CAS Pharmaceutical Project Management

School of Life Sciences

Do you want to master complex projects in the pharmaceutical sector? This programme combines project management with scientific expertise – equipping you to successfully lead complex projects across drug development, regulatory affairs, maintenance, supply chain and GMP manufacturing.

Factsheet

Degree: Certificate of Advanced Studies FHNW Pharmaceutical Project Management
ECTS credits: 12
Next start: 8.4.2027
Duration: 15 days
Teaching language: English
Place: FHNW Campus Muttenz, Hofackerstrasse 30, 4132 Muttenz
Fee: CHF 8 500

At a glance

Master project management methodologies and tools tailored to the needs of pharmaceutical projects.
Confidently navigate regulatory requirements and ensure compliance throughout all stages of the project lifecycle.
Design and implement effective risk management strategies that address the specific challenges of the pharmaceutical industry.
Engage with industry experts and expand your professional network in pharma.
Study alongside your job in a compact, four-module format with direct practical relevance.

Aims and benefits

Upon completing this programme, you will be able to:

Understand the pharmaceutical development lifecycle and its impact on project management.
Apply specialised project management methodologies and tools for pharmaceutical projects.
Navigate regulatory requirements and ensure compliance within project management frameworks.
Develop and implement effective risk management strategies tailored to the pharmaceutical industry.
Communicate seamlessly with cross-functional teams, including R&D, regulatory affairs, marketing and manufacturing.

You complete the programme with an individual thesis – enabling you to apply your knowledge directly in your professional setting.

Target audience

This part-time programme is for current project managers in pharmaceutical companies, professionals aspiring to enter project management roles within the pharmaceutical industry, R&D professionals, regulatory affairs specialists and quality assurance managers.

The CAS Pharmaceutical Project Management helped me understand the full lifecycle of pharmaceutical projects through theoretical, practical and interactive work. I got to learn a lot from lecturers, as well as from other students with diverse professional backgrounds and got great opportunities to network. The programme improved my soft skills and gave me a strong foundation for my future career. I would highly recommend this programme to anyone working on projects as SMEs or looking to start a career in pharmaceutical project management.

Iva Gavran, Senior Automation Engineer

I really appreciated how this programme connected project management theory with situations I recognize from my own work in pharma. What stood out especially was that the lecturers brought experience from different areas of the pharmaceutical industry, which made the discussions practical and gave a broader perspective on how projects are approached across functions. Overall, it was a valuable experience that I can directly relate to my daily professional environment and future projects.

Steven Daniëls, Sr. Process Engineer

Structure and programme contents

This programme is designed in a modular format. In the four focused modules of the programme you will gain in-depth knowledge and acquire practical skills to apply directly in your professional practice.

Module 1: Pharma Project Management Foundations & Team Leadership (3 days)

Overview of the pharmaceutical industry, Regulatory & GMP frameworks
Key drug development phases: discovery, preclinical, clinical, regulatory and post-market
Types of projects, ISO 21502
Building effective teams across departments
Conflict management

This module is also offered as individually bookable Short Advanced Studies (SAS) Pharma Project Management Foundations & Team Leadership.

Module 2: Pharmaceutical Project Execution: From Kick-off to Lessons Learned (3 days)

Establish project team, organize kick-off
Preparing budget, time schedule
Monitoring & reporting
Kick-out meeting, lessons learned
Project optimization

This module is also offered as individually bookable Short Advanced Studies (SAS) Pharmaceutical Project Execution: From Kick-off to Lessons Learned.

Module 3: Digital Project Tools & CAPEX Management in Biotech (4 days)

Work breakdown structure (WBS)
Agile, waterfall and hybrid approaches
Tools and software for project management
Introduction to a CAPEX project in Biotech
Roles and responsibilities of project team members (RACI) and other stakeholders
Supply chain: procurement, ordering equipment & materials
User requirement specification / statement of work
Resource planning: materials, equipment and individuals
Introduction of new equipment, IQ/OQ/PQ, validation/verification, commissioning

This module is also offered as individually bookable Short Advanced Studies (SAS) Digital Project Tools & CAPEX Management in Biotech.

Module 4: Pharmaceutical Risk, R&D and Portfolio Management (4 days)

Part 1: Risk & Portfolio Management in Pharmaceutical Operations (2 days)

Perform project risk analysis, FMEA
Managing project changes/deviations
Tools for evaluating multiple projects
Cockpits for project management office
Commercial GMP manufacturing projects

Part 2: Managing R&D and Regulatory Projects in Pharma (2 days)

R&D projects including clinical development
Cost control within R&D projects
FDA, EMA and other regulatory bodies
Quality management systems and key quality processes
Quality assurance agreement

This module is also offered as individually bookable Short Advanced Studies (SAS) Pharmaceutical Risk, R&D and Portfolio Management.

Throughout the programme, you will also gain insights into evidence synthesis methods and how to advise researchers effectively.

Lecturers

The programme is conducted by lecturers from the university as well as recognised experts in the field.

Reto Brügger, eidg. dipl. Apotheker, EMBA, Standortleiter Basel und Mitglied der GL bei pixon engineering AG
Dr. Kurt Eyer, Industrial Biosolutions, Bühler AG
Dr. Christoph Heinzen, Head of Programme
Claude Keller, Leadership Coach, Trainer, Moderator, Speaker, Claude Keller & Partner AG
René Marty Ph.D. PMP, Senior R&D Program Manager
Dr. Christian Schärer, Leiter Inspection Management Swissmedic
Hermann Stricker, P-ELEVEN, Senior Project Manager

Requirements and admission

The following programme admission requirements apply:

Tertiary A: Higher education qualification (at least a Bachelor’s degree) and at least 2 years’ practical experience relevant to the programme,
Tertiary B: Colleges of Higher Education Diploma (HF), Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education (HFP) or Federal Diploma Higher Education (BP), and at least 5 years’ practical experience relevant to the programme,
Individuals without a Tertiary A or B qualification may be admitted if they cumulatively meet the following admission criteria:

at least 10 years’ professional experience in a field relevant to the programme, of which at least 5 years in a managerial or senior specialist role
additional qualifications (various non-formal, extensive further training courses or partial completion (>50%) of a tertiary qualification)
evidence of knowledge of academic work or a willingness to acquire this in advance.

Organisational matters

Format

The modules are taught on Thursdays and Fridays. All the lessons are held in person at the FHNW Campus in Muttenz. Each module will be completed with a multiple-choice test. You complete the programme with an individual thesis, enabling you to apply your knowledge directly in your professional setting.

Programme schedule

You can find the timetable of events in the Programme Schedule CAS Pharmaceutical Project Management FHNW 2027 (PDF).

Legal terms