Academica University of Applied Sciences

What Academica University of Applied Sciences does

Academica University of Applied Sciences is a privately held Dutch higher education institution founded in 1989 and headquartered in Amsterdam. It operates as a not-for-profit-style applied sciences university focused on leadership development, sustainability, and educational quality, delivering accredited degree programs, professional development modules, and customized corporate training. Over 35 years it has built a portfolio of 102+ programs enrolling 4,600+ professionals and serving 620+ organizational teams, with a participant satisfaction rating of 8.3 out of 10.

The core product is the NVAO-accredited MBA Leadership in Sustainability, a 1.5-year part-time program priced at €45,000 per participant and structured around seven modules plus a thesis. The curriculum is differentiated by two embedded frameworks: the Zenger Folkman 360-degree data-driven leadership assessment (used at intake and exit) and B Lab's five-value sustainability framework (Workers, Customers, Community, Governance, Environment). Supporting products include standalone MBA modules (e.g., Customer Journey, Governance and Finance, EU Market), a Mini-MBA entry offering, Master modules in Excellent Teaching, and professional development courses such as How Teaching and Learning Happens and Research Literacy. Delivery is blended: approximately 30 in-person classroom days over 1.5 years combined with online self-study, peer coaching, and intervision. Named faculty are drawn from IESE Business School, Stellenbosch University, and Zenger Folkman (Dr. Joe Folkman as Professor of Data-Driven Leadership). Free access to EBSCO's scientific article platform supports evidence-informed learning.

The business model combines two revenue streams: (1) Degree and certification programs, with revenue from full MBA enrollment (€45,000), individual module certifications, and modular entry points that allow Levenlanglerenkrediet government study loan financing via the NVAO accreditation; and (2) InCompany and custom training, where programs are delivered to organizations or teams of 15+ participants with tailored content, location, and scheduling. Go-to-market is sales-led with a free advisory consultation (adviesgesprek) funnel, complemented by content marketing (website, blog, monthly newsletter), LinkedIn/X/YouTube presence, and structured outreach to domestic Dutch professional segments including school leaders, healthcare professionals, executives, and InCompany enterprise clients. Customer segments are hybrid, weighted toward professionals with 3+ years' experience and school leaders in primary and secondary education.

Name

Academica University of Applied Sciences

Legal name

Academica University of Applied Sciences

Website

https://academica-group.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Academica University of Applied Sciences is a privately held Dutch higher education institution founded in 1989, offering an NVAO-accredited MBA Leadership in Sustainability, modular executive education, and InCompany training for professionals, school leaders, and organizational teams across the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Professional Development

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Professional Schools (MBA/MPA/MPH/Etc.) (EDAHALAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Executive Education & Corporate Programs (Non-degree) (EDAHAHAN)

Keywords

• Higher education programs
• Executive leadership training
• Sustainability leadership
• Professional development courses
• MBA degree programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam, North Holland

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Degree and Certification Programs: Revenue from accredited degree programs (MBA, Master's) and individual module certifications. Programs are offered as full degrees (1.5-year MBA) or as standalone certified modules. NVAO accreditation enables access to Levenlanglerenkrediet (government study loan).
2. InCompany and Custom Training: Customized training programs delivered to organizations, teams, or professional groups, with minimum group sizes as low as 15 participants. Programs are tailored to specific organizations, sectors, or professional groups.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Academica University of Applied Sciences delivers NVAO-accredited higher education programs, with its flagship being the 1.5-year part-time MBA Leadership in Sustainability. It also offers the Master Excellent Teaching (post-HBO), standalone professional development short programs (e.g., How Teaching and Learning Happens, Research Literacy), and customized InCompany training for organizations and teams of 15 or more participants. Programs combine roughly 30 days of in-person classroom learning with online self-study, intervision, peer coaching, and practice-oriented assignments, grounded in scientific research and the Zenger Folkman 360-degree leadership assessment.

Product overview

Academica University of Applied Sciences offers a modular higher education portfolio centered on the NVAO-accredited MBA Leadership in Sustainability (1.5-year part-time program) that can be completed in full or through individual modules. The core MBA comprises 7 modules (Leadership Making a Difference, Customer Journey, Mission & Vision, International Business, Governance & Finance, EU Market, Change & Impact) plus thesis. Separate from the MBA, Academica offers Master modules in Excellent Teaching (covering evidence-informed teaching, didactics/behavior, and curriculum) and professional development programs including How Teaching and Learning Happens and Research Literacy. The institution also provides school leadership programs and short courses, all built on evidence-informed methodologies and B Lab sustainability principles. Students access scientific literature through EBSCO platform, and the MBA uses Zenger Folkman's 360-degree leadership assessment methodology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MBA Leadership in Sustainability: Executive MBA program focused on sustainable leadership impact, NVAO accredited, 1.5 year part-time program

