Thomas-Morus-Akademie & Akademie Business

What Thomas-Morus-Akademie & Akademie Business does

The Thomas-Morus-Akademie Bensberg is a Catholic non-profit continuing education institution established in 1945 in Bergisch Gladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, and operated by the Diözesanrat der Katholiken im Erzbistum Köln e.V. (Diocesan Council of Catholics in the Archdiocese of Cologne). The academy delivers adult education programs across cultural, philosophical, theological, artistic, and societal domains, serving German lifelong learners, church volunteers, and business professionals. Programming is anchored at the historic Kardinal Schulte Haus venue and is delivered through conferences, seminars, cultural holiday academies, mediation training, and specialized sub-brands such as AkademieBusiness, Forum :PGR, GOETHE AKADEMIE, and the Bensberger Mediations-Modell.

Core offerings include Tagungen & Seminare (conferences and seminars), Ferienakademien (cultural holiday academies combining travel with academic content to destinations in Germany, France, and the Netherlands), AkademieExtra supplementary events, Kunstbegegnung art programs, Netzwerk Kirchenführung (church guide training), and an online shop for publications. The academy also maintains the "Akademie in den Häusern" blog as a content marketing channel and offers Digitale Kulturerlebnisse (digital cultural experiences). Technology infrastructure is minimal and off-the-shelf: a WordPress website, CleverReach for email marketing, and self-hosted Matomo for analytics. No proprietary technology platform, AI capabilities, or mobile applications exist.

The revenue model combines event registration fees (VAT-exempt under § 4 UStG for education), package travel pricing for Ferienakademien (subject to margin taxation under § 25 UStG), one-time publication sales via the online shop, and donations processed through Pax-Bank eG. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer and event-driven: participants register through an online booking portal (buchung.tma-bensberg.de), printed and digital program catalogs, or traditional channels (email, fax, postal mail). The organization operates with approximately 16 employees under the leadership of Akademiedirektorin Andrea Hoffmeier, with Pia von Boeselager managing public relations.

Name

Thomas-Morus-Akademie & Akademie Business

Legal name

Diözesanrat der Katholiken im Erzbistum Köln e.V.

Website

https://tma-bensberg.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Thomas-Morus-Akademie Bensberg is a Catholic non-profit continuing education institution in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, offering adult education through conferences, cultural travel programs (Ferienakademien), mediation training, and business seminars to lifelong learners, church volunteers, and professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Continuing Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Language & Communication Continuing Education (EDAAAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adult Continuing Education & Lifelong Learning Tours (THAKAGAL), Arts & Culture Appreciation (Art History, Film Appreciation, Music Appreciation) (EDAAAGAO)

Keywords

• Adult continuing education
• Cultural holiday academies
• Mediation training programs
• Professional development seminars
• Theological cultural seminars

Headquarters

HQ city

Bergisch Gladbach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Event Registration Fees: Fees for conferences, seminars, workshops, and other educational events. Registration is binding and obligates payment of the set participation fee.
2. Ferienakademien (Holiday Academy Travel): Package travel offerings combining cultural exploration with accommodation and meals. Subject to margin taxation for travel services under § 25 UStG. Includes bus tours, international travel with flights, and overnight stays.
3. Publications and Online Shop: Sale of publications including books, art guides, and digital products through the online shop. Analog and digital publications complement event offerings.
4. Donations and Support: Acceptance of donations through Pax-Bank portal to support academy operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Thomas-Morus-Akademie Bensberg delivers adult continuing education through Tagungen & Seminare (conferences and seminars on cultural, philosophical, theological, and societal topics), Ferienakademien (cultural holiday academies combining travel with academic content), AkademieBusiness professional development programs, the proprietary Bensberger Mediations-Modell mediation training, Forum :PGR volunteer programs, Goethe-Akademie language and culture programs, and an online shop selling books and art guides. The academy operates from the historic Kardinal Schulte Haus venue in Bensberg.

Product overview

Thomas-Morus-Akademie Bensberg is a continuing education institution operated by the Diözesanrat der Katholiken im Erzbistum Köln e.V. The academy's portfolio centers on Tagungen & Seminare (conferences and seminars) covering cultural, philosophical, theological, and societal topics, complemented by Ferienakademien (cultural holiday academies) that combine overnight stays with guided cultural tours. Supporting offerings include AkademieBusiness (professional development), AkademieExtra (special events), Forum :PGR (volunteer programs), the Bensberger Mediations-Modell (mediation training), Digitale Kulturerlebnisse (digital cultural content), GOETHE AKADEMIE (language and culture), and project initiatives such as Bunte Kirchen, Kunstbegegnung, and Netzwerk Kirchenführung. The academy also operates an Online-Shop for publications. Events span the Kardinal Schulte Haus venue, off-site locations, and digital channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AkademieBusiness: Business-oriented programs and seminars offered by the academy.
• AkademieExtra
• Forum :PGR
• Bensberger Mediations-Modell
• Goethe-Akademie

