Do you have a passion for advancing sustainability where it truly counts? Unlock your potential to transform real estate investment for a sustainable future with our “CAS Sustainable Real Estate” at the University of Basel.

ESG in the real estate sector has become an important topic, as a high proportion of greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption can be attributed to the building stock. Corresponding standards, their further development and strategies in the real estate industry are important beyond national borders.

The CAS is taught in English. The program focuses on the analysis, evaluation and transformation of real estate investments and real estate portfolios with regard to sustainability. It combines the latest academic research in the areas of sustainable real estate and real estate markets with comprehensive practical knowledge in the field of sustainable real estate management. And it offers students further education with both high practical relevance and an internationally recognized academic degree (Certificate of Advanced Studies). A Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) is an academic degree awarded upon completion of a continuing education program, i.e., post Master.

 

 

Digital Info Sessions

December 10, 2024 | 6.30pm
January 13, 2025 | 6.30pm
February 17, 2025 | 6.30pm

 

CAS Sustainable Real Estate | Overview

Application deadline: 01.03.2025
Start: 27.03.2025

Costs: CHF 9'500.-
Course Language: English

Program Director:Prof. Dr. Pascal Gantenbein

Host: Faculty of Business and Economics

Questions? Write us an E-Mail: 
cas-sre@clutterunibas.ch

 


Program Overview

The core elements of the curriculum build upon the subject areas of real estate economics (real estate investments and real estate markets), ecological framework conditions (energy and climate policy), the social environment (real estate development and spatial planning) and the interfaces between these three areas. The program contains 10 consecutive modules and is completed with a CAS degree when all ECTS have been earned. 

The program comprises 12 ECTS with a maximum study period of 6 months. Course dates are mostly on Friday/Saturday, the dates are published in the "Curriculum" section of this website.

Scope: 12 days of on-campus lecture + self-studying + CAS Thesis

Course language: English

Module I: Sustainable Real Estate
(Prof. Dr. Pascal Gantenbein)

27.03.2025 (WWZ S13)

13:30

Welcome and Course Overview

 

Why ESG?

Dr. Jacqueline Henn

 

Real Estate Markets and the Relevance of Sustainability: Real Estate Investment Cycles, Green Building, and the Economics of Sustainable Development

Prof. Dr. Pascal Gantenbein

15:30

Integrating Sustainability in Real Estate Strategies

Alexandros Gratsias, J. Safra Sarasin

17:00

Welcome reception

Module IIa: Emissions and Energy
(Prof. Dr. Pascal Gantenbein / WüestPartner)

28.03.2025 (WWZ S13)

09:00

Sustainable Building

 

Measuring Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions of Buildings: Energy Demand in Buildings, System Boundaries, Emission Factors, Calculation Models, Input Data Availability, Predicting the Impact of Retrofits

Dr. Linus Walker, Wüest Partner

12:30

Lunch Break

13:30

Legal and Tax Aspects of Solar Infrastructure

Benno Suter & Richard Wandfluh, Ernst & Young

15:30

Labels and Certificates: Proesses, requirements, benefits, impact

E.g. Minergie, GEAK, SGNI/DGNB, SNBS, LEED

Barbara Pataki, Durable

17:00

End of day

Module IIb: Emissions and Energy
(Prof. Dr. Pascal Gantenbein / WüestPartner)

29.03.2025 (WWZ S13)

09:00

Strategies for Portfolio Managers: Operational Carbon Pathways and the Role of Measuring Embodied Carbon

Nicolas Wild, Wüest Partner

12:30

Lunch Break

13:30

Measuring ESG: a multi country perspective

ESG as a tool: What is and what can be measured, accuracy and data

Marc Yeha, Ph.D., Manager Sustainability, Wüest Partner, Paris

15:30

Legal aspects of sustainable real estate

Melanie von Rickenbach, Pestalozzi Attorneys at Law

17:00

End of day and module

Module III: Sustainability and Economic Viability
(WüestPartner)

08.05.2025 (WP Auditorium)

09:00

The Economics of Energetic Renovations

Investment costs, Market value: Impact by channel, Subsidies and tax savings

Case studies

Dr. Jörg Schläpfer, WüestPartner

11:00

Economic Value of Green Real Estate and current preferences

Spotlight on Germany

Rüdiger Hornung, WüestPartner, Munich

12:30

Lunch Break

13:30

Low-Tech Renovations:

