Bern University of Applied Sciences

The Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH is an application-oriented university. In addition to teaching, the university provides continuing education, research and development and services relating to its core competences. Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH is a leading, internationally renowned Swiss university for creative people who can think and act responsibly on their own initiative.

Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH prepares students for professions that apply scientific findings and methods or employ creative design skills. With innovative practice-based courses in teaching, research and development, further education and services, BFH affords a long-term contribution to Bern's university and business community and creates an attractive environment for single and interdisciplinary projects. Although it is strongly rooted in the region, BFH is part of a national and international network and by creating an appropriate framework enables students and staff to best realise their potential.

Bern University of Applied Sciences prepares students for careers that apply academic knowledge and methods or use artistic creativity. The education, training and continuing education opportunities offered by Bern University of Applied Sciences as well as its research and development activities focus on practical application. At the same time, Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH focuses on the following guiding principles:

• Assume responsibility. BFH develops innovative solutions and addresses the needs of its economic, technical, cultural and social environment. It promotes the discussion of social values and supports its students, teaching staff and employees in assuming responsibility.
• Achieve sustainability. BFH implements the objectives of sustainability in its teaching, research and administration. It respects and protects the dignity of mankind and nature and invests its resources in the interest of sustainable results.
• Develop cooperation. Strong partnerships anchor BFH both domestically and abroad. They create added value for teaching and research as well as for the transfer of knowledge and technology.
• Practise pluralism. BFH cultivates its pluralism and promotes exchange between degree disciplines, mindsets and behavioural patterns. It uses its multilingualism to bridge the gap between other cultural regions and labour markets.
• Strengthen quality. BFH considers itself to be a learning organisation. It ascribes central importance to the systematic development of quality and diversity management in teaching, research, the transfer of knowledge and technology as well as in administration.

Bern University of Applied Sciences fulfils its educational mandate as part of the Swiss system of higher education and, in so doing, it focuses on individuals. Its success is founded on the commitment of its students, lecturers and employees.

Bern University of Applied Sciences will soon be able to look back on 20 years of development and expansion. Change and dynamic environments have characterised this development and remain a challenge. BFH does not wish to simply adapt to change, it intends to actively shape it – so that it can continue to fulfil its remit in future: preparing students for professional life as an applied university and making a sustainable contribution to the city of Bern as a university and business location. The aims are therefore to consolidate what has been achieved and to set priorities for the future. The new strategy represents a further, consistent step in this direction. Diverse, established, stimulating – these values are characteristic of BFH. They are also reflected in the new strategy. This was created during the course of a broadly based process, encompassing the whole of BFH with the full diversity of its departments, commissions and disciplines. This diversity and the interconnections between its different elements form the basis of the strength of BFH. It provides the strategy with a strong foundation. But above all, the strategy gives BFH momentum in several different respects: the momentum to generate added value from the dynamics of unity and diversity, and the momentum to further link teaching, research, further education and services. Commitment of and to employees and awareness of social responsibility are formalised as the cornerstones of BFH. Its regional anchoring is defined as the starting point for activities of national and international standing.