Products and services

• Tagungen & Seminare (Conferences & Seminars)
• Ferienakademien (Holiday Academies)
• AkademieBusiness
• AkademieExtra
• Forum :PGR
• Bensberger Mediations-Modell
• Goethe-Akademie
• Digitale Kulturerlebnisse (Digital Cultural Experiences)
• Online-Shop / Bücher & Kunstführer

Quantifiable outcome

• Recognized as an official continuing education institution under NRW law, qualifying participants for special leave benefits

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• atmosfairminorOthersClimate protection organization partner for voluntary CO2 compensation donations by participants of Ferienakademien with flights. atmosfair develops and operates climate protection projects through renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. Rated 'very good' by Stiftung Warentest.
• Klima-KollekteminorOthersCO2 compensation fund of Christian churches for compensating emissions from travel, energy, and paper/print products. Investments go to climate protection projects in developing and emerging countries. Participating organizations include Brot für die Welt, Misereor, Caritas, Kindermissionswerk, and EKD. Also rated 'very good' by Stiftung Warentest.
• OrgelKultur Rhein-Sieg-KreiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional initiative promoting organ culture through concerts, excursions, workshops for church musicians and music educators, organ experiences for elementary school children, and organ taster days for youth recruitment. The academy serves as a platform and host for OrgelKultur programming, connecting organ heritage with cultural education.
• Kardinal Schulte HauscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric venue hosting the academy. The former Catholic seminary complex provides event spaces, accommodations, and cultural facilities. A landmark building with gardens, chapel (Magnolienhof with Kapelle), and panoramic views (Bergischer Balkon) used for academy programming.
• Diözesanrat der Katholiken im Erzbistum Köln e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal entity and parent organization of the academy. Registered association (VR 4333) under the Archdiocese of Cologne. Provides organizational support, governance, and connection to the Catholic Church network.
• Touristik-Versicherungs-Service GmbHminorOthersInsolvency protection provider for package travel services. As required by EU law, provides security for refund of payments and repatriation in case of insolvency.
• HanseMerkurminorOthersInsurance partner for recommended travel insurance products including travel cancellation insurance, travel health insurance, accident insurance, liability insurance, and legal protection insurance for Ferienakademien participants.
• Deutsche Bahn AGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides DB Event Ticket (Veranstaltungsticket) for convenient rail travel to academy events at a fixed nationwide price. Available for event participants booking through the academy website.
• Pax-Bank eG KölnminorOthersBanking partner for donation processing and payment services. Accepts donations for academy operations through the Pax-Bank donation portal.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bonifatiushaus Fulda: Catholic conference and education house operated by the Diocese of Fulda, offering Tagungen, Ferienakademien-style programs, and adult continuing education—a near-identical operating model anchored in a historic religious venue.
• Heinrich Pesch Haus: Catholic adult education and conference center in Ludwigshafen operating Tagungen, Seminare, and cultural programs in a historic ecclesiastical setting—directly comparable business model, target audience, and product mix to TMA Bensberg.
• Akademie der Erzdiözese München und Freising: Diocesan continuing education body for the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, providing Tagungen, mediation training, and volunteer (Ehrenamtliche) programs—directly parallel to TMA's structure under the Cologne Archdiocese.
• Bildungshaus Kloster Banz: Heritage monastery venue offering conferences, cultural seminars, and educational stays with a similar church-affiliated identity and event-driven revenue model.
• Karl-Rahner-Akademie: Cologne-based Catholic adult education institution offering philosophical, theological, and cultural Tagungen—strongest local overlap with TMA's geographic and audience footprint.
• Katholische Akademie Berlin: Catholic adult education institution in Berlin offering conferences, seminars, and cultural events with similar church-affiliated positioning and lifelong-learning audience overlap.

Others

• HanseMerkur Reiseversicherung: Insurance partner that provides travel-cancellation, health, and liability coverage for TMA's Ferienakademien participants—adjacent ecosystem partner tied to the package-travel revenue stream.

Broad incumbents

• Volkshochschule Köln: Municipal adult continuing education provider in Cologne with comparable continuing education offerings, though secular/public-sector positioning and broader curriculum mix.
• Evangelische Akademie Bad Boll: Largest Protestant adult education and conference institution in Germany, operating Tagungen, cultural programs, and policy discussions at scale—comparable offering but Protestant affiliation and significantly larger scale.
• Bildungswerk der Erzdiözese Köln: Direct diocesan sibling to TMA, providing broader parish and adult education programming across the Archdiocese of Cologne—shares parent organization (Erzbistum Köln) and target volunteer/educator audience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Thomas-Morus-Akademie_Bensberg
• Facebookfacebook.com/tmabensberg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thomas-morus-akademie-bensberg
• Instagraminstagram.com/thomasmorusakademie

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Thomas-Morus-Akademie & Akademie Business