Study Institute for Communication

What Study Institute for Communication does

Studieninstitut für Kommunikation GmbH is a private German continuing education provider founded in 1998 by Michael Hosang and headquartered in Düsseldorf. The company delivers professional certification and academic programs in five subject areas — event management, digital marketing, corporate communication, event safety, and leadership development — serving working professionals who seek IHK-recognized qualifications, university-accredited degrees, and specialized vocational certifications. It operates from four German seminar cities (Düsseldorf, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin) and two university-partner locations (TU Chemnitz/TUCed and Hochschule Schmalkalden), and runs an Inhouse corporate training division delivering customized programs for enterprise clients.

The product catalog comprises more than 30 distinct courses ranging from two-day compact programs to multi-month berufsbegleitende Lehrgänge (part-time certification programs) and full academic degrees (B.Sc., MBA, DAS certificates). Delivery combines in-person seminars at physical locations, live (not pre-recorded) interactive webinars, and a proprietary Online Campus LMS that provides course materials, self-study resources, discussion forums, and session recordings. The portfolio is anchored by IHK-certified qualifications (Eventmanager/in, Veranstaltungsfachwirt/in, Digital Marketing Manager/in, Kommunikationsmanager/in), university-degree partnerships, and bespoke Inhouse-Trainings customized for corporate clients including Deutsche Telekom, Sheraton Frankfurt Airport, MDR, and Endress+Hauser. Recent additions include AI-focused offerings (KI im Eventmanagement, KI Vertiefung & Automatisierung) and a crisis-communication training program for civil protection staff. Sub-brands Digital Dienstag (free webinar series, 2022 Fernstudium award winner), NAWUMO (youth moderation competition), and BrandEx Festival (co-initiated 2019) function as content marketing and talent-attraction assets.

Revenue is generated primarily through individual course tuition, structured as monthly installments for multi-month programs or one-time fees for compact courses, with secondary revenue from bespoke corporate Inhouse-Trainings billed per project. The go-to-market combines direct enrollment via website and an advisory hotline with a network of approximately 45+ Ausbildungspartner companies (event agencies, hotels, and corporate marketing departments) that channel employees into certification programs, supplemented by university-channel enrollments. The company holds AZAV certification and ZFU state approval, enabling access to government-funded training schemes including Aufstiegs-BAföG. The business is founder-owned with no disclosed private equity or venture capital backing.

Name

Study Institute for Communication

Legal name

Studieninstitut für Kommunikation GmbH

Website

https://studieninstitut.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Studieninstitut für Kommunikation is a private German continuing education provider founded in 1998, offering IHK-certified programs, university-accredited degrees, and specialized certifications in event management, digital marketing, communication, event safety, and leadership to working professionals across Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Continuing Education / Vocational Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional & Applied Skills Noncredit Certificates (Non-licensure) (EDAAAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sales, Marketing & Digital Marketing Certifications (EDAAANAF), Project, Program & Portfolio Management Certifications (EDAAANAB)

Keywords

• Professional continuing education
• IHK certification programs
• Event management training
• Digital marketing courses
• Event safety training

Headquarters

HQ city

Düsseldorf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Course Tuition Fees: Students pay tuition fees for professional certification programs (Lehrgänge), compact courses (Kompaktkurse), and single-day seminars. Fees are collected via SEPA direct debit, bank transfer, or PayPal in monthly installments. The company offers payment flexibility including installment plans and deferrals for hardship cases.
2. Inhouse Corporate Training: Customized training programs sold directly to corporate clients, tailored to specific organizational needs (e.g., safety training for hotels, CSR training for Deutsche Telekom). Billed as one-time project fees.
3. Free Webinar Community (Digital Dienstag): Free online training sessions used as a lead generation and brand-building channel. Not a direct revenue driver but supports enrollment conversion and newsletter list growth.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Studieninstitut für Kommunikation is a private continuing education provider selling IHK-certified and university-accredited professional certification programs, compact courses, and customized corporate training in event management, digital marketing, communication, event safety, and leadership development. Courses are delivered through live webinars, in-person seminars at four German cities, and the proprietary Online Campus LMS, with optional degree pathways via partner universities (TU Chemnitz, Hochschule Schmalkalden).

