Bildungsmanager/Bildungsmanagerin

Some media sources where you can find information about this profession include: 2025 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report - Teaching and Learning Edition, Education at a Glance, Education in Germany 2024, bildungsklick, Education Monitor 2025, Education and Research in Figures 2022, BQ-Portal - Information on foreign professional qualifications in Germany, Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training Annual Report 2024, BWP - Vocational Education in Science and Practice, Data Report on the Vocational Education Report 2025, German Education Server, didacta - The Magazine for Lifelong Learning, GOVET - German Office for International Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training, International Review of Education, Transfer Initiative Municipal Education Management, wb-web - The Portal for Teachers in Adult and Continuing Education, weiter bilden. THE Magazine for Adult Education, Journal for Continuing Education Research (ZfW).

Important trends for education managers include Learning Analytics and Hybrid Learning. Learning Analytics collects, analyzes, and evaluates data from learners within the framework of new teaching and learning concepts and innovative analysis methods brought about by digitalization. This data is used to understand and optimize learning processes. Hybrid Learning aims to maximize learning outcomes by combining digital and analog learning forms. This approach specifically adapts existing blended learning models to the respective target group and intensifies online coaching for individual support.

The following interests are important and helpful for success in this academic profession: Interest in administrative-organizational activities (e.g., coordinating teaching staff and freelancers, billing educational measures, organizing in-company Ausbildung (vocational training) and continuing education). Interest in commercial-organizational activities (e.g., planning educational events considering business aspects, managing educational institutions with budget planning and controlling). Interest in social-advisory activities (e.g., advising interested parties on educational opportunities).

Education managers primarily work in offices, training rooms, and meeting rooms. Additionally, they may also work in a home office or remotely as needed.

Core competencies acquired or deepened during Studium (university studies) include Educational Consulting, Education Management and Planning, Coaching, Controlling, Knowledge Management, Organizational Development, Organizational Sociology, Personnel Development, Personnel Planning, Project Management, and Quality Management. Other competencies that may be significant for practicing this profession include Work, Business, and Organizational Psychology, Blended Learning, Digital Learning Certificates, Employee Experience, Committee Work, Youth and Adult Education, Marketing, Personnel Recruitment, Social Competence and Personality Development (Promotion), Talent Management, Behavioral and Communication Training, Virtual Classroom, and Presentation Activities.

The progressive digitalization of the world of work and professions can change task areas and requirement profiles. For education managers, there may be an opportunity to deal with the following technologies, procedures, or systems: Blended Learning (e.g., developing blended learning offerings to expand the educational portfolio), Digital Learning Certificates (e.g., planning the use of digital learning certificates in Ausbildung (vocational training) and continuing education, Studium (degree) programs, and training programs), Digital Whiteboard (e.g., planning the use of digital whiteboards in Ausbildung (vocational training) and continuing education), Digital Workforce Management (e.g., planning personnel deployment in educational institutions with the help of software), Document Camera (e.g., planning the use of document cameras in Ausbildung (vocational training) and continuing education), Document Management Systems - DMS (e.g., digitally managing concepts, evaluations, and personnel planning), Game Based Learning (e.g., evaluating the application options of gamification elements and learning games in adult education).

Education managers develop and control educational processes that are adapted to the conditions of the respective markets and corporate goals. This means flexibly adapting to new situations and challenges and quickly finding intelligent solutions. In addition to professional and methodological qualifications, they demonstrate strategic and networked thinking as well as creativity in problem-solving. Strong communication skills play a major role when they advise educational institutions, companies, and interested parties on the implementation of educational projects. Business acumen is indispensable for implementing in-house knowledge management concepts. When analyzing the education and training market and organizing educational measures, education managers work carefully and responsibly to ensure that the initiated education and knowledge management strategies contribute to corporate success.

Education managers can become self-employed, for example, by starting their own consulting company.

Due to the broad professional spectrum, no representative salary information can be provided. Please check BERUFENET for current details.

Adult education, other instruction (e.g., personnel development in companies, continuing education institutions, adult education centers, distance learning providers). Economic and professional associations, trade unions (e.g., Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK), Chambers of Crafts). Political parties, associations, organizations. Organizations for education, science, and research. Public administration (public administration in education). Universities of applied sciences, vocational academies (in education management). Further vocational training schools, universities, universities of applied sciences, administrative universities of applied sciences. Other research and development in natural sciences, engineering, agricultural sciences, and medicine.

Those who wish to work in this profession typically need a completed advanced degree (weiterführendes Studium) in education management. Activities in science and research often require a doctorate (Promotion) or habilitation (Habilitation).

Education Management (advanced degree)

Education managers find employment in institutions for child, vocational (Ausbildung) and adult education, in training and further education departments of companies across various economic sectors, at chambers, associations, organizations, and in public administration, as well as at universities and scientific institutions.

Education Manager. Also a common job title/synonym: Education Coordinator.

Some characteristics of work and social behavior are relevant for all professions and are therefore not mentioned separately. These include reliability, punctuality, honesty, critical thinking, and appropriate manners. Additionally, the following job-specific characteristics are required to practice this academic profession: Performance and commitment (e.g., willingness to initiate and support qualification measures with dedication), perseverance/determination (e.g., showing persistence in implementing long-term education and knowledge management strategies), diligence (e.g., accurately recording and evaluating training and further education needs), sense of responsibility and willingness (e.g., taking responsibility for the tailored qualification of employees), independent working style (e.g., initiating and implementing education and knowledge management strategies), psychological resilience (e.g., performance).

