Fachhochschule Westküste - Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Technik Heide

What Fachhochschule Westküste - Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Technik Heide does

Fachhochschule Westküste is a German state university (Fachhochschule / University of Applied Sciences) located in Heide, Schleswig-Holstein, organized into a Faculty of Technology and a Faculty of Business. It delivers applied undergraduate and graduate degree programs in fields spanning electrical engineering, automation, industrial engineering, business administration, real estate economics (Immobilienwirtschaft), and tourism, including dual-study variants where regional companies co-finance and co-supervise students. The institution runs standard higher-education technology infrastructure — MOODLE for e-learning, HIS for enrollment and records, and a public Moduldatenbank for module-level learning outcomes — supplemented by Media-Wiki-based teaching scripts and recorded lecture delivery developed through the WISE institute.

Applied research is concentrated in five specialized in-house institutes: Institut ITE (energy system transformation), DI-Tourismusforschung, regioMAR (regional marketing), WinHR (HR management), and WISE (continuing education and E-Learning). The university's most distinctive asset is the 2004 cooperation agreement and 2013 joint working group with Fraunhofer ISIT in Itzehoe on microsystems for human-machine interfaces — the first Fraunhofer-FH cooperation in North Germany — funded with €1.2M by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and producing 50+ supervised theses and 20+ student practical semesters at ISIT. Additional platforms include the annual Automatisierungsforum (since 2003), TransferTag (real-estate industry day), ScienceCamp (youth STEM outreach since 2010), the Startup Center, and Gründungs-lunch / StartUp-Night events.

Revenue is principally state allocations from Schleswig-Holstein plus semester fees (the state has been largely tuition-free since 2013), supplemented by externally funded research grants (BMBF, Fraunhofer, industry-sponsored theses), VFST-mediated donations from regional financial partners, and continuing-education fees via WISE. The business model is therefore public-budget driven with diversified third-party research and lifelong-learning revenue rather than commercial.

Name

Fachhochschule Westküste - Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Technik Heide

Legal name

Fachhochschule Westküste - Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Technik Heide

Website

https://fh-westkueste.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fachhochschule Westküste is a German state university of applied sciences in Heide, Schleswig-Holstein, offering applied business and technology degree programs, dual-study tracks, continuing education via the WISE institute, and industry-linked applied research through five specialized institutes and a Fraunhofer ISIT cooperation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Cooperative Education (Co-op) Technical Universities (EDAHAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA), Online/Hybrid Overseas Pathway & Bridging Programs (EDAIAJAK)

Keywords

• Applied sciences education
• Business degree programs
• Engineering degree programs
• Continuing professional education
• Applied research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Heide

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and student fees: As a public German university, FH Westküste receives funding from the state of Schleswig-Holstein. Students pay semester fees. Note: Public higher education in Germany (Schleswig-Holstein) has been largely tuition-free since 2013.
2. Research grants and third-party funding: The university generates revenue through externally funded research projects, including BMBF-funded projects, state funding (Exzellenz- und Strukturbudget), and project-specific grants from industry partners and government bodies.
3. Continuing education and dual study programs: The WISE institute offers continuing education programs for professionals and KMU companies. The dual study model (duales Studium) involves partnerships with companies that co-finance student positions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

FH Westküste delivers applied higher education through Bachelor's and Master's degree programs in business (Wirtschaft) and technology (Technik) disciplines, including dual study (duales Studium) variants that integrate on-campus learning with company-based practical semesters. The institution supplements degree programs with preparation courses (Vorbereitungskurse), continuing education via the WISE Institute (particularly digital transformation and tourism 4.0 for KMU), and applied research services delivered through specialized institutes covering energy transition, tourism, regional marketing, and HR management.

Product overview

Fachhochschule Westküste operates as a German university of applied sciences with a portfolio of educational technology platforms and support services. The core academic offerings are delivered through MOODLE (e-learning) and the HIS student information system, supplemented by a module database (Moduldatenbank) for course information. The institution supports continuing education through the WISE institute, which focuses on E-Learning and digital transformation in tourism. Additional services include the Startup Center for entrepreneurship, preparation courses for new students, and the annual Automatisierungsforum conference on automation technology. The ScienceCamp program provides youth outreach in STEM education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WISE: Weiterbildungs-Institut für akademische Studien- und E-Learningangebote
• Institut ITE
• DI Tourismusforschung
• regioMAR
• WinHR
• IMT
• VFST
• StartUp & Innovation Center

