Academic Experience
Enjoy high-quality education
Our commitment to quality and continuous improvement is confirmed by the accreditation of AACSB International. Pforzheim University Business School thus belongs to the elite group of less than 5% of business schools worldwide, and to fewer than ten of approximately 200 German business programs that are AACSB accredited. We prepare you to take managerial responsibility.
Focus on what you really need
We deliver business competence, not just theory. Our professors not only hold Doctoral, Ph.D. or Master degrees, but they have also worked for more than 5 years in senior management positions. Our teaching is based on research as well as professional experience. Moreover, the Pforzheim MBA module system allows you to individualize your study to empower your strengths.
Get business insight
Being surrounded by some of the world’s most powerful companies allows you to benefit from the potential of the Pforzheim-Stuttgart region. We cooperate with various companies in different sectors. This is learning in practice. Throughout your studies, we get you in touch with over 30 companies.
Globalize your network
Over 90% of Pforzheim MBA students are international students, coming from six continents. Global, intercultural networking begins right in the classroom. Intercultural competence is not only taught theoretically, it is gained practically by day-to-day interaction. This will be important in your professional future in negotiation processes and team work. Renowned guest professors from partner universities contribute to our program.
Winter Semester 2024/25
Summer Semester 2024
Winter Semester 2024/25
Company Experience
Being surrounded in Pforzheim by some of the world’s most powerful companies will
allow you the opportunity to benefit from the experience of those with whom we cooperate. The Pforzheim-Stuttgart region is not only well known for large, multi-national companies, but also for small and medium-sized hidden champions. Company projects, visits and guest speakers are a vital part of our management education in Pforzheim.
Company Visits
Learning experience in the MBA International Management not only takes place in the classroom but also during company excursions. Our MBA provides students with the opportunity to gain insights into manufacturing and business processes of multinational corporations and of hidden champions that are located in Southern Germany. Plant tours, presentations and direct contact with managers and HR personnel help our students get an idea of and contact to German industry.
Examples from the recent semesters are company visits to Audi, Bosch, Daimler, Ernst&Young, Kärcher, Mann+Hummel, SAP, Schaeffler Technologies, KPMG, Microsoft, Allianz, Schlenk, Siemens Healthcare, Volkswagen, Witzenmann or ZF Friedrichshafen.
Along with our company visits you always get in touch with the German and European culture. Experience medieval cities, beautiful nature and public institutions.
Find out more on each Company Visit in our News Section!
MBA student Yani, trying Google glasses at an SAP Company Visit
Companies in Classroom
The Pforzheim - Stuttgart region is not only well-known for large, multinational companies, but also for small and medium-sized hidden champions. As an important element of company contacts we regularly invite managers and representatives of companies into our classroom. This gives our students the opportunity to discuss current business issues and career perspectives with high-level executives.
Guest in Classroom Gunjan Bhardwaj from Innoplexus
Company Projects
The Company Projects, which are a vital component of the MBA International Management program, are seen as a great opportunity for the MBA students to network with companies from different industries and work fields. At the same time, it's a fantastic way for the students to use all tools they've studied in previous semesters and put into practice what they´ve learned in class. The Company Projects are real-life challenges through which the MBA students can create valuable solutions for the project partners which are sometimes even ready for implementation.
In their third semester our students may choose to participate in a company project.
