BIP -WINTER Driving change:
Innovation & Sustainability in the Watch Industry
The luxury industry, particularly in sectors like watchmaking, reflects a delicate balance between preserving tradition and embracing innovation. At the same time, luxury brands are incorporating cutting-edge technology to enhance their offerings and customer experience. From integrating digital tools in production to creating smart, connected products, innovation is reshaping traditional luxury. Brands are adopting blockchain for authenticity verification, and e-commerce is revolutionizing how consumers engage with luxury goods, all while ensuring that craftsmanship, exclusivity, and quality remain at the core of their identity.
Students will be immersed in Swiss culture, with two days of visits dedicated to exploring Switzerland’s unique blend of innovation, tradition, and rich cultural heritage. This multicultural experience provides a firsthand look at how tradition and modernity intersect in one of the world’s renowned luxury markets.
This program offers a unique combination of hands-on learning, industry insights, and cultural immersion in one of the most innovative countries in the world.
Driving Change: Innovation & sustainability in the Watch Industry
Join a unique two-week Winter Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) for Swiss and international Bachelor’s and Master’s students exploring the future of the Swiss luxury watch industry.
Through virtual sessions and an on-site experience in Switzerland, discover how watch brands combine tradition, sustainability, and digital innovation to face today’s challenges. Topics include blockchain, e-commerce, circular economy, responsible sourcing, branding, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
The programme combines:
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Interactive workshops
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Company visits
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Coaching sessions
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International teamwork
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Outdoor and cultural activities
A hands-on international experience connecting academic learning with real-world industry challenges.
Objectives
The pedagogical approach combines theoretical input with experiential learning. Students engage in collaborative discussions, case studies, field exposure, and mentoring activities that foster critical thinking, innovation, and reflective practice. The structure of the program also promotes intercultural exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration, enabling participants to develop both academic and professional competencies in an international environment.
• Develop strategies to integrate sustainability and digital transformation into luxury business practices.
• Cultivate leadership skills that balance tradition with innovation, driving meaningful change in the luxury
industry.
• Analyze key challenges in the watch industry, including intellectual property, counterfeiting, and market
adaptability.
• Build leadership strategies to navigate the evolving ecological and technological demands of the global
luxury market.
Participants' profile
This program is targeting Undergraduate and Master students with excellent academic achievements in the field of Business Administration, Economics, Business Informatics, or Business Engineering.
The program is especially designed for those who have an interest in setting up their own business or implementing their own ideas as development projects.
English skills of level B2 CEFR or higher are essential
At a glance
Degree awarded
BIP- Winter School
ECTS Credits
Applicable
Study duration
Blended & in-person
Study start
28 January 2026 - 05 February 2027 - Applications to be submitted by October 15th, 2026
Study language
English
Enrollment information
Until 15 October 2026
Fees
Students from partner universities: Please contact us. Private candidates: CHF 2'500 includes all lectures, study material, cultural activities, transport to company visits and accommodation.
Place of study
HEG-FR/HSW-FR (Fribourg, Switzerland)
