Certificate of Advanced Studies in Public Governance and Administration
Learn to Master the Complexities of Governance
The Certificate of Advanced Studies ETH in Public Governance and Administration (CAS PGA) in a nutshell:
What: The CAS PGA is an interdisciplinary continuing education programme that brings together professionals from around the globe for a transformative learning experience to provide the necessary competencies to tackle complex governance challenges. The programme is taught by world-class experts from ETH Zurich and other universities, as well as by highly experienced practitioners.
Who: The CAS PGA is tailored to aspiring international and Swiss public sector leaders and professionals working on governance matters or those who plan to take on governance-related projects in the future.
When: The CAS PGA is composed of an intensive two-weeks block course conducted at the end of August and beginning of September, on-site at the Campus of ETH Zurich in Switzerland, and the writing of an individual CAS Thesis throughout a period of three months following the completion of the block course.
Why: Whether you are a disaster relief specialist for the International Committee of the Red Cross, an analyst at the Reserve Bank of India or a project manager with the Swiss National Science Foundation, you face similar challenges as you transition into higher levels of responsibility - you need the ability to dissect multidimensional policy issues, the tools to lead effectively outside your specific area of expertise, and a vision for effective governance in an age of interconnectivity and technological disruption.
The testimonials section gives a glimpse of the experiences of previous students and how the CAS PGA impacted their professional and personal life.
Information for the CAS PGA
CAS PGA 2024
The block course of the CAS in Public Governance and Administration (CAS PGA) 2024 will take place from 22 August to 6 September 2024 onsite at the campus of ETH in Zurich, Switzerland.
The application window for the CAS PGA 2023 has closed.
CAS PGA 2024
Application windows:
- Regular applications to the programme: 15 March 2024 - 15 June 2024. More information about the admission requirements and on how to apply can be found in the section "Application and Admission".
- Scholarship applications: 1 January 2024 - 29 February 2024. More information on the eligibility criteria and on how to apply can will be updated in the section "Scholarships CAS PGA" in due time.
For any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.
The CAS PGA strives to foster competencies that will allow participants to master the complexities of governance, develop a global perspective and create individual impact.
Analytical and critical thinking, problem-solving and leadership are some of the core competencies transmitted through the programme, which will ultimately enable participants to:
- understand key governance frameworks and shared blueprints,
- comprehend underlying drivers and problems,
- dissect multi-dimensional policy issues, and
- lead effectively across the spectrum of technical, human and conceptual challenges.
The block course of the CAS PGA encompasses a sequence of one or half-day modules, which are organised into three thematic blocks: I) Contemporary Governance, II) Public Management and III) Policy Domains. For more information about the content of the CAS PGA and the individual thematic blocks, please visit the dedicated section "Programme Content" on our website.
Each module consists of expert lectures and / or exercises taught by world-class experts from ETH Zurich and other universities as well as by highly experienced practitioners. For an overview of the lecturers that teach in our programme, please see the dedicated section "Lecturers & Guest Speakers".
The CAS PGA is primarily designed for international and Swiss junior and mid-level professionals from the public sector as well professionals from peripheral sectors who work on governance-related matters or plan to do so in the future (International Organisations, NGOs, academia and the private sector).
The testimonials section gives a glimpse of the experiences of previous students and how the CAS PGA impacted their professional and personal life.
The programme fee is CHF 8'900. This fee includes all course material and lunches during lecture days.
Please note that a processing fee of CHF 50 or CHF 150 is charged for each application to the programme. CHF 50 for persons with a Swiss university degree and CHF 150 for persons with another university degree. This fee can only be paid by credit card.
Unless awarded a scholarship by the SSPG, travel, lodging, other meals and incidental costs are the responsibility of the individual participant or sponsoring organisation.
Scholarships are available for outstanding candidates that cover the programme fees and provide a stipend to help offset the transport and lodging costs during the block course in Zurich.
In addition to the formal admission requirements, candidates interested in financial assistance also need to comply with the following criteria:
- Be a resident of a “low” or “lower-middle” income country, external pageas classified by the external pageWorld Bank (residents from “upper-middle” income countries might be considered in exceptional cases). The determining factor here is the country of employment / residence and not the citizenship
- Not work for an institution with a professional development fund supporting employee participation in foreign academic programmes
- Not having secured funding through a third-party organization
For more information on our scholarships and the application process, please consult the dedicated section about scholarships on our website.
For information on how to apply, please refer to the dedicated section "Application and Admission" on our website.
«ETH Zurich has always had an international outlook and commitment for global affairs. The CAS PGA enriches the university’s offers for continuing education. The programme provides the next generation of public sector leaders with critical input to tackle global challenges. As one of the world’s top-ranked universities and located in a country well-known for effective governance, ETH Zurich is uniquely positioned to host this programme.»
- Joël Mesot, President of the ETH Zurich
Questions?
For questions please contact Ms. Maryna Lakhno, Programme Coordinator SSPG ()