How we teach, FHNW School of Business

Our concept of teaching and learning reflects what matters most to us: creating a respectful and inspiring learning atmosphere for everyone. It provides guidance for students and faculty while also offering external stakeholders insight into our values and principles.

Download concept of teaching and learning

We foster competencies that are essential for the future and continuously develop our teaching practices - always in alignment with our institutional culture and mission. Together, we create a future-oriented learning environment that adapts flexibly to change. In doing so, we prepare our students to take on responsibility in business and society, empowering them to actively shape our interconnected, dynamic world.

The FHNW School of Business designs its teaching to be competency-orientated. Consequently, it is not only the imparting of content that is important, but also, and in particular, the ability to act – to apply and implement knowledge in practice.

The competency model of the School of Business was developed and implemented in a participatory process involving lecturers, representatives from business and society, and students. It provides the foundation for designing curricula, learning objectives and teaching methods.

The competency model is designed to bridge the gap between academic studies and the requirements of professional practice in university teaching. The aim is to equip students with the knowledge and skills to make conscientious and responsible decisions, considering the needs of the present while also thinking about the future.

The model distinguishes between three competency areas, each of which incorporates the cross-cutting themes of ethics, sustainability and digitalisation.

• Professional competencies: Sound knowledge of the economy and its related disciplines.
• Methodological competencies: analytical, digital and scientific working methods.
• Personal and social competencies: Future-oriented skills such as thinking critically, reflecting, working together, taking responsibility and communicating effectively.

Professional competencies refer to the in-depth knowledge, skills and abilities required in a particular field or discipline to successfully manage tasks and problems in that field.

Methodological competencies describe the ability to apply techniques, approaches and procedures in a specific context to systematically solve problems and achieve objectives.

Employers expect our graduates to demonstrate sound technical and methodological skills, as well as competencies such as the ability to think critically, reflect on themselves, work in teams, communicate effectively and act responsibly. These skills will enable graduates to solve problems in today's and tomorrow's dynamic, digital and globally networked business world, as well as fostering resilience.

Find out more about the development process here: Mücke, A.; Röhm, R. 2025. Promoting competency-based education through the development of a competency model: lessons learned from a change perspective. In: 11th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd’25). Valencia, 17-20 June 2025. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAd25.2025.19745