Traditional leadership training courses often concentrate on administrative aspects and on understanding day-to-day operations (finances, controlling, marketing, macro and micro economics, etc.). They rarely address the specific themes which gain in relevance in exacting situations (decision-making, human factors, information management). The Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Effective Leadership is a joint advanced studies programme of the University of Lucerne and the Swiss Armed Forces College (SAFC) and fills a gap in that it trains the skills required for leadership in situations with an acute need for action.

Providing support to people affected by conflicts and disasters is an intense, complex and demanding task. The joint study programme "CAS/MAS in Humanitarian Leadership" combines the academic expertise of the University of Lucerne with the practical knowledge and field experience of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).