A further education - a career leap

Stephan Walti and Othmar Schauli: In the area of fire, only individual training opportunities existed until ten years ago. There were also only a few offers for the safety technology area and no comprehensive training as offered by the association today. The Association of Swiss Installers of Security Systems (SES) cooperated more than a decade ago with the then Security Institute regarding training. After this cooperation was cancelled, the association felt compelled to set up something new. It was the trigger for the start of today's training "Project Manager Security". In contrast to other countries, there was no professional training with a federal certificate for the security industry in Switzerland until then. A major deficiency!

The security industry recruits many young people from the technical field, and quite a few come from the electrical sector. At that time, it quickly became clear to SES that it had to seek cooperation with an institute that offered technical specializations. Finally, the cooperation with the Swiss Technical College Winterthur (STFW) was established, which has therefore been successful since then.

The training had to be created from scratch virtually overnight.

We actually started from scratch. We recruit the instructors mainly from companies in the security industry, because these professionals have great know-how. But for the project manager training, we first had to develop and compile the training materials - there was really nothing. That was a big challenge. It is important to emphasize that the instructors do this in addition to their jobs.

Where is there potential for optimization, where do adjustments need to be made?

We have continuously improved the training almost every year, because there were regular adjustments. We know that we are still too strongly focused on frontal teaching. Even before the Corona pandemic, we were talking in the SES Expert Commission about a training project in 2024. We can't say anything concrete about it yet, because it's only an idea. However, the crisis has strengthened our resolve to make better use of the opportunities offered by the digital world in the longer term.

One could mention the lack of multilingualism as a deficit of the project manager training: For someone who does not speak German, the project leader training in Winterthur is not manageable. However, we once conducted a survey years ago and it showed that there was hardly any demand for French-language instruction. The survey refers to the entire project leader course, not to individual subject modules, which are very much offered in French-speaking Switzerland in one form or another.

What would need to be improved in terms of content?  

Here, too, a lot has happened in recent years. We have added new content to the course - for example, on voice alarms or door management systems. So we don't stand still, but react to the market. New topics that flow into SES are also included in our training courses. After all, we want to recruit enough junior staff every year. Apart from an increased use of the digital world, we are à jour.

What about the issue of cyber security? 

The SES Association has taken up this theme: In the new SES organizational chart, cyber security is placed above the two areas of security and fire protection technology. The association published a corresponding guideline a few months ago (see SicherheitsForum 1/2020, pages 11 to 13). The topic is therefore also likely to become increasingly important in project manager training.

One training module deals with IT and control systems. In this framework, cybersecurity is partially taken up. However, it depends on the specialization: If you come from the field of video surveillance, you will have to take a closer look at cyber security. In the field of fire, the topic is not (yet) so important.

Who specifically do you want to address with the project manager training?

Anyone who already has a few years of professional experience in the security industry can tackle this advanced training. Even those who want to enter security planning as a professional with a technical background are very well served by this offer.

However, we would like to emphasize that young safety professionals, both men and women, do not necessarily have to complete the entire course. Many participants also attend only individual modules in order to deepen their area of expertise. Those who choose to specialize in fire often focus on their own area of expertise without taking the entire course.

Of course, if you want to get your federal certificate, you have to complete the entire course and then pass the exam. 

What about people from outside the industry?

In principle, the course can be completed by anyone. However, proof of experience must be provided for admission to the federal examination.

Police officers have already taken part in the training as lateral entrants. Sanitary workers who have to install sprinkler systems are also possible candidates. Bakers and carpenters who wanted to make the switch have also shown interest. But if you don't have an electrical engineering background, the training is rather difficult.

Who should be advised against continuing education?

Those who are not prepared to sacrifice part of their free time for the course are not advised to do so. But as I said, you can also attend only individual modules as an alternative.

For example, if you have completed an apprenticeship as an electrician and are new to the security industry, training is probably a bit premature.

With which task would you entrust someone in your company who has completed the project manager training and has never managed a project before?

Whether this person is also capable of managing a project in day-to-day practice cannot be said per se, despite successful training, but depends on many other factors: Does the person also bring the appropriate technical know-how that is required for a particular job? Does he or she bring the necessary experience that the costing part of a project requires? Our training offers all of that, but perhaps not always in the depth required for a particular job. But clearly, those who have completed the training should be used as project managers over time. But people have to grow into such tasks, as they do everywhere.

We still have to note that many participants of the training were already working as project managers and would like to deepen their knowledge.

How valuable is the degree if someone wants to change industries? The paper isn't of much use there.

We must clearly disagree! In today's world, as many degrees as possible are in demand. The "Project Manager Safety" is worth just as much as any other further training. Every training has a positive effect on the resume.

Of the approximately 300 hours of this project manager training, about 120 consist of business administration, project management, self-management and law. In other words, this know-how can also be very useful in another industry.

What are other training courses that can be built on the "Project Manager Safety"?

With the specialization in fire, for example, this would be further training to become a fire protection specialist and fire protection expert. This would enable someone to work optimally at the authority level: On the one hand, they have the technical know-how, and on the other hand, they have an overview of comprehensive fire protection concepts.

With the specialization in security, he can, for example, train further as a security officer. Our project manager training is the basis for further specialization in the security field.

Stephan Walti, Team Leader Plant Engineering, Securiton AG, President of the Quality Assurance Commission in the SES Association.

Othmar Schauli, Head of Fire Alarm and Gas Extinguishing Systems, Minimax AG, SES Examination Expert for Project Manager Safety, Specialization Fire.