The FHM is a private, non-profit and state-approved University of Applied Sciences. The FHM has been founded in 2000 by medium-sized enterprises and educational institutions. Since then it has developed into one of the most successful private universities in Germany with a strong focus on the needs of SMEs. The FHM’ concept focuses on practical career orientation, individual tutoring, and small group sizes.

At present, there are approx. 5500 students in BA, MA and MBA programs, 100 in doctoral programs, and 630 in scientific further education. The programs on offer include 38 BA study programs, 14 MA programs, 1 doctoral program in cooperation with the British universities of Worcester, and 9 programs in the field of scientific further education. Study programs cover 3 main areas: Economics; Media & Communication; HR, Health and Social Work. The FHM employs 97 professors and cooperates with about 396 experts from business sector as guest lecturers. Apart from the central FHM campus located in Bielefeld, the FHM maintains 7 further locations in Cologne, Frechen, Hanover, Rostock, Bamberg, Düren and Berlin.

The study programs are offered in full, part time, and as distance learning. Part-time courses are based on the Blended Learning concept under use of virtual classrooms. Distance learning happens via the FHM Online Campus supported by the LMS Moodle. Features of the Online University are dynamic learning content enriched with learning videos, virtual collaboration among students, and virtual student-teacher communication. Various educational provisions for supporting lifelong learning are coordinated and managed by the FHM’ Institute of Continuing Education and Competence Development, which responds to the needs of target groups with different professional, educational, and social backgrounds. Flexible mechanisms on recognition of available skills and competences have been elaborated and implemented. Department of Competence Diagnostics and Development provides different tools and measures for detecting, estimating, and developing potentials of learners and employees.

In addition, the FHM maintains the Center for Sustainable Governance (CSG) which is working closely with the Federal Ministry of the North-Rhine Westphalia. The mission of the CSG is to elaborate the ecological, social and economic criteria for industries and companies, to monitor their compliance and to control their sustainable development. To this end, CSG develops reliable and practical tools and solutions for measuring sustainability of state, municipalities, and companies.