Product overview

Study Institute for Communication (Studieninstitut für Kommunikation) is a private continuing education provider founded in 1998, offering a comprehensive portfolio of professional courses, certification programs, and academic partnerships. The organization operates across five main subject areas: Digital Marketing (including AI-focused courses like KI im Eventmanagement and KI Vertiefung & Automatisierung, plus IHK and FH-certified marketing manager programs), Communication (covering crisis communication, brand psychology, and storytelling), Event Management (ranging from basics through IHK-certified professional qualifications to project management and event directing), Event Safety (including venue safety, security concepts, and crisis management), and Executive Leadership Development (with programs like First 100 Days, Feedback Forward, and Safe To Perform). The institute provides multiple learning formats including live webinars (Digital Dienstag), in-person courses at four German locations (Düsseldorf, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin), blended learning, and self-study materials via the Online Campus. Academic partnerships with TU Chemnitz and Hochschule Schmalkalden enable bachelor, master, and university certificate programs (B.Sc., MBA, DAS). Additional offerings include the annual NAWUMO young moderator competition, industry leadership through BrandEx Festival co-initiation, and custom corporate Inhouse-Trainings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Digital Dienstag: Free online training sessions on communication, digital marketing, event management, leadership and personality topics, awarded as Fernstudienprojekt des Jahres 2022
• NAWUMO
• INA Award
• BrandEx Festival
• BrandEx Fresh
• Online Campus

Products and services

• Eventmanager/in (IHK)

