thursday to Saturday morning.
- Practical focus: CAS programs are designed for applying knowledge in a professional environment, so participants acquire highly specialized and practical skills.
- Work-study balance: The program format allows participants to combine their studies with work, making it suitable for professionals looking to upgrade their qualifications without interrupting their careers.
How is the learning structured?
We offer three professional tracks, each aimed at preparing specialists who are in demand in the Swiss market:
- CAS in Data Analysis
The CAS Data Analysis program equips participants with the skills needed to manage big data projects. The course focuses on preparing professionals to leverage the opportunities created by the ongoing technological revolution. Participants will learn to analyze and manage data, creating new opportunities and competitive advantages for companies. - CAS in Digital Marketing
The Digital Marketing program teaches essential tools to analyze a company’s current situation and develop marketing strategies aimed at improving performance and competitiveness. Participants will learn how to adapt marketing to the digital transformation and engage with consumers who are increasingly online and constantly receiving information. - CAS in Finance
The Finance program provides a comprehensive platform for developing financial skills necessary for making informed and effective decisions in a fast-changing business environment. Participants will master tools that help make confident financial decisions in times of uncertainty, with a focus on risk management and strategic business development.
How does the program work?
The program is structured in modules and consists of five courses for each track. The courses cover key aspects of professional knowledge, allowing participants to delve deeper into their chosen field.
The program includes:
- Class format: Modules lasting two and a half days (Thursday to Saturday morning).
- Program duration: 3 months
- Study load: Each course consists of 25 hours of lectures and 50 hours of independent study.
- Language of instruction: English
- Total credits: 15 ECTS, which are recognized within the European education system and enhance employment prospects in Switzerland.
What career support is offered?
Participants in the program also gain access to comprehensive career support from Business School Lausanne and BEVEL ON, which includes:
- Professional coaching and consulting: Experts help participants understand how to best use their newly acquired skills to build a career in Switzerland.
- Interview preparation: Training and practical preparation for interviews to successfully present their strengths and experience.
- Networking events and company visits: Participants have the opportunity to meet with company representatives and expand their professional network, which can often help in securing internships or jobs.
Upon completion, graduates receive assistance with finding employment, significantly improving their chances of securing a job or internship in the Swiss labor market.
What are the participation conditions?
The main costs of the program are covered by funding from the Canton of Vaud (Bureau Cantonal pour l’Intégration des Étrangers et la Prévention du Racisme, BCI).
Participants are required to pay an administrative fee of 300 CHF, after the start of training.
Why is this important?
- Acquisition of in-demand skills: The program provides knowledge and practical skills that are highly sought after on the Swiss labor market in areas such as data analysis, digital marketing, and financial management.
- Enhanced employment prospects: Participants gain access to career support, including coaching and interview preparation, which significantly increases their chances of successful employment in Switzerland.
- Adaptation to the new professional environment: The program helps participants understand the requirements of the Swiss labor market and successfully adapt to its specificities, making the integration process easier.
- Recognized qualification: The CAS certificate earned upon completion of the program is widely recognized, increasing employment chances and offering a competitive edge in the job market.
- Opportunities for professional growth: The program helps participants enhance their qualifications and expand their career prospects by adding relevant and practical competencies to their resume.
- Networking opportunities: The program provides the chance to build relationships with company representatives, instructors, and peers, which can be a valuable resource for career growth and job search.
Want to know more?
For more information, please contact us at:
[email protected]
Key participants in the project:
- Business School Lausanne (BSL)
- Canton of Vaud, BCI (Bureau Cantonal pour l’Intégration des Étrangers et la Prévention du Racisme)
- BEVEL ON Association
- Together Association
CAS in Data Analytics
Module 1 – Introduction to Data Analysis using Excel
Begin your journey into the world of data analysis with Excel, one of the most widely used tools in business and finance. In this module, you’ll learn how to efficiently organize and analyze data using Excel’s powerful functions. From basic data manipulation techniques to advanced formulas, you’ll develop the foundational skills needed to extract meaningful insights from raw data. By the end of the course, you will be equipped to confidently analyze datasets and present your findings in a clear and impactful manner.
Module 2 – Data Analysis with Python and Colab
Elevate your data analysis capabilities with Python, a powerful programming language known for its versatility and efficiency. This module will introduce you to Python and Google Colab, enabling you to perform complex data analysis tasks and automate workflows. You’ll explore essential libraries such as Pandas, NumPy, and Matplotlib, which will help you manipulate data, conduct statistical analysis, and create visualizations. By the end of the module, you’ll have the technical skills to analyze large datasets and apply Python-driven solutions to real-world data problems.
Module 3 – Data Visualisation, Management and Reporting
Unlock the power of data with the module Data Analytics, Visualization & Management. Learn essential skills in data collection, big data architecture, and ensuring data quality, while mastering the art of storytelling through impactful data visualizations and dashboards. Dive deep into analytics, exploring the importance of statistics and creating compelling insights. Develop a strong understanding of data strategy, assess organizational data maturity, and boost data literacy. By course end, you’ll be equipped to drive data-driven decision-making and improve your organization’s strategic outcomes.
