Christian Matt, the percentage of Master’s graduates in Business & Economics who are still unemployed one year after graduation is rising sharply across Switzerland. In Bern, however, it remains low at 3.1 percent. Honestly, did you expect that? 

Christian Matt: We had seen signs that the job market was shifting and that entry-level positions in some fields were particularly affected, but I wouldn’t have predicted this exact outcome for Bern. We’re very pleased, though: at 3.1% we’re within striking distance of HSG and well ahead of most other universities in the field of Business & Economics. That shows our graduates remain in high demand. 

Isn’t this good result simply due to the Bern job market? 

It’s not that simple. Many of our students come from other regions and don’t necessarily remain in Bern after graduating. That said, the region does host many attractive companies and public organizations. Many students in our Master’s program in Business Administration gain practical experience and build professional networks while still studying. They apply university knowledge to real-world situations and bring workplace questions back to their lectures. Both aspects can help make the transition into their career smoother. 

AI is becoming increasingly powerful and is transforming many traditional entry-level roles, iIs a Master’s degree in Business Administration still worth the investment? Many young people are questioning whether pursuing a university degree is still worthwile.  

Yes — now more than ever. AI advances are impressive, but in many areas these systems are increasingly a “black box”; they can generate convincing answers quickly. Only people who understand the subject matter and context can judge whether those answers are correct and appropriate. Easier access to information does not make expertise obsolete. As AI raises everyone’s productivity, expectations also rise. Your knowledge base, professional expertise, and judgment therefore remain indispensable — especially when working with AI. 

What advice would you give business students to become as “AI-ready” as possible for their future careers?  

Three things: First, develop your fundamental skills without AI; otherwise, you may lack the competencies you’ll need later on, and dependencies may develop. Second, use AI actively, but always assess its outputs critically and check them for plausibility and factual accuracy. Third, understand how AI systems work and where their limitations lie, rather than focusing solely on prompt optimization. The interaction between humans and AI is constantly shifting; so staying open and wnd willing to keep learning will be essential. 

AI is rapidly transforming nearly the world of work—not just how people enter it. If we fast-forward ten years: Which skills gained from a Master’s degree in Business Administration do you think will remain just as valuable then as they are today, even if we can’t yet predict which tools we’ll be using? 

No one knows today what jobs will look like in ten years. That’s why we don’t focus primarily on mastering individual tools—which may have changed by then—but rather on developing competencies that will remain valuable over time: analytical thinking, the confident application of methods, critical judgment, and the ability to continuously learn and adapt. Those who build these core skills will be well equipped to respond to new technologies. Thanks to the flexibility to either pursue a generalist education or to specialize in a particular area, students can tailor their Master’s program specifically to their professional and academic goals.