About the program

The Transferable Skills course program is designed, implemented, and funded by the Academic Careers Office of the Vice-Rectorate for International Affairs and Academic Careers.

The program aims to support doctoral and postdoctoral students in acquiring transferable skills that are important for both academic careers and the professional world outside academia. These include project management, communication, and leadership. The goal is to specifically prepare participants for diverse career paths and strengthen their professional profiles in addition to their academic qualification. Hands-on workshops, individual feedback, and interdisciplinary exchange promote sustainable learning and networking.

The course program is open to all doctoral students, postdocs and scientific staff transition from all faculties at the University of Bern and is free of charge for participants.

The certification of such skills is seen as a competitive advantage in the job market, which is why postdocs receive participation certificates (for one-day courses or longer) to document these achievements. For doctoral students, ECTS are entered into the Core Teaching System of University of Bern, the decision as to whether or not academic achievements shall be recognized or considered as a part of a candidate’s doctoral studies lies with the faculties and graduate schools. Please note the Terms & Conditions below. As far as is useful and possible, a product is developed in each workshop, with individual feedback provided by the lecturers.