What is it, how to get there, functional coordination

Stefan Barp, AFC

15:30-17:00

Module Assignment I-III (on-site)

17:00

End of Block 1

Module I           

27.03.2025

Sustainable Real Estate

Prof. Dr. Pascal Gantenbein

Dr. Jacqueline Henn

Alexandros Gratsias (J. Safra Sarasin)

Module IIa        

28.03.2025

Emissions and Energy

Prof. Dr. Pascal Gantenbein / Dr. Jörg Schläpfer (Wüest Partner)

Barbara Pataki (Durable) /  Dr. Linus Walker (Wüest Partner) / Benno Suter & Richard Wandfluh (Ernst & Young)

Module IIb        

29.03.2025

Emissions and Energy

Prof. Dr. Pascal Gantenbein / Dr. Jörg Schläpfer (Wüest Partner)

Marc Yehya & Nicolas Wild (Wüest Partner) / Melanie von Rickenbach (Pestalozzi Attorneys at Law)

Module III        

08.05.2025

Sustainability and Economic Viability

Dr. Jörg Schläpfer / Rüdiger Hornung (Wüest Partner)

Dr. Stefan Barp (AFC AG)

Module IV     

09.05.2025

Real Estate Market

Prof. Dr. Pascal Gantenbein / Prof. Dr. Christian Kleiber / Dr. Beat Spirig

Fredy Hasenmeile (Raiffeisen)

Module V

10.05.2025

Real Estate Investment

Dr. Constantin Kempf 

Prof. Dr. Pascal Gantenbein / Team Wüest Partner

Module VI

05.06.2025

Sustainability Strategies

Prof. Dr. Pascal Gantenbein 

Michael Böniger & Daniela Jorio (UBS) / Rafik Awad (ZKB) / Dr. Agnes Neher (Baloise) 

Module VIIa

06.06.2025

The Role of Policy in Establishing Sustainability

Prof. Dr. Aya Kachi

Prof. Dr. John Wargo (Yale University)

Module VIIb

07.06.2025

The Role of Policy in Establishing Sustainability

Prof. Dr. Aya Kachi

Dr. Miriam Lüdi (Resilientsy)

Module VIII

20.06.2025

The Society and the Economy

Dr. Jörg Schläpfer (Wüest Partner)

Dr. Dorothea Baur (Baur Consulting)

Regula Küng (Basel Stadt)

Module IX

21.06.2025

Societal Attitudes toward Sustainable Real Estate & Introduction to Thesis

Prof. Dr. Aya Kachi

Dr. Beat Spirig

Module X

19.09.2025

20.09.2025

CAS Thesis and Knowledge TransferProf. Dr. Pascal Gantenbein / Dr. Jörg Schläpfer (Wüest Partner)

Curriculum and speakers may be subject to changes

 

Highly qualified lecturers from academia as well as from the industry stand for the quality of the program. The Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Sustainable Real Estate is offered by the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics of the University of Basel in cooperation with Wüest Partner AG (WP), one of the leading real estate service providers in Switzerland. The Faculty of Business Administration and Economics at the University of Basel is the sponsor of the Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Sustainable Real Estate. The program is run by Professor Pascal Gantenbein. As a practice partner, Wüest Partner AG is involved in the development and implementation of some of the teaching modules. In addition, participants are granted free access to data, publications and applications for the duration of the course.

The "CAS in Sustainable Real Estate" course is aimed at an ambitious and international clientele who wants to build up and hone their skills in the field of sustainable real estate investment and development. Participants have either gained experience in the real estate sector, e.g., in real estate investment, construction, finance or administration, or they would like to develop their skills in this area. They are looking for a part-time continuing education program that combines a high academic level with professional practice. Students have 3 to 5 years of successful professional experience and an academic degree.

The following requirements must be met for admission to the program:

  • a completed degree (Bachelor's or Master's) from a university recognized by the University of Basel
  • 3 to 5 years of successful professional experience in the real estate sector
  • Written and spoken English (recommended level B2/C1)

In justified exceptional cases, candidates who can provide evidence of an adequate professional background and corresponding professional qualifications may be admitted to the program. (In all other respects, the provisions of § 2 of the regulations for continuing education studies apply.)

Location

The modules will take place at the Faculty of Business and Economics, Peter Merian-Weg 6, 4002 Basel and at Wüest Partner AG, Bleicherweg 5, 8001 Zurich.

