Hermes Trainings

Hermes, the Swiss project management method of the Confederation

Hermes is the official Swiss project management and steering method, developed and maintained by the Swiss Confederation. It is used by the federal administration, many cantons (notably in French-speaking Switzerland), municipalities, public enterprises and a growing number of private organisations collaborating with the public sector or having adopted Hermes for its robustness, clear framework and editorial neutrality. Hermes fits in the lineage of structured methods like PRINCE2 or PMI, but with a pragmatic orientation adapted to the Swiss context: multilingualism (French, German, Italian, English), articulation with federal and cantonal requirements, and a strong focus on roles, results and governance.

The method is structured around several key concepts: project phases (initialisation, conception, realisation, deployment), modules (project organisation, project steering, system design, etc.), scenarios (standard application project, infrastructure project, service project, agile project), roles (sponsor, project manager, application owner, business analyst, etc.), results (documentary deliverables associated with each phase and module) and tasks. Hermes is now available in several versions: Hermes 5.1, still widely used, and Hermes 2022, the new generation that modernises the method and aligns it with agile, hybrid and digital practices.

In French-speaking Switzerland, Hermes is explicitly required in almost all calls for tender of the State of Vaud, the State of Geneva, the Confederation, university hospitals, public transport and federal institutes of technology. Project managers, business analysts, business owners, business operators, PMOs and project management consultants are expected with a Hermes Foundation or Advanced certification. ITTA offers a training catalogue(referenced eCH) and offers the Hermes 2022 Foundation and Hermes 2022 Advanced catalogue delivered by certified trainers active in administrative, cantonal and private environments.

Following recognised Hermes training opens access to highly demanded missions: project manager in federal or cantonal administration, project business analyst, PMO, public project management consultant, business analysis support, project operator, portfolio manager. Whether you are preparing Hermes Foundation to validate the foundation or Hermes Advanced to target a senior project manager role, our Hermes training in Geneva and Lausanne covers the full path.

The ITTA Hermes catalogue

HERMES 2022 Foundation

The HERMES 2022 Foundation training is the Hermes entry certification. The programme covers the fundamental principles of the method (philosophy, vocabulary, articulation with PRINCE2 and PMI), project life cycle phases, modules, scenarios (standard application, infrastructure, service, agile), roles, key results and governance. The training targets beginner project managers, business analysts, project contributors, junior PMOs and all profiles who must work in a Hermes environment (administration, hospital, public enterprise). The Hermes Foundation exam is taken in French, German, Italian or English.

HERMES 2022 Advanced

The HERMES 2022 Advanced training deepens the practice of the method and targets experienced project managers. The programme addresses advanced steering of a complete Hermes project, scenario adaptation to the sponsor’s context, risk management, multi-actor governance (sponsor, steering committee, external stakeholders), conducting a Hermes assessment, conducting a hybrid agile project, and preparation for the Hermes Advanced exam. The training targets senior project managers, confirmed PMOs, portfolio architects and project management consultants.

Hermes 5.1 vs Hermes 2022

Hermes 5.1 remains widely used in administrations that strongly industrialised their project framework around it. Hermes 2022 is the new version, which modernises the method, simplifies scenarios and natively integrates agile and hybrid practices. Our catalogue is centred on Hermes 2022 (Foundation and Advanced), but our trainers also master Hermes 5.1 and support organisations in transition. Compatibility between a Hermes 5.1 certification and Hermes 2022 is handled by the eCH ecosystem according to rules documented by the Confederation.

Hermes scenarios

Scenarios are one of the most powerful levers of Hermes: they adapt the method to the type of project actually conducted. Hermes 2022 covers the main scenarios: standard application project, infrastructure project, service project, agile project. This flexibility keeps the method relevant on very different projects (IS overhaul, cloud migration, new citizen service, internal application). Scenarios are deepened in the Advanced training.

Building your Hermes path

For project profiles discovering Hermes or validating their foundation, the Foundation training is a frequent entry point. For experienced project managers targeting a senior role or a federal/cantonal mandate, the Advanced training is the target. For profiles combining multiple frameworks, Hermes pairs well with PRINCE2 and PMI according to the sponsor’s context and the ecosystem. Our pedagogical team guides you according to your target role.

