Bern University of the Arts
The BUA unites a wide variety of artistic disciplines under a single roof. The University offers both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the field of design, fine arts, conservation and restoration, music, literature and theatre.
The BUA came into existence on September 1st 2003 with the merger of the College of Music and Theatre and the College of Design, the Arts and Conservation. The BUA is a department of Berne University of Applied Sciences.
The BUA is committed to quality. Students are selected on the basis of aptitude tests, and lecturers are required to furnish demanding qualifications. The clear framework conditions ensure effective student support and a high-quality education.
While the students at the BUA focus on their chosen discipline, they also perceive of themselves as part of an artistic landscape that includes innovative arts, design and research and operates on an interdisciplinary basis. This particularly close proximity to other disciplines serves to broaden their horizons. The acquisition of interface competencies guarantees a sustainable professional qualification at university.
The Y Institute for Transdiciplinarity serves to coordinate this "Learning Across the Disciplines". Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, the philosopher, coined the aphorism: "Anyone who only understands chemistry doesn't even understand that very well." Hanns Eisler applied this quotation to music. And the BUA interprets it in an even wider sense, taking it as its guiding principle.
As a research institute and events centre, the BUA works together closely with national and international partners from both the cultural and social sectors, as well as from the world of business.
Major projects, such as the Biennale Bern are organised jointly with cultural proffessionals. The BUA stands out amongst other centres of learning through its large number of public appearances and its strong prescence in the capital's cultural scene.
Mission statement
The BUA Mission Statement has been compiled on a joint basis. The 2006 Department Conference defined the different themes to be covered, which then took on their specific form in the context of workshops involving both lecturers and members of the university management. The first version of the Mission Statement was sent to all those involved for consultation. The 2007 Department Conference then discussed the second version that resulted from this, making certain adjustments to it. After the third version had been approved by the university management, it was submitted to the BUA Advisory Board for consultation. The final version has been available since June 2007.
Download Mission Statement.pdf
