The education model at the Steinbeis+Akademie The right offering for every aspiration

Basic Studies

The aim of courses that come under Basic Studies is to allow participants to gain a fundamental understanding of a certain area within a defined specialist field. The goal is to build on this fundamental, general knowledge - sometimes in a specialist field - in order  to expand know-how and impart more in in-depth knowledge.

Participants should achieve a certain certification level, enabling them to conduct independent assessments and engage in fundamental transfer in their chosen field. Once they reach the diploma level, they should have the ability to develop alternative courses of action an include related fields in their assessments.

Basic Studies: Admission and qualification

The Steinbeis+Akademie imposes no admission requirements for courses that fall under Basic Studies. There is however a possibility that requirements are introduced if an institute offering Basic Studies deems it necessary to request previous knowledge of a subject. Theses requirements will be captured in the certification examination rules.
To complete a certification course successfully, participants are required to pass a final examination. This may be an advanced exam, depending on training module requirements. The examiners are normally lecturers appointed by the institute responsible for each course.

Advanced Studies

The aim of courses that come under Advanced Studies is to enable participants to gain integrated insights into a certain area within a defined specialist field. After completion, participants may be awarded a certificate or a diploma.

The certificate level takes detailed vocational or specialist knowledge into account with the aim of building comprehensive knowledge within a specific field of work or area of expertise. The aim is to leverage related specialist of vocational areas in order to enable participants to work through alternative options, consider other views, or include other influences in their own considerations.  On completion, participants receive a Certificate of Advanced Studies, equivalent to Level 6 of the German Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (DQR). This is also equivalent to Level 1 (bachelor level) of the framework for German higher education qualifications.

Qualifications on a diploma level also include theoretical teaching in a particular area of expertise, imparted in the form of more specialized knowledge. The aim is to enable participants to assimilate strategic factors, develop their own ideas, and work across different areas. On completion, participants receive a Diploma of Advanced Studies, equivalent to Level 7 of the German Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (DQR). This is also equivalent to Level 2 (master level) of the framework for German higher education qualifications.

Teaching is also provided on the fundamentals of scientific and academic work, plus scientific methods relating to certain specialisms. This part of the course lasts at least five hours, either as a standalone module or as part of another module. 

Advanced Studies: Admission and qualification

The admission requirements for gaining an Advanced Studies qualification are a general university entrance qualification and/or three years of work experience in an area related to the course, or proven knowledge or abilities in a field suited to course requrements. Requirements will be checked by the institute responsible for each course. 

To complete a certification course successfully, participants are required to pass a final examination. Aside from completing classic components of a degree such as exams, case studies, and presentations, for Advanced Studies a written assessment must be completed on a topic defined by the institute running the program. The examiners are normally lecturers appointed by the institute responsible for each course.

To define the scope of courses, the anticipated workload is estimated based on the number of completed classroom hours. this makes it possible for Advanced Studies courses to be adapted to the particualr approval guidelines of different universities.

Overall conditions dictating how courses are conducted, admission requirements, how performance is measured, or rules governing disability allowances are documented in the official Steinbeis+Akademie "framework regulations for conducting certification courses".