Module 4 – Proactive Analytics and Modelling
Harness the power of Python to unlock the potential of predictive analytics in this comprehensive module. Learn how to apply Python’s powerful libraries and machine learning algorithms to build predictive models that forecast future trends and behaviors. Through hands-on practice, you’ll explore key techniques such as regression analysis, classification, and time series forecasting, using Python tools like Scikit-learn and StatsModels. By mastering predictive analytics with Python, you will gain the skills to create data-driven models that help anticipate outcomes and optimize decision-making processes in any organization.
Module 5 – Big Data, Machine Learning, and AI in Business
Explore the transformative potential of data science, machine learning, and AI with this module. Designed for business professionals, this course demystifies these cutting-edge technologies and their practical applications. Learn key concepts, understand how to kickstart data-driven initiatives, and discover real-world use cases across various industries. Gain insights into the essential factors for successful AI projects, including data, people, processes, and change management. By the end, you’ll be equipped to harness the power of AI to drive innovation and maintain a competitive edge in your organization.
CAS in Digital Marketing
Module 1 – Marketing Management
As an introductory module to this course, the Marketing Management will lead the course participants from quintessential concepts of marketing as a discipline to their applicability in professional environment. The program will focus on providing a solid foundation of practical knowledge by combining usable tools and frameworks with real-life examples and case studies. In addition, the flexible setup of the course will allow for addressing some of the participants’ specific professional needs. The overarching objective of this module, just like of all subsequent ones, is to improve the employability skills of the participants.
Module 2 – Social Media Marketing and Content Strategy
Based on their extant understanding of various social media platforms, the participants will get acquainted with the versatility of the social media for business purposes. Matching the appropriate content strategy with the most suitable formats and channels to interact with the selected target audience will lead the course content towards preparing a communication plan, framed as a subset of a broader marketing plan from the preceding module. Active participation and engagement will be needed for both modules.
Module 3 – Brand Building in a Digital Age
This course will explore the current state of brand building as one of the most critical business and marketing practices. Social Media have ‘democratised’ brand building in a way that ‘brands are now competing with friends’. All of this is happening on a (tiny) screen where the easiest thing to do is to ignore messages!
In this course, students will learn about how branding has evolved from the traditional media of the 20th century to the more complex market and media environments of the 21st; how leading brands manage the challenge of mixing the old and the new to create or keep building the brand (and employer) equity and whether the nature of branding has changed.
Module 4 – SEO and SEM
The world of online presence revolves around search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo, or Baidu, where billions of people start their journey on the internet. Search engines provide a horizontal or wide spectrum of answers for everyday life. Ideas, desires, needs, and wants. We are looking into ways to be the first answers people find. Top results bring traffic and value to be business, regardless of organic (SEO) or paid (SEM) nature.
Module 5 – Digital Marketing Analytics and Performance Measurement
The most quoted question in (every kind of) marketing is: Which marketing activity delivers actual value? It all starts with marketing activities tied to business priorities, and it ends with return on investment. Our journey follows the same path, connecting business objectives with marketing activities and measurement of both through tactical implementation and executive view
CAS in Finance
Module 1 – Financial Analysis and Reporting
This course module is aimed at developing knowledge and understanding of financial accounting underlying principles, concepts and regulations behind financial reporting and uses of accounting information in decision-making. The syllabus concentrates in depth on the foundations of financial accounting and introduces the candidate to the fundamentals of the regulatory framework by requiring candidates to prepare financial statements with reference to the Accounting Standards and pronouncements and conduct analysis of these statements.
Module 2 – Risk and Compliance Management
The course aims at ensuring that graduates have the legal knowledge that enable them to deal with a business environment that is constantly in (very) rapid evolution due to technological changes and regulatory production of norms; the legal handling of relatively new phenomena (e.g. cryptocurrencies, smart contracts, artificial intelligence of “new generation”) is a the heart of this aspect.
Module 3 – Fintech and Sustainable Finance: Bridging Innovation
FinTech tools and techniques can improve sustainability risk management, promote financial inclusion and resilience, develop more efficient sustainability reporting and compliance processes, improve corporate innovation, and enhance access to financing. This module will introduce you to the different responsible investing approaches (with particular emphasis on the discussion of the impact investing dimensions), the alternatives currently available to finance a sustainability-related project, and the discussion of the benefits and challenges of applying FinTech tools and techniques to support sustainability-related projects. By the end of the module, you will be able to develop your own sustainable startup with the help of FinTech tools and techniques and select the most appropriate sources of financing for your startup.
Module 4 – Managerial Accounting and Control
This course is designed to acquaint students with managerial accounting concepts and their underlying concepts. Emphasis is placed on the use of accounting in decision-making. The objective of this course is to help students develop a solid understanding of costs and cost behavior and the use of cost information for planning, controlling, and making managerial decisions. It also helps develop an understanding of management accounting systems as well as the relationships between management accounting and financial accounting.
Module 5 – Capital Budgeting and Company Valuation
This course provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating investment projects and determining the value of companies. Students will explore techniques for capital budgeting, such as net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR), alongside methods for assessing company valuation through discounted cash flow (DCF), market comparables, and other industry standards. Practical applications focus on making informed financial decisions and understanding the impact of investment choices on company performance and shareholder value.