Fees and payment

The total tuition fee for the "CAS Sustainable Real Estate" program is CHF 9,500. The tuition fee includes fees for examinations, teaching and learning materials, but does not include costs for special services such as travel or accommodation. Once admission to the course has been confirmed, the entire tuition fee is due. The tuition fee can be paid in three partial payments.

Attendance: Participation in the courses of the degree program is compulsory; in the event of more than 20% absence of the total time required, a corresponding substitute course must be completed in consultation with the program management.

The payment is due as follows:

  • CHF 2,500 4 weeks after confirmed admission to the degree program
  • CHF 4,000 1 month before the start of the degree program
  • CHF 3,000 3 months after the start of the degree program

In the event of withdrawal from the contract 20 days before the start of the course, 30% of the tuition fee remains due. In the event of withdrawal in the first 30 days after the start of the course, 70% of the tuition fee remains due. In the event of a later withdrawal, the entire tuition fee is due.

Cancellation or course insurance is recommended; this is the responsibility of the student. (For tuition fees, see § 10 of the regulations for the continuing education program. In all other respects, the provisions of § 10 of the Regulations for Continuing Education Studies apply.)

The program committee reserves the right to make changes to the content.

Conditions of Participations

Registrations will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis. The number of participants is limited. After receipt of the registration, the registration confirmation will be sent by post. If participation is not possible, the participant will be contacted by phone or e-mail.  Cancellations up to eight weeks before the start of the course are possible without incurring any costs. In addition, the terms and conditions of the University of Basel apply.

Pascal Gantenbein

Prof. Dr. Pascal Gantenbein

Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Basel

Dorothea Baur

Dr. Dorothea Baur

Independent consultant, lecturer on ethics, responsibility and sustainability

BArp

Dr. Stefan Barp

Member of the Executive Board, Head of Energy and Sustainability, AFC AG

Böniger

Michael Böniger

Head Business Management & Operations, Real Estate Germany, Austria, Switzerland (RE-DACH) | UBS Asset Management

gratsias

Alexandros Gratsias

Head of Sustainable Real Estate Investments, Bank J. Safra Sarasin

Hasenmaile

Fredy Hasenmaile

Chief Economist Raiffeisen Switzerland, Vice President Real Estate Investment Data Association

Henn

Dr. Jacqueline Henn

Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Basel

Hornung

Rüdiger Hornung

Managing Director, Head Munich Office, Partner, Wüest Partner

Kachi

Prof. Dr. Aya Kachi

Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Basel

Kleiber

Prof. Dr. Christian Kleiber

Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Basel

Küng

Regula Küng

Head of the Housing Development Unit, Cantonal and Urban Development Basel-Stadt

Lüdi

Dr. iur. Miriam Lüdi

COO at Resilientsy

Neher

Dr. Agnes Neher

Head Responsible Investment, Baloise Asset Management

Pataki

Barbara Pataki

Manager, Studio Durable, Zurich

Schläpfer

Dr. Jörg Schläpfer

Head of Macroeconomics, Wüest Partner, Zurich

Spirig

Beat Spirig

Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Basel

Suter

Benno Suter

Managing Partner, Indirect Tax Services Switzerland, Ernst & Young AG

von Rickenbach

Melanie von Rickenbach

Associate | Pestalozzi Rechtsanwälte AG

Wandfluh

Richard Wandfluh

Attorney-at-Law, Senior Consultant Corporate Law and M&A, Ernst & Young AG

Walker

Linus Walker

Senior Sustainability Manager | Wüest Partner AG

Wargo

Prof. John P. Wargo, PhD

Tweedy-Ordway Professor of Environmental Health and Politics, Yale University School of the Environment

Wild

Nicolas Wild

Sustainability Manager | Wüest Partner AG

Yeha

Marc Yehya

Manager Sustainability, Wüest Partner, Paris

Pascal Gantenbein

Prof. Dr. Pascal Gantenbein

Faculty of Business and Economics / WWZ
Financial Management

Professor | Dean of Studies

WWZ / Faculty of Business and Economics
Financial Management
Peter Merian-Weg 6
4002 Basel
Schweiz

Mail: pascal.gantenbein@unibas.ch

CM

Claudia Moret

CAS Sustainable Real Estate

WWZ / Faculty of Business and Economics
Peter Merian-Weg 6
4002 Basel
Schweiz

Tel.:  +41 61 207 69 69
Mail: cas-sre@clutterunibas.ch