AWM

What AWM does

AWM (formerly Akademie für Weltmission Korntal, now AWM gGmbH) is a German non-profit theological academy founded in 1960 and headquartered in Korntal-Münchingen near Stuttgart. The institution delivers theological, intercultural, and professional-practical study programs at the Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral levels, alongside certificate programs (Certificate of Advanced Studies) and continuing education seminars, for an audience of missionaries, development workers, church leaders, Christian NGO staff, and individual learners primarily in the German-speaking world with international participation from regions including Africa, Asia, and Europe.

The core academic offering is structured around the CIU Korntal partnership with Columbia International University (USA), which provides international degree accreditation, and a development studies cooperation with the University of South Africa (UNISA). Programs are delivered through on-campus residential formats at the Korntal facility (which includes classrooms, cafeteria, and hostel), fully online self-study options, and hybrid/blended formats combining online pre-work with intensive on-campus weeks. The eLearning infrastructure runs on the Moodle platform, and the institution operates EIMI (European Institute for Migration, Integration and Islamthemen) as a wholly owned subsidiary focused on migration, integration, and Islam-related seminars and training.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition fees charged per 3-credit module (550-720 EUR, with reduced rates for AEM Germany, AEM Switzerland, and Evangelische Brüdergemeinde Korntal members), standalone seminar and CAS fees, and supplementary donations. AWM gGmbH operates as a charitable non-profit exempt from German VAT under §4 Nr. 22 UStG, with no venture, private equity, or public shareholders. The organization employs 11-50 staff and is supported by a faculty with deep operational backgrounds in global mission organizations including OM and DMG interpersonal.

Name

AWM

Legal name

AWM gGmbH

Website

https://awm-korntal.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AWM gGmbH is a German non-profit theological academy delivering accredited Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral programs plus certificates and seminars, in partnership with Columbia International University and the University of South Africa, serving missionaries, church leaders, NGO workers, and development practitioners primarily in German-speaking and international mission contexts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theological and Intercultural Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension) (EDAHALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional & Executive Short Courses (Non-Degree, International) (EDAIAIAH), University-Affiliated Pathway & Foundation Programs (EDAIAJAA)

Keywords

• Theological education
• Intercultural studies
• Missiology training
• Continuing education programs
• Professional development courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Korntal-münchingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Degree Program Tuition: Revenue from Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral degree programs charged per credit hour (3 credits per module). Fees range from 550-720 EUR per module depending on program level and AEM membership status.
2. Seminars and Continuing Education: Standalone seminar programs and Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) programs in areas like Transformative Development, Intercultural Leadership, and Member Care.
3. Application and Enrollment Fees: Registration fees (50 EUR), late enrollment fees (25 EUR), and examination/assessment fees embedded in the pricing structure.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AWM Korntal sells theological, intercultural, and professional education through accredited degree programs (Bachelor, Master, Doctoral) delivered in partnership with Columbia International University, plus Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) tracks and a continuing education catalog. Courses are delivered online, on-campus, or hybrid, and are designed for missionaries, church leaders, NGO workers, and individual learners seeking biblically grounded, practically relevant training.

Product overview

AWM Korntal (Akademie für Weltmission, now legally AWM gGmbH) is a theological educational institution located in Korntal-Münchingen, Germany, offering a comprehensive portfolio of degree programs, certificate programs, and continuing education. At its core is the CIU Korntal (Columbia International University Korntal) partnership, which delivers Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral programs in theological and inter-cultural disciplines through on-campus, online, and hybrid formats. Supporting the degree offerings are Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) programs — the CAS Intercultural Leadership and the CAS Transformative Development — which provide focused, shorter-course alternatives that can be credited toward full degrees. The institution also operates EIMI (Europäisches Institut für Migration, Integration und Islamthemen), an institute dedicated to migration, integration, and Islam-related studies, which delivers specialized seminars and training. Its eLearning platform is built on Moodle, supporting online course delivery and hybrid study. The seminar and continuing education arm (Weiterbildung) covers topics including intercultural communication, church planting, conflict transformation, Member Care, systemic organizational development, and biblical studies. Key programs include the Transformative Development training (with Theology and Theory and Practical Approaches modules), the Systemic Organizational Development program, and EIMI seminars on Islam and intercultural topics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EIMI (Europäisches Institut für Migration, Integration und Islamthemen): European Institute for Migration, Integration and Islamthemen — develops practical approaches for intercultural coexistence, with focus on training for people with migration backgrounds and seminars on intercultural topics and encounter with Muslims.