Former Company Project Partners
2010/11 Bayer Crop Science, UHU
2011/12 Bayer Crop Science, WAFIOS
2012/13 Daimler AG/smart, Bosch, Hansgrohe
2013/14 Daimler AG/smart, Henkel, Siemens Healthcare, SAP
2014/15 Daimler, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, Mann+Hummel, Siemens Healthcare
2015/16 Deloitte, Bosch, Siemens Healthcare, Mahle
2016/17 Bosch, Frankotyp Postalia, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, Hymer
2017/18 Bechtle, Bosch, Winterhalter
2018/19 Bosch, 1&1 IONOS, Mahle
2019/20 Bosch, Francotyp-Postalia, Hartmann, 1&1 IONOS, Mahle
2020/21 Bosch, Faros Linen, KPMG, Mahle
2021/22 Bosch Rexroth, Mahle, NKT
2022/23 Bosch, attempto, Francotyp-Postalia
Our Professors in the MBA International Management
Prof. Dr. Harald Strotmann
Program Director MBA International Management
Room: W4.1.01 Tel.: 07231/ 28-6317
Winter semester 2023/24
- Prof. Rob Godby, University of Wyoming, USA ("Foundations in Macroeconomics")
- Prof. Kevin Johnston, University of Cape Town, South Africa ("Information Management")
- Dr Hendrik Reefke, Cranfield School of Management, UK ("Global Sourcing and Supply Chain Management")
Summer semester 2023
- Tracy M. Maylett, Brigham Young University, Utah, USA ("Leadership")
Winter semester 2022/23
- Prof. Rob Godby, University of Wyoming, USA ("Foundations in Macroeconomics")
- Prof. Kevin Johnston, University of Cape Town, South Africa ("Information Management")
- Dr Hendrik Reefke, Cranfield School of Management, UK ("Global Sourcing and Supply Chain Management")
Summer semester 2022
• Tracy M. Maylett, Brigham Young University, Utah, USA ("Leadership")
• Prof. Naqi Sayed, Lakehead University, Canada (Business Controlling in an International Context)
Winter semester 2021/22
- Prof. Rob Godby, University of Wyoming, USA ("Foundations in Macroeconomics")
- Prof. Kevin Johnston, University of Cape Town, South Africa ("Information Management")
- Dr Hendrik Reefke, Cranfield School of Management, UK ("Global Sourcing and Supply Chain Management")
Summer semster 2021
• Tracy M. Maylett, Brigham Young University, Utah, USA ("Leadership")
Winter semester 2020/21
- Prof. Rob Godby, University of Wyoming, USA ("Foundations in Macroeconomics")
- Prof. Kevin Johnston, University of Cape Town, South Africa ("Information Management"
- Dr Hendrik Reefke, Cranfield School of Management, UK ("Global Sourcing and Supply Chain Management")
Summer semester 2020
• Tracy M. Maylett, Brigham Young University, Utah, USA ("Leadership")
Winter semester 2019/20
- Prof. Rob Godby, University of Wyoming, USA ("Foundations in Macroeconomics")
- Prof. Kevin Johnston, University of Cape Town, South Africa ("Information Management"
- Dr Hendrik Reefke, Cranfield School of Management, UK ("Global Sourcing and Supply Chain Management")
Summer semester 2019
- Tracy M. Maylett, Brigham Young University, Utah, USA ("Leadership")
Winter semester 2018/19
- Prof. Rob Godby, University of Wyoming, USA ("Foundations in Macroeconomics")
- Prof. Kevin Johnston, University of Cape Town, South Africa ("Information Management"
- Dr Hendrik Reefke, Cranfield School of Management, UK ("Global Sourcing and Supply Chain Management")
Summer semester 2018
- Tracy M. Maylett, Brigham Young University, Utah, USA ("Leadership")
Winter semester 2017/18
- Prof. Rob Godby, University of Wyoming, USA ("Foundations in Macroeconomics")
- Prof. Kevin Johnston, University of Cape Town, South Africa ("Information Management"
- Dr Hendrik Reefke, Cranfield School of Management, UK ("Global Sourcing and Supply Chain Management")
- Prof. Michael Swenson, Brigham Young University, Utah, USA ("Entrepreneurial Marketing")
- Prof. Dr. hab. Tomasz Wiśniewski, Szczecin University, Poland ("Business Controlling in an International Context")
Summer semester 2016
- Tracy M. Maylett, Brigham Young University, Utah, USA ("Leadership")
Winter semester 2015/16
- Prof. Rob Godby, University of Wyoming, USA ("Foundations in Macroeconomics")
- Prof. Kevin Johnston, University of Cape Town, South Africa ("Information Management")
- Dr. Beata Buchelt, Cracow University of Economics, Poland ("Human Ressources Management")
Summer semester 2015
- Tracy M. Maylett, Brigham Young University, Utah, USA ("Leadership")
Winter semester 2014/15
- Prof. Rob Godby, University of Wyoming, USA ("Foundations in Macroeconomics")
- Prof. Kevin Johnston, University of Cape Town, South Africa ("Information Management")
- Dr. Emmanuel Baudoin, La Rochelle Business School, France ("Human Ressources Management")
Summer semester 2014
- Scott Sampson, Brigham Young University, Utah, USA ("Building Relationships")
Winter semester 2013/14
- Prof. Rob Godby, University of Wyoming, USA ("Foundations in Macroeconomics")
- Prof. Kevin Johnston, University of Cape Town, South Africa ("Information Management")