Products and services

• Applied Degree Programs (Bachelor's and Master's in Business and Technology)
• Dual Study Programs (Duales Studium)
• WISE Continuing Education Programs
• Preparation Courses (Vorbereitungskurse)
• Startup Center FH Westküste
• ERASMUS+ and International Exchange Programs
• ScienceCamp Youth Science Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 joint theses supervised with Fraunhofer ISIT since 2004
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers17 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fraunhofer ISIT (Fraunhofer-Institut für Siliziumtechnologie, Itzehoe)coreTechnology or Integration · 21 November 2013Since 2004, FH Westküste has had a cooperation agreement with Fraunhofer ISIT. Since 2013, there is a joint working group on microsystems for human-machine interfaces, funded with €1.2M by the Fraunhofer Society. This is the first Fraunhofer-fh cooperation in North Germany. Joint achievements include over 50 theses supervised, more than 20 students completing practical semesters at ISIT, and multiple graduates joining ISIT as employees. Prof. Ralf Dudde holds a honorary professorship at FH Westküste.
• Technische Hochschule LübeckcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFH Westküste collaborates with TH Lübeck and oncampus GmbH to develop and deliver online continuing education programs for KMU in Schleswig-Holstein, particularly in the 'Tourismus 4.0 in Schleswig-Holstein' initiative.
• oncampus GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the joint online continuing education initiative with FH Westküste and TH Lübeck, delivering digital education programs for KMU employees in Schleswig-Holstein.
• Westhof Bio-Gemüse GmbH & Co. KG, FriedrichsgabekoogminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for Dr.-Ing. Florian Knoll's AI-based plant classification research. The research enables classification of plants under real field conditions on the organic farm's fields.
• GP JouleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTourism innovation competition partner for 'Tourismus-Talente Westküste' competition. Provided prize sponsorship and participated in workshop to evaluate student ideas for e-mobility in tourism.
• Nordsee Tourismus Service (NTS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTourism competition partner for the 'Tourismus-Talente Westküste' competition, helping evaluate student innovation ideas for regional e-mobility.
• Hotel StrandGut, St. Peter-OrdingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrize sponsor for 'Tourismus-Talente Westküste' competition, providing an overnight stay as part of the winning prize.
• 3D SparkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStartup founded by 3 former Fraunhofer ISIT employees that completed a €1.2M financing round. Presented at the Heider Start-up- und Existenzgründer-Meet-Up in 2023.
• voiiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital childcare platform partnership providing emergency childcare, virtual care, and learning support to FH Westküste employees and students since October 2020, partially funded by VFST.
• lvlup!HRminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStartup founded by Frank Simoneit that uses computer games in personnel selection. Presented at the Gründungslunch event.
• IHK Flensburg (Chamber of Industry and Commerce)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerKey regional partner for entrepreneurship support. Co-organizes the Heider Start-up- und Existenzgründer-Meet-Up, provides startup consulting services, and participates in multiple events including the Gründungslunch series.
• Wirtschaftsjunioren DithmarschenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-organized the first StartUp-Night with FH Westküste and IHK, aiming to inspire students to become entrepreneurs.
• Berufliche Schule des Kreises OstholsteinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKooperationsvertrag signed in June 2026 to strengthen permeability between vocational and academic education. Graduates of the Immobilienkaufmann/-frau apprenticeship can have modules credited toward the Immobilienwirtschaft degree.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hochschule Flensburg: Border-region Fachhochschule with overlapping applied sciences, technology, and business offerings; competes with FH Westküste for similar Schleswig-Holstein applicants and shares the IHK Flensburg regional partnership network.
• Technische Hochschule Lübeck: Cooperative partner in the WISE institute and a nearby Schleswig-Holstein Fachhochschule. Directly comparable as a public, applied-science institution with technology and business programs, sharing online continuing-education delivery via oncampus GmbH.
• Technische Hochschule Wildau: Eastern German Fachhochschule with similar technology, business, and dual study program mix; comparable size and applied-research focus with extensive industry partnerships in the regional economy.
• Hochschule Wismar: Public University of Applied Sciences in northern Germany with business and technology programs. Comparable in scale and applied-research focus; previously co-supervised theses awarded the AALE prize with FH Westküste.
• Fachhochschule Kiel: Larger Schleswig-Holstein Fachhochschule with similar technology and business faculties; competes for regional applicants and employer partnerships while sharing the same state-funder context.
• Hochschule Bremen (HSB): Northern German public Fachhochschule with comparable business and technology faculties, dual study programs, and applied-research institutes — competes for similar employer-sponsored theses and continuing-education contracts.

Others

• oncampus GmbH: Distribution and online-learning partner co-developing WISE continuing-education programs; comparable as a digital infrastructure provider for northern German Fachhochschulen and a delivery channel for FH Westküste's KMU training.
• Fraunhofer ISIT (Itzehoe): Closest research partner and the first Fraunhofer-FH cooperation in North Germany. Not a competing educator but the anchor institution for FH Westküste's microsystems research, joint theses, and student placements.

Regional players

• Jade Hochschule: Public Fachhochschule in Wilhelmshaven/Oldenburg/Elsfleth with applied business, technology, and management programs. Comparable in scale and applied-research profile; serves the adjacent Lower Saxony coastal corridor rather than Schleswig-Holstein.

Broad incumbents

• Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Hamburg (HAW Hamburg): Much larger Hamburg-based Fachhochschule offering business, engineering, and applied sciences. Operates in the same regional applicant and employer pool, but at significantly greater scale and program breadth than FH Westküste.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/FachhochschuleWestk%C3%BCste
• Facebookfacebook.com/fhwestkueste
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/fachhochschule-westk%C3%BCste---hochschule-f%C3%BCr-wirtschaft-und-technik-heide
• Instagraminstagram.com/fhwestkueste

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Fachhochschule Westküste - Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Technik Heide