Continuing education programmes

Deepen your knowledge and skills in the field of art, design and education by signing into the professional continuing education programmes at the Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW (HGK Basel). Numerous workshops on topics and methods relevant to art, design and society give participants the opportunity to continue their education in specific areas of competence. The alternating workshops offered can be combined individually in modules to become a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS).

As part of the continuing education programme at the HGK Basel, four CAS are being offered in the areas of Artistic Literacy, Visual Literacy, Digital Literacy and Circular Literacy. The various workshops can be individually combined to form the modular CAS programmes.

CAS Artistic Literacy
The CAS Artistic Literacy opens up new perspectives on one’s own educational, communicative, and artistic activities and opens up doors to shaping of our cultural world with others. Participants are introduced to artistic, communicative, and educational strategies. They acquire the ability to make creative encounters effective for social processes. The topics offered integrate methods from the fields of communication, digitality, fine arts, design, art education and participatory practices. The courses may be combined to form an individual continuing education program. The CAS is modular and allows for a further education tailored to the individual needs of the participants. “Artistic Literacy” is conducted with experienced international arts and culture professionals, facilitators, artists, and lecturers from the HGK Basel.

CAS Visual Literacy
The visual has become increasingly important as the range of digital tools and communication channels continues to grow. Visual messages in analogue and digital media are shaping communication and the associated contents and interpretations of our world more than ever. The CAS Visual Literacy introduces specific fields of visual communication and teaches currently required competences and skills. Visual  messages in the context of typography, photography, video, posters, publications, websites, and UX/UI are designed in an applied manner and reflected upon in a theoretically analytical way.

CAS Digital Literacy
With the increasing spread of digital tools and communication channels, the question of how to design them is becoming more and more important. The CAS Digital Literacy imparts knowledge, competences and skills that enable the design of diverse digital communication channels. Courses on Creative Coding, UX/UI, Immersive Environments, AI/Deep Learning, Digital Participation, Video Documentation and Moving Graphics provide an up-to-date insight into the applied practice and theoretical reflection of digital design in this CAS.

CAS Circular Literacy (currently in preparation)
An important approach to reducing CO2 emissions in the sense of the net zero target is provided by circular models. Creative thinking and practice—from art to design to architecture—is also experiencing a paradigm shift here. The CAS Circular Literacy introduces specific fields of sustainable design and imparts the necessary current competences and skills. Based on practical design and critical reflection, the CAS offers important insights into circular concepts, the resource-saving use of materials and constructions, principles of the circular economy and the handling of life cycle assessments.

The Basel Academy of Art and Design offers a broad continuing education programme including an international Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) as well as four Certificates of Advanced Studies (CAS) and various Workshops with compact inputs. 

About studying at the Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW
The Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW is linked with other universities and academies, in Switzerland and abroad. Ties with renowned schools and universities in Europe, the United States, and Asia provide an opportunity to study your subject from a different viewpoint and against a new cultural background. At the same time, the Academy welcomes candidates from other Swiss universities and from abroad to study here in Basel. You will find more information here.