Public Financial Management
Summer School (MSc) 2026
Gain an international perspective on Public Financial Management with a focus on contemporary challenges and solutions. Explore key topics such as budgeting, debt sustainability, and integrating resilience, climate and gender considerations into modern PFM practices.
Key Facts
- Date: August 24 – 28, 2026 (on site)
- Venue: ZHAW School of Management and Law, Building MB (Haus Tista Murk), Turbinenstrasse 2, 8400 Winterthur (Canton Zurich). More info.
- Registration deadline: July 31, 2026
- Participation is limited, early registration is recommended.
- Language: English
- Credits: effort of 6 ECTS
- Fee: CHF 650.00
- Detailed information on how to prepare for the intensive week and further information will be given by e-mail after registration.
- Do you want to learn more about Public Management? Then you should get to know our other Summer School: Summer School in Public Policy and Management.
Contents
Course Overview
The Public Financial Management (PFM) Summer School at ZHAW Winterthur is a program designed for national and international students aiming to deepen their understanding of public finance in the global economy. With a faculty of leading academics and practitioners, the program provides a theoretical foundation and practical insights into critical public finance issues, equipping participants with the tools to navigate financial challenges in the public sector.
Through interactive lectures, case studies, and hands-on exercises, participants will explore key PFM concepts, from budgeting and financial planning to debt sustainability, sustainability reporting, and anti-corruption mechanisms.
Course Objectives
By the end of this summer school, participants will be able to:
- Understand the role of public finance in national and global economy
- Understand key PFM instruments such as budgeting, accounting and audit
- Know how to apply key PFM diagnostic frameworks, such as the PEFA assessment framework
- Understand how to mainstream gender and climate aspects into PFM
- Examine global public debt issues and explore policy solutions for debt sustainability
- Recognize the importance of audit in ensuring accountability and integrity in public finance
- Apply international best practices in PFM through practical case studies and expert insights
Program
Core Faculty
Dr. Sandro Fuchs, Summer School Lead
Professor for Public Management
Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)
Dr. Andreas Bergmann
Professor for Public Finance
Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)
Dr. Alma Ramsden
Senior Lecturer, Deputy Head Center for Public Financial Management
Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)
Pascal Horni
Senior Lecturer
Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)
Guest Lecturers and International Experts
Maja Bosnic
International Gender Budgeting Expert
Consultant to the World Bank and IMF
Franziska Spörri
Co-Head, Macroeconomic Support Section
Swiss State Secretariat of Economic Affairs
Martin Köhli
Head of Competence Center Financial and Internal Audit
Swiss Federal Audit Office
Gary Colonel (tbc)
Vice-Minister
Ministry of Economy and Finance
Republic of Ecuador
Requirements
- Open for all public management-interested MSc- and PhD students and young professionals.
Documents required for the application
- CV in English incl. level of English language and last university degree
- Portrait photo
- Short motivational description (max. 250 words)
Contact
For further content-related information please contact Prof. Dr. Sandro Fuchs, Module Coordinator
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ZHAW School of Management and Law
Public Sector Financial Management
Gertrudstrasse 8
8400 Winterthur
For technical and administrative questions please contact Isabel Volkart-Steinmann
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ZHAW School of Management and Law
Department Public Sector
Gertrudstrasse 8
8400 Winterthur