Products and services

• MBA Leadership in Sustainability NVAO-accredited Executive MBA focused on sustainable leadership impact, completed part-time over 1.5 years; combines data-driven leadership development with the B Lab five-values framework and Zenger Folkman 360-degree assessment. Priced at €45,000 per participant, VAT-exempt. Can be completed full or modularly.
• Master Excellent Teaching Post-HBO Master program for educators and school teams covering evidence-informed teaching, classroom analysis and behavior (Didactiek en Gedrag), and curriculum development, with professional development support.
• InCompany Custom Training Programs Customized training programs delivered to organizations, schools, or professional groups for a minimum of 15 participants; programs are tailored to sector, team, and organizational needs and can be delivered on-site or at Academica's Amsterdam campus.
• How Teaching and Learning Happens Online professional development course on cognitive learning science, formative assessment, and effective didactics covering evidence-based teaching strategies for educators and school teams.
• Onderzoeksgeletterdheid (Research Literacy) Program that teaches professionals to search, evaluate, interpret, and apply scientific research in their own practice, supporting evidence-informed working across sectors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Participants rate Academica 8.3 out of 10
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023Academica became a member of AACSB in July 2023 as the first step toward full accreditation. AACSB is an American professional organization established in 1916 to promote quality in business education. Membership connects Academica with a network of leading business schools globally, with only 6% of business schools worldwide holding full AACSB accreditation. The full accreditation process is lengthy and requires significant effort.
• Zenger FolkmancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademica is a Strategic Partner of Zenger Folkman, a leading company in leadership development with programs for diverse sectors worldwide. The partnership, spanning more than 15 years, includes joint research on leadership effectiveness, use of the Zenger Folkman 360-degree assessment, and co-delivery of leadership development programs. Dr. Joe Folkman has been appointed as professor of data-driven leadership at Academica. The partnership has produced multiple Top Partner and Outstanding Partner awards (2018 EMEA, 2019 EMEA, 2020 Global, 2021 EMEA, 2022 Outstanding Partner, 2023 Top Global Partner).
• B LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademica is certified as a B Corporation by B Lab, the non-profit organization that issues the B Corp certification. The B stands for 'Benefit,' and certification requires accountability for social and environmental performance, social contribution, and governance transparency. Academica uses B Lab's five values (Workers, Customers, Community, Governance, Environment) as a framework across all its programs.
• Stellenbosch University School of Public LeadershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. dr. Zweli Ndevu from Stellenbosch University School of Public Leadership is involved as a professor and lecturer in the MBA Leadership in Sustainability program, bringing international academic expertise to the program.
• IESE Business SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. Xavier Oliver from IESE Business School serves as a professor in the MBA Leadership in Sustainability program, contributing international business school expertise.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mannheim Business School: German business school affiliated with the University of Mannheim offering part-time MBA and executive programs. Comparable for its part-time executive MBA structure, European professional audience, and AACSB-accredited positioning.
• TIAS School for Business and Society: Dutch executive education business school offering part-time MBAs and executive programs for working professionals in the Netherlands and Europe. Closely comparable for its part-time executive MBA model, hybrid B2C and InCompany motion, and Dutch private positioning.
• Nyenrode Business University: Dutch private business university offering MBA, executive, and professional programs to mid-career professionals. Comparable for its private business school positioning in the Netherlands, executive MBA target audience, and corporate leadership development offerings.
• Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University: Top-tier Dutch business school with AACSB/EQUIS-accredited MBA and executive programs. Comparable for serving Dutch and European mid-career professionals, though broader in scope and with substantially deeper brand and resources.
• Hult Ashridge Executive Education: Global executive education provider combining Hult International Business School and the legacy Ashridge programs. Comparable for its executive development focus, corporate custom programs, and data-driven leadership assessment methodology.

Regional players

• VU Amsterdam School of Business and Economics: Amsterdam-based business school offering professional and master's programs including MBAs for working professionals. Comparable for its Amsterdam location and professional/working-learner audience in the same Dutch market.
• Inholland University of Applied Sciences: Dutch university of applied sciences offering professional master's and bachelor programs for working students. Comparable as a Dutch applied sciences institution serving similar professional/working-student segments, though broader and public-affiliated.

Broad incumbents

• IMD Business School: Swiss global executive education provider with premium MBA and leadership programs and a strong corporate custom-programs business. Comparable for its premium executive model, B2B corporate partnerships, and data-driven leadership methodology.
• IESE Business School: Global business school with executive MBAs and leadership programs, including an Amsterdam presence. Comparable for its executive MBA structure, leadership development focus, and current academic partnership with Academica.

Emerging players

• Presencing Institute: Global sustainability and systems leadership education organization founded by Otto Scharmer, focused on Theory U and B Corp-aligned values. Comparable for its sustainability-leadership training focus and B Corp-adjacent values framework.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/AcademicaUoAS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AcademicaUoAS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/academica-university-of-applied-sciences

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Academica University of Applied Sciences