Products and services

• Master Programs (MA)
• Bachelor Programs (BA)
• Doctoral / Ph.D. Programs
• Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) – Intercultural Leadership
• Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) – Transformative Development
• EIMI – European Institute for Migration, Integration and Islamthemen
• Seminars and Continuing Education (Weiterbildung)
• EIMI Seminars – Islam, Migration, and Intercultural Topics
• Systemic Organizational Development (Weiterbildung Systemische Organisationsentwicklung)
• Transformative Development – Practical Approaches (Online Module)

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Columbia International University (CIU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWM serves as the German campus of Columbia International University (USA). Programs are jointly delivered with CIU accreditation, allowing students to earn internationally recognized degrees. Study regulations document details cooperation terms.
• University of South Africa (UNISA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment Studies program offered in cooperation with UNISA. Thomas Kröck served as Director of Studies for this program (2012-2024). Provides African perspective on development cooperation.
• OM (Operation Mobilisation)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple faculty members (including Tobias Menges, Elizabeth Rauchholz) have backgrounds with OM. Collaboration in training missionaries and development workers. OM is a global mission organization.
• DMG interpersonalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThomaz Litz (future AWM rector) works with DMG interpersonal in Brazil. Connection through leadership development and international mission collaboration.
• Christliche Fachkräfte InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAndreas Jenny worked with this organization in Nepal for 10 years before becoming a freelance consultant. Represents part of the target audience for AWM programs.
• Interaction (Swiss NGO Umbrella)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMatthieu Dobler Paganoni serves as Managing Director of Interaction, an umbrella organization of 30 Christian NGOs in Switzerland. Guest lecturer and industry connection.
• European Council for Theological Education (ECTE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBernhard Ott served as former chairman. ECTE provides accreditation oversight for theological education across Europe.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Martin Bucer Seminary: German evangelical seminary offering Bachelor, Master and doctoral programs in theology and intercultural studies. Closest direct competitor in the German-speaking evangelical theological education market, with overlapping faculty networks and student audiences.
• Evangelische Theologische Faculteit (ETF) Leuven: European evangelical theological school delivering Bachelor's, Master's and doctoral programs across multiple European campuses. Comparable as a multi-accredited, evangelical, European theological institution with hybrid delivery and similar missiological orientation.
• Theologisches Seminar Bienenberg: Swiss-German Mennonite theological seminary offering degree and continuing education programs. Highly comparable because AWM's own faculty member Bernhard Ott led this institution for many years and the two schools operate in the same German-language, evangelical-missiological market.
• Akademie für Reformatorische Theologie (ART): German Reformed theological academy offering degree and continuing education programs. Comparable as another German-language, confessional, theological training provider competing for similar students in the evangelical/Protestant mission space.

Broad incumbents

• Dallas Theological Seminary: Major US evangelical seminary with global online and hybrid degree programs including theology and missiology. Comparable as a larger, established incumbent offering the same subject-matter credentials that AWM delivers through CIU Korntal.
• University of South Africa (UNISA): Large African open-distance learning university and AWM's partner for the Development Studies program. Comparable as a broad, distance-learning institution partnering with AWM on degree delivery rather than directly competing in German-language theological training.
• Tyndale University: Canadian evangelical university offering theology and intercultural studies programs with hybrid/online formats. Comparable as a broader, established evangelical institution pursuing similar online theological education delivery as AWM.
• Columbia International University (CIU): US-based evangelical university serving as AWM's primary accreditation partner (CIU Korntal). Compares as a broader institution offering the same degree stack (BA/MA/PhD) in theology and intercultural studies that AWM delivers under CIU's academic umbrella.

Others

• DMG interpersonal: German mission organization with deep leadership ties to AWM (the designated future rector Thomaz Litz works with DMG in Brazil). Comparable as a partner and feeder audience for AWM's intercultural-theological programs rather than a direct academic competitor.
• OM International (Training arm): Global mission organization whose training and member-care programs intersect AWM's core curriculum (multiple AWM faculty are OM alumni). Comparable as a peer in the mission-workforce training ecosystem and a key referral channel rather than a degree-issuing competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/awmkorntal
• Facebookfacebook.com/awmkorntal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/awm-korntal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 AWM