Featured courses in this catalogue

Here is a selection of reference training courses in this catalogue, accessible directly:

• HERMES 2022 Foundation
• HERMES 2022 Advanced

Hermes and the publisher ecosystem at ITTA

Hermes fits into the project management methods ecosystem. The PRINCE2 publisher is the British and international counterpart very complementary to Hermes for international and private projects. PMI (Project Management Institute) is the American and international reference (PMP, CAPM). On the domain side, the project management sub-domain regroups Hermes, PRINCE2, PMI and agile approaches. Agile and Scrum is very complementary to Hermes 2022 in its agile scenarios.

Hermes trends in 2026

Hermes evolves with several structuring axes in 2026. Hermes 2022 is ramping up and progressively replacing Hermes 5.1 in administrations and private organisations in transition. The native integration of agile scenarios in Hermes 2022 aligns the method with current hybrid practices. The digitisation of the federal and cantonal administration (e-government, DigitalSwitzerland) accelerates demand for Hermes certified project managers. Compliance with federal requirements (security, nFADP data protection, accessibility) imposes strong methodological rigour. Complementarity with PRINCE2 and Scrum is regularly expected on the senior project manager side. Our pedagogical content regularly integrates these evolutions to remain aligned with current practices.

Hermes training in Geneva, Lausanne and online

All our Hermes courses are available on-site in our Geneva and Lausanne centres, as well as in interactive virtual classroom with a certified trainer live. Our sessions are organised in 5-week cycles. Each session includes Hermes case studies (cantonal project, federal project, hospital project, public enterprise project), steering exercises, Foundation and Advanced mock exams, role plays (sponsor, project manager, steering committee), and concrete cases inspired by real projects in French-speaking Switzerland. Customised corporate training is also possible at your premises, in Geneva, Lausanne, Vaud and across French-speaking Switzerland, with a programme adapted to your context (cantonal administration, hospital, public enterprise, private sector on public mission).

Why choose ITTA

ITTA offers a training cataloguetem. Our Hermes trainers are certified project managers and consultants active with Swiss clients (cantonal administrations, university hospitals, international organisations, public enterprises), covering Hermes Foundation and Advanced, and more broadly the hybrid project chain with PRINCE2 and Scrum. The Hermes catalogue regroups Hermes 2022 Foundation and Hermes 2022 Advanced. Our pedagogical team supports you in choosing the path, identifying prerequisites (Foundation before Advanced, project experience recommended for Advanced) and identifying funding solutions adapted to your professional situation.

Our pedagogical approach favours learning by doing, with Hermes case studies inspired by real projects in French-speaking Switzerland, mock exams, role plays, scenario adaptation exercises, and red-thread projects covering all phases of the Hermes life cycle. Each session combines training time, applied exercises and exchanges with the trainer, allowing each participant to progress at their own pace and leave with skills directly usable in their professional context.

Our training is aimed at varied audiences: beginner project managers, business analysts, project contributors, junior and senior PMOs, experienced project managers targeting a federal/cantonal mandate, project management consultants, business analysis support, project operators, portfolio managers. Our pedagogical team adapts the content to the participants’ context.

FAQ

What is the difference between Hermes Foundation and Hermes Advanced?

Hermes Foundation validates the foundation (vocabulary, principles, phases, modules, scenarios, roles). Hermes Advanced deepens the practice and targets experienced project managers (scenario adaptation, multi-actor governance, complex project conduct, Hermes assessment). Foundation is a prerequisite for Advanced. Our pedagogical team guides you according to your profile and target.

Is Hermes mandatory for public mandates in Switzerland?

Hermes is explicitly required by the Confederation and many cantons and public enterprises in their calls for tender and internal frameworks. It is not strictly legally mandatory, but in practice it is expected for almost all projects steered by the administration. A Hermes certification is a strongly differentiating asset in French-speaking Switzerland.

Is Hermes 5.1 still recognised against Hermes 2022?

Yes, Hermes 5.1 remains recognised and used in many administrations. Hermes 2022 is the new reference and progressively replaces Hermes 5.1. Hermes 5.1 certifications remain valid according to rules documented by the eCH ecosystem. Our catalogue is centred on Hermes 2022 but our trainers master both versions and support transitions.

Are your Hermes courses available for companies?

Yes, the full Hermes catalogue is available in-house, in Geneva, Lausanne and in virtual classroom, with a programme adapted to your context (cantonal administration, hospital, public enterprise, private sector on public mission) and your compliance constraints (Swiss nFADP, security, accessibility). Our team builds the specifications with you and organises sessions according to your calendar.