CAS One Health

Veterinary Public Health Institute (VPHI), Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases (MCID)

The One Health approach proposes to extend the recognition of the ecosystem-animal-human interconnection into professional actions, aiming at sustainably maintaining health in the broadest sense.

In 9 modules, the CAS One Health training provides the theoretical and practical foundations of the One Health approach from a variety of interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral prisms. Participants learn to think and collaborate beyond their area of expertise. They deepen their knowledge of systemic problematics typical of One Health, focusing on the Swiss and European contexts.

Summary
Degree	Certificate of Advanced Studies in One Health (CAS One Health Unibe)
Start	09/2025
Length	From at least 1 year, up to a maximum of 3 years
Scope	15 ECTS
Cycle	Every year
Flexible entry possible	Yes
Single module visitable	Yes
Place	Mainly at the University of Bern; individual modules and excursions are planned in other cantons of Switzerland
Language	German, English
Admission	University degree and professional experience in fields related to One Health; admission "sur dossier" is possible upon evaluation
Registration until	2025/03/31
Cost	CHF 10'980
Organising institutions	Veterinary Public Health Institute (VPHI), Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases (MCID)
Partner	Swiss TPH, Vetsuisse-Fakultät, One Health Institute UZH, SUPSI, SBNet, Td-net - Swiss Academies, FMH, GST-SVS

Registration

About the programme

The CAS One Health is aimed at professionals working in One Health-relevant positions, particularly in environmental, plant, animal, and human health, agronomy, social and humanities sciences, economics, and law.

Objectives

The participants

understand the fundamentals and governance of the One Health approach
have a good understanding of key One Health methods and topics
acquire competencies of systems thinking
are able to evaluate and communicate the added value of the One Health approach
are able to implement the One Health approach in their professional activities and collaborate across sectors

Academic achievements

The CAS One Health consists of 15 ECTS credits. The programme is divided into 9 modules delivered over the course of ideally one year. Completion of the CAS involves approximately 23 days of presence plus 210 to 285 hours of personal work. Each module includes a practically orientated assessment. Final certification requires validation of two cross-module assessments.

Language

Courses are delivered in German and/or English, depending on the profile of the participants. Course materials are usually in English. Assessments can be performed in the preferred language (German, English, French).

Modules

Course Programme

The programme consists of four basic modules and five chosen thematic modules. The basic modules are organised in sessions of three days, the thematic modules of two days. The modules can also be booked individually.

Basic modules

(Each module lasts 3 consecutive days)

BM1 - What is One Health and where is it helpful? (8 - 10 September 2025)
BM2 - Thinking, collaborating and generating knowledge across sectors (22 - 24 October 2025)
BM3 - One Health in practice (10 - 12 November 2025)
BM4 - Operationalisation and communication of One Health (1 - 3 December 2025)

Cross-module assessment for basic modules: 14 January 2026

Thematic modules to choose from

(Each module lasts 2 consecutive days)

TM1 - Climate change, natural resource management and One Health (12 - 13 January 2026)
TM2 - Infectious diseases at the ecosystem-animal-human interface (26 - 27 February 2026)
TM3 - Vector-borne diseases and One Health (16 - 17 March 2026)
TM4 - Antimicrobial resistance and One Health (23 - 24 April 2026)
TM5 - Biosafety, biological risks and One Health (11 - 12 May 2026)
TM6 - Implementation of One Health in the Swiss administration (18 - 19 June 2026)

Organising institution and faculty

Organisation

The course modules are organised by the Veterinary Public Health Institute (VPHI), which is part of the Vetsuisse faculty of the University of Bern, in close collaboration with other university institutes and public organisations conducting research, projects and fieldwork related to One Health.

Programme management

An interdisciplinary board composed of representatives from the University of Bern and other institutions is responsible for the scientific quality of the CAS One Health. The members of the programme board are:

Prof. Dr. med. vet. Salome Dürr, VPHI, MCID, University of Bern (Chair)
Prof. Dr. Irene Adrian-Kalchhauser, FIWI, University of Bern
Prof. Dr. Claus Beisbart, Institute of Philosophy, MCID, University of Bern
Dr. Sabin Bieri, CDE, University of Bern
Dr. Kathrin Summermatter, IFIK, MCID, University of Bern
Prof. Dr. Ana Maria Vicedo Cabrera, ISPM, MCID, University of Bern
Dr. med. Jörg Allmendinger, Canton Glarus
Prof. Dr. med. vet. Thomas Lutz, One Health Institute, University of Zürich (ad interim)
Theres Paulsen, td-net, Swiss Academies
Dr. med. vet. Chantal Ritter, GST, Canton of Solothurn
Prof. Dr. med. vet. Jakob Zinsstag, Swiss TPH, University of Basel

Lecturers

The modules are taught by recognised academics from the University of Bern and other universities as well as by experts from administration and practice. It is important to us that the lecturers from academia are familiar with the challenges of practice and that the lecturers from practice have the necessary academic qualifications.

Director of Studies

The Director of Studies is responsible for implementing the continuing education programme, accompanying the participants and advising interested parties.

Admission

Prerequisites: University degree and professional experience in fields related to One Health, including environmental, plant, animal and human health, social and human sciences, economics, law, etc.

Admissions “sur dossier” can be studied on a case-by-case basis by the programme management.

Participants wishing to register for individual modules are welcome, subject to the availability of places.