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates receive IHK-recognized certifications (Eventmanager/in IHK, Veranstaltungsfachwirt/in IHK, Digital Marketing Manager/in IHK, Kommunikationsmanager/in IHK) that are valued in the German labor market
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Hochschule Schmalkalden (University of Applied Sciences Schmalkalden)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2026Partnership since 2012 for the development and delivery of practice-oriented academic programs. Joint programs include Digital Marketing Manager (FH) (Zertifikatslehrgang, 30 ECTS, DAS), and Betriebswirt/in (FH) for Online-Marketing. The university provides academic accreditation; Studieninstitut provides practical seminar delivery.
• Messe Dortmund (Westfalenhallen Dortmund)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Co-initiator of the BrandEx International Festival of Brand Experience (alongside Messe Dortmund, BlachReport, and fwd:). The festival combines an interactive congress with award ceremonies (BrandEx Awards) and the BrandEx Fresh competition for young talent. 'Homebase' is the Messe Dortmund venue.
• BrandEx Festival (International Festival of Brand Experience)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019The Studieninstitut is one of four co-initiators of the BrandEx Festival. The festival merges former award formats (FAMAB Award, BEA Award, INA Award) into a unified brand experience competition. It also hosts BrandEx Fresh for young talent and the BOE Career Hub programming.
• fwd: Bundesvereinigung Veranstaltungswirtschaft e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2023, the Studieninstitut and fwd: jointly develop and deliver practice-oriented educational programs specifically designed for the live communication industry. Joint offerings include 'Kreation und Konzeption', 'Projektmanagement Veranstaltungswirtschaft', and 'Sachkundige Montageleitung im Messebau'. Both organizations are co-initiators of the BrandEx Award festival.
• TU Chemnitz / TUCed (TU Chemnitz education GmbH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership for degree programs including Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Event- und Online-Marketing and MBA Eventmarketing. TUCed serves as the transfer and continuing education institute of TU Chemnitz.
• BlachReport (AktivMedia Verlag)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-initiator of the NAWUMO Nachwuchsmoderatoren competition (since 2012) and the BrandEx Fresh Award (since 2019). BlachReport is a leading trade publication covering the German event and exhibition industry, providing media coverage and jury participation.
• Akademie der Handwerkskammer DüsseldorfminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developer of the 'Sachkundige Montageleitung im Messebau' (Qualified Exhibition Construction Management) program alongside fwd: and the Studieninstitut. Addresses the evolving skill requirements for exhibition construction site managers.
• Interplan Congress, Meeting & Event Management AGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing training partnership for educating aspiring Veranstaltungskaufleute (event salespeople). Interplan sends employees through Studieninstitut certification programs and has collaborated on a teamsong project involving the Studieninstitut's broader alumni community.
• boe international (Best of Events International)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Studieninstitut serves as the strategic education partner of boe international, Germany's leading trade fair for the event and exhibition industry. It programs the Career Hub stage (HALLE 5) with industry speakers and networking sessions for the January event at Messe Dortmund.
• Bundesverband der Fernstudienanbieter (German Distance Learning Association)minorOthersInstitutional membership in the German association of distance learning providers, which also awarded the Studieninstitut the 'Fernstudienprojekt des Jahres 2022' prize for the Digital Dienstag program.
• POMMEREL Live-Marketing GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining partner that sends apprentices and employees through the Zertifikatslehrgang Eventmanagement, combining practical work in the agency with theoretical study at Studieninstitut. Partner for over 10 years.
• Jochen Schweizer ( Unternehmensgruppe JS)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining partner that sends employees through the Eventmanager certification program. Jochen Schweizer is a leading German event and experience agency.
• ILEA Europe (International Live Events Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational industry association membership providing networking, best practice exchange, and visibility within the global live events community.
• Deutsche BahnminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a cooperation partner, potentially offering travel discounts or logistics support for participants traveling to seminar locations.
• VOK DAMS (Gesellschaft für Kommunikation mbH)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a cooperation partner. VOK DAMS is a leading German communications agency, suggesting mutual collaboration on industry events, talent development, or program content.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SRH Hochschule Heidelberg: Large German private university of applied sciences with multiple campuses and a broad portfolio including management and marketing programs. Comparable as a broader incumbent in private higher education with overlapping course categories.
• WBS TRAINING AG: Large German vocational and continuing education provider with AZAV certification and broad marketing/business training catalog. Comparable as a sizeable incumbent operating in the same government-funded Weiterbildung segment.
• TÜV Rheinland Akademie: Continuing education arm of TÜV Rheinland, a major German testing/certification group offering vocational training and corporate Inhouse programs. Comparable because of overlapping corporate training customers and broad Weiterbildung catalog.

Direct peers

• Deutsche Event Akademie: Specialist German event management training provider focused on IHK qualifications for the events industry. Comparable because it directly competes in the same IHK-certified event management certification space.
• Quadriga Media: Berlin-based professional education and media company specializing in communications, PR, and public affairs executive training. Comparable because of overlapping communications professional development segment and German-only focus.
• iba - Internationale Berufsakademie: German private vocational academy offering dual study programs including in event management. Comparable because it is already a Studieninstitut seminar location partner and competes for the same career-starter / dual-apprenticeship learner.
• IST Hochschule für Management: Private German university of applied sciences in Düsseldorf offering distance learning programs in management, communication, and marketing. Highly comparable because of overlapping subject portfolio, shared Düsseldorf origin, and similar continuing-education positioning to the original IST-Studieninstitut brand.
• ebam (Event Business Academy München): Munich-based German event management education provider offering IHK-certified and vocational programs in the same niche as Studieninstitut. Comparable because it competes head-to-head for the same event professional learner segment in Germany.
• Macromedia University of Applied Sciences: Private German university with programs in media, communication, marketing, and event management across multiple campuses. Comparable because of overlapping degree-level marketing and event offerings serving similar working professional learners.

Others

• Hochschule Macromedia / AMD Akademie Mode & Design: Adjacent creative education group under the Macromedia/FOM umbrella; relevant as a peer for design- and communications-adjacent professional education in Germany, sharing the same broader private higher education competitive set.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KommInstitut
• Facebookfacebook.com/Studieninstitut

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Study Institute for Communication