The Global Engagement Office is responsible for and acts as the support centre for international matters at Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH). In particular, it is available to assist with general issues that are not related to a specific department.
The Global Engagement Office looks after the university’s participation in European and international education and research programmes. It also provides foreign universities, international partners, BFH students and exchange students, and staff with support relating to the internationalisation of teaching and research, promoting global competence, and European and international mobility.
For any matters that are specific to a department, please direct your enquiry to the contact person within the department concerned.
Bern University of Applied Sciences maintains an extensive network of partner universities abroad. We have agreements in place with most of these universities for student and staff exchanges.
Gain a quick overview of our partner universities around the world in just a few clicks. The handy filters will help you to find the right partner by department, programme and country.
Staff from partner universities can broaden their horizons by teaching or by further education activities at BFH. BFH staff also have the option to take part in an international exchange.
University staff from a partner country can undertake teaching or further education activities at Bern University of Applied Sciences. All BFH staff also have the opportunity to travel to partner institutions abroad to teach or undertake further training. This ensures that staff receive support in embracing the international aspect of their duties, effectively building an international network and continuing their own personal development.
In Europe, mobility takes place within the framework of the EU Erasmus+ programme for education, youth and sport. Since the 2014/15 academic year, the necessary funds have been provided by Switzerland itself within the framework of the "Swiss-European Mobility Programme" SEMP.
SEMP offers cost sharing for employees, starting at a minimum of 2 days with a maximum of 2 months (daily stipend and travel cost). There will be additional financial support if the employee travels by sustainable means of transport (Greener Mobility).
Do you work at an Erasmus/SEMP university, and are you interested in completing a teaching assignment or training at Bern University of Applied Sciences?
BFH lecturers and staff who are interested in teaching assignments or professional development programmes in Europe will find more information on myBFH.
Are you about to start working at Bern University of Applied Sciences, or are you planning to work here? The Welcome Center extends a warm welcome to you in your new surroundings. We are here to provide assistance and support for you in all matters relating to life in Switzerland.
We are available to provide foreign universities, international partners, exchange students, lecturers and staff (incoming and outgoing) with information on the topics of international coordination, the internationalisation of teaching and research, and mobility at BFH.
For any matters that are specific to a department, please direct your enquiry to the contact person within the department concerned. The points of contact for international matters within the departments
School of Engineering and Computer Science
international.ti@bfh.ch
School of Architecture, Wood and Civil Engineering
international.ahb@bfh.ch
Business School
international.wirtschaft@bfh.ch
School of Health Professions
internationales.gesundheit@bfh.ch
School of Social Work
international.soziale-arbeit@bfh.ch
Bern Academy of the Arts
international@hkb.bfh.ch
School of Agricultural, Forestry and Food Sciences
international.hafl@bfh.ch
Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen SFISM
iro.ehsm@baspo.admin.ch
The Global Engagement Office of the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH) is at your service for comprehensive information on the topics of international coordination, internationalisation in teaching and research, and mobility at BFH.
BFH thrives on its globally networked nature. Students and staff regularly travel abroad for study and work placements, and their counterparts from abroad also regularly come to BFH. Our ‘local context, global mind’ series of short films provides a glimpse into the globally networked world of BFH.
Get to know Tiffana, wood technology student from Gabun.
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The Welcome Center is an information and advisory service for newly arrived staff who have questions about life in Switzerland, in the region and at BFH. Our aim is to make your new start as smooth as possible and provide you with the information necessary to achieve this. Find out more about our services and get to know two former clients and the responsible of the Welcome Center.
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Two members of staff from the University Didactics & E-learning subject area completed training abroad in 2018. Luca Bösch spent two weeks at the Open University in the UK and increased his knowledge of Moodle. During a week spent at the Heidelberg University of Education, Andy Hediger focused on various topics, such as IT and mathematics teaching.
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During his studies, Alexander Post, who studied social work, developed intercultural and transcultural competencies to gain the BFH supplementary Certificate of Global Competence. He now uses these skills in his work for social services, where he frequently encounters different cultures.
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In Episode 6, we hear from Lukas Samwald. He studied civil engineering at the University of Applied Sciences Campus Vienna and spent one semester at AHB. What will he miss most? Carnival music and Fasnachtschüechli carnival cakes.
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Michail Kyriazopoulos gives us an insight into his work at BFH. Originally from Greece, he gained his master’s in Wood Technology from AHB in Biel in May 2016. He is currently working as a full-time research assistant and lives in Switzerland.
This episode was produced by Ina Navahrodskaya, an MA student of Communication Design at Bern University of the Arts HKB.
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Daniela Prozorovscaia gives us an insight into her life as a student in Switzerland. She was born in Moldova but moved to Portugal at the age of 10, where she lived up until 18 months ago. Daniela now lives in Switzerland and is enrolled on the Food, Nutrition and Health master’s programme in Zollikofen.
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Jacqueline Ducret and Paul Ammann (Executive MBA in International Management, BFH-TI) report on the study trips to China offered to students on the EMBA programme. Anyone with a company operating in an international environment needs to understand cultural backgrounds, the relevant conditions in its business partners’ countries and how personal networks work. International agility is one of the major goals of graduates of EMBA programmes. The study trips give participants a unique insight into companies and universities in China, and they are full of enthusiasm upon their return.
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Daniel Gobeli, a former lecturer in strategic management in the Business department reports on his experiences of the Young Entrepreneur Exchange Project (YEEP). Students from Hawassa University and Bern University of Applied Sciences are working on business ideas from Ethiopia. YEEP aims to use intercultural exchange and knowledge transfer to teach entrepreneurial thinking to young Ethiopians.
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In the first episode, we meet Shashvat Kapoor. He is 20 years old, grew up in India, and is studying International Business at Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences in Finland. He spent a year on an Erasmus placement with the International Office of the Health Professions department.
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The latest news on international topics provide an insight into the globally networked world of BFH.
