Program Overview

Overview of the CAS Diversity and Equality Competence Program

The Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Diversity and Equality Competence is a study program offered by the Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz (FHNW) in collaboration with the University of Basel. This program focuses on gender relations, integration, and recognition of diversity, addressing questions of sexual orientation, age, disability, social status, cultural or religious affiliation, and political or ideological attitudes.

Program Structure

The CAS program is organized into courses, with a total of 20 attendance days divided into 7 courses held in Olten and Basel. One course takes place in Brussels.

• Kurs 1: Introduction to central questions and concept development
• Kurs 2: Governance and strategies of diversity and equality policies I / Diversity Budgeting
• Kurs 3: Governance and strategies of diversity and equality policies II
• Kurs 4: Field of action Human Resources and personnel management / Salary
• Kurs 5: Organizational development and communication; Communication, body, and voice
• Kurs 6: Policy and program development in Europe
• Kurs 7: Final module

Scope

The program encompasses 15 ECTS credits.

Target Audience

The program is designed for individuals from various professional backgrounds, including:

• Personnel management
• Personnel development
• Leadership or project responsibilities in organizational development with project responsibility in politics and policy consulting
• Specialists or officers responsible for diversity management, equality, gender mainstreaming, integration, migration, and other aspects of equal opportunities
• Corporate Social Responsibility in companies and public or private enterprises, consulting firms, educational and cultural institutions, or associations and non-governmental organizations

Directors of Studies

• Prof. Dr. Nathalie Amstutz
• Prof. Dr. Bianca Prietl

Teaching Staff

The teaching staff includes:

• Nathalie Amstutz, FHNW, lecturer, Institute for Personnel Management and Organization, Olten
• Bianca Prietl, Co-head of the Center for Gender Studies, University of Basel
• Ines Matéos, expert in education and diversity, moderator
• Martina Zölch, FHNW, head of the Institute for Personnel Management and Organization, Olten
• Lejla Medii Dauti
• Nexhla Medii
• Martin Haug
• Brian McGowan
• Zita Küng
• Anina Jendreyko
• Feriha Özdemir, FHNW, lecturer, Institute for Personnel Management and Organization, Olten
• Lucia Lanfranconi, lecturer BFH, Institute New Work
• Lea Küng, FHNW, scientific staff, Institute for Personnel Management and Organization, Olten
• Various guest lecturers from practice and science

Program Details

Fee

The program fee is CHF 8,800, including materials.

Duration

The course starts on Friday, June 12, 2026, and ends on Monday, March 29, 2027.

Location

The program takes place at the Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz, Hochschule für Wirtschaft, Riggenbachstrasse 16, 4600 Olten.

Additional Information

The courses can also be booked individually.