- Scott Sampson, Brigham Young University, Utah, USA ("Customer Relationship Management")
Summer semester 2013
- Prof. Kristen DeTienne, Brigham Young University, Utah, USA ("Leadership")
Winter semester 2012/13
- Prof. Michael Swenson, Brigham Young University, Utah, USA
("Entrepreneurial Marketing") - Prof. Bernardinus Purwanto, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia
("Consumer Behaviour") - Dr. Lisa Seymour, University of Cape Town, South Africa
("Information Management") - Dr. Alec Wersun, Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland
("Strategic Management")
Summer semester 2012
- Prof. John Bingham, Brigham Young University, Utah, USA
("Leadership") - Prof. Paul Godfrey, Brigham Young University, Utah, USA
("Decision Making")
Winter semester 2011/12
- Prof. Kevin Johnston, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Summer semester 2011
- Prof. John Bingham, Brigham Young University, Utah, USA
("Leadership") - Prof. Paul Godfrey, Brigham Young University, Utah, USA
("Decision Making")
Winter semester 2010/11
- Prof. Gary Rhoads, Brigham Young University,Utah, USA
("Entrepreneurial Marketing") - Prof. Basu Swastha Dharmmesta, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia
("Brand Management")
Dr. Aurelia Engelsberger (OMIND platform GmbH): "Presentation Skills"
Geoffrey Matthews (Geoffrey Matthews Consulting): "Change Management"
Andrei Moroc (CFA Shipping Origination, Berenberg): " Capital Raising and Investing / Project Finance"
Prof. Dr. John Wargin (Hewlett-Packard): "Innovation Business Models" & "Change Management"
Gundjan Bhardwaj (Founder/CEO Innoplexus) :"Entrepreneur 4.0: Entrepreneurship in the Digital Era"
Sven Van Vliet (LingoFacto): "Cross-cultural Communication" and "Presentation Skills"
Dr. Kenneth Harttgen (University of Göttingen): "Social Responsibilities for Sustainable Development"
Thomas Heck (Senior Manager PricewaterhouseCoopers): "Foundations in Financial Accounting"
Raimund Hudak (CEO Synesis GmbH): "Supply Chain Management" and "Project Management"
Hans-Jürgen Krieg (Founder Strategie-Wirkstatt): "Foundations in Human Resources Management"
Dr. Frank J. Maile (Director BU Coatings & Plastics, Schlenk): "Product Development and Design"
Pam Meyer-Bothling & Peggy Fehily (peopleandprojects): "Presentation Skills", "Negotiation Skills"
Dr. Mark Misselhorn: (CEO Maschinenwerk Misselhorn GmbH) "Social Responsibilities for Sustainable Development"
Dr. Wolf Peterhoff (Legal department, Diehl Stiftung & Co. KG): "Foundations in Business Law"
Madwendhu Shekhar (Infosys Technologies Limited): "Management Support Systems"
International Exchange
The MBA international student exchange provides excellent opportunities to stay for one semester within a Master course at one of our partner universities and gain additional international experience.
For students with no academic or professional experience outside Germany, a semester abroad is mandatory.
Partner Universities in Europe
- Grenoble Ecole de Management, Grenoble, France
- Grande Ecole de Commerce et de Management, ESC Clermont, France
- Instituto Superior de Ciencias do Trabalho e Empresa (ISCTE) Lisbon, Portugal
- University of Ljubljana , Slovenia
Partner Universities in the Americas
- Fundação Getulio Vargas, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- University of Wyoming, Laramie, USA
- Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudio Superiores de Monterrey, Mexico
- Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administración (IESA), Caracas, Venezuela (not sending at the moment)
Partner Universities in Asia - Pacific
Name: Lukas Hornung
Country: Germany
Exchange University: Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudio Superiores de Monterrey (EGADE), Mexico
MBA Class of 2017
“I spent my third semester abroad at the EGADE Business School, part of the prestigious Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico. It was a great experience; the school has much to offer and Mexico is a great country! Some student organizations offer affordable trips throughout the country, which makes it easy to find new friends and to get to know new places.”
Name: Kevin van den Boom
Country: Germany
Exchange University: Grenoble Ecole de Management, Grenoble, France
MBA Class of 2017
“Fortunately, I took the opportunity to spend my abroad semester at the Grenoble Ecole de Management, which is one of the top European business schools with an excellent reputation. One of the many highlights there was the visit of Muhammad Yunus (Peace Nobel Prize laureate in 2006), who held a speech for the students of the business school. Overall, I had a great time in Grenoble, met a lot of interesting people and enjoyed the beautiful environment in the middle of the French Alps. I can fully recommend everybody going there.”