Education managers develop, control, and evaluate educational processes.

Human Resources Management

Professional Association of Educational Scientists, Federal Association of Distance Learning Providers e. V., Federal Association of Vocational Education Teachers e.V. (BVLB), German Association for the Promotion of Teacher Training DVLfB, dvb German Association for Educational and Vocational Counseling e.V. - Head Office, Institute for Employment Research of the Federal Employment Agency (IAB), Leibniz Institute for Educational Research and Educational Information DIPF, ver.di - United Services Union, Association for Corporate Educational Research e.V., Weizenbaum Institute e.V.

Education managers have customer contact, for example, with representatives of educational institutions or individuals interested in education. They perform screen work, such as designing concepts for knowledge management and the development of employee competencies. They work in office spaces, for example, carrying out administrative tasks.

Education managers can be employed in various fields such as education and career counseling, adult education, teaching at universities, human resources, quality assurance, and scientific research. These roles may include education/study counselor, teacher/lecturer in adult education, lecturer at universities and academies, study program coordinator, HR developer, head of quality management/assurance, quality manager, educational researcher, research assistant, head of a research group, and scientific researcher.

Education managers use documents and software such as educational concepts, training and further education programs, seminar and lesson plans, market analyses, consulting and personnel concepts, requirement profiles, budget plans, statistics, specialized literature, study and examination regulations, training and further education regulations, learning platforms, learning apps, and virtual classrooms. They also use presentation tools like (digital) whiteboards, projectors, whiteboards, document cameras, and office equipment such as PCs, internet access, and telephones.

Education managers plan, organize, and control training and further education programs. In educational institutions, they observe the relevant market and analyze or develop new educational offerings. They consider business aspects, coordinate personnel deployment, advise interested parties on offerings, and account for educational measures. In companies, they work in the areas of knowledge management, corporate training, and personnel development. They research market trends and required competencies, coordinate educational strategies with management, and implement them into educational measures.

Adaptation training helps to keep professional knowledge current and adapt it to new developments (e.g., in the areas of personnel development, corporate training and further education, knowledge management).

Currently, no information is available regarding further education for career advancement.

Education managers plan educational offerings and analyze the vocational training and continuing education market. They design educational offerings, such as vocational trainings, study programs, and training programs. They plan and organize educational events in a target-group-oriented manner, considering business economic aspects. They select teaching methods or forms of instruction, such as group or individual instruction, media-supported learning, or coaching. They evaluate conducted vocational and continuing education programs and create optimization concepts. They advise on educational opportunities. They manage educational institutions, plan personnel deployment, plan budgets, and conduct controlling. They market educational offerings. They manage knowledge, research market trends and potentials in relation to company goals. They define competencies and knowledge goals and align them with employee potential. They develop concepts to shape the flow of knowledge within the company. They implement knowledge management concepts, for example, by organizing educational measures and networking company departments. They conduct research in science and teaching.

The following additional employment alternatives are available for the profession of education manager: Field of personnel services, business economist (university) for human resource management, consultant for education, career, and employment. Commonalities include: Determining the continuing education needs of employees and developing educational measures, collaborating with education providers, considering market trends and potentials as well as company goals, supporting management in matters of personnel development. Note: The mentioned job alternatives may require a longer induction period or additional training.

Education managers develop, control, and evaluate educational processes. Managing education: from daycare to adult education. Education managers work in internal and external vocational training and continuing education, adult education, in the management of early childhood education institutions, at schools, and universities. Their areas of responsibility include organizational development, human resource management, cost management, education marketing, and education controlling. In school management, for example, they initiate school development processes in the areas of organizational, personnel, and curriculum development. They control these processes, evaluate, and optimize them. In university management, they develop study programs, optimize university administration, establish quality management systems for study and teaching, and accompany the accreditation of universities. In adult education institutions, they first conduct educational needs analyses.

The following abilities, knowledge, and skills are required for performing possible activities in this academic profession. Abilities: Numerical (calculating) thinking (e.g., perceiving tasks in cost management and education controlling), verbal (linguistic) thinking (e.g., analyzing and conceiving educational concepts), memory (e.g., memory for persons, numbers, and data of the vocational and continuing education market), adaptability (e.g., quick and frequent switching between administrative or conceptual activities and conversations with teachers and learners under time pressure), commercial aptitude (e.g., analyzing the vocational and continuing education market; developing and marketing educational offerings), ability to plan and organize (e.g., planning, organizing, and controlling vocational and continuing education, for instance at educational institutions), pedagogical skill (e.g., conceiving and conveying vocational and continuing education concepts based on one's own teaching and learning experience).

The exercise of the profession may involve the following physical requirements. This information does not necessarily apply to every activity profile or every professional application. Undisturbed speech ability (e.g., speaking with representatives of educational institutions or those interested in education), near vision - even corrected (e.g., designing concepts for knowledge management and the development of employee competencies), hearing ability and speech comprehension (e.g., advising interested parties on educational opportunities). Note: This information does not form a basis for legal action and is not to be understood in the sense of a medical fitness assessment. Actual physical fitness or unfitness must always be determined on a case-by-case basis and taking into account possible reasonable accommodations.

The activity as an education manager is not regulated. To work in this profession with a qualification acquired abroad, professional recognition is not necessary. However, there is the possibility to apply for an individual certificate evaluation for foreign university degrees by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). This can be helpful for applications in the German labor market. Further information on living and working in Germany: Hotline Working and Living in Germany - central information hotline of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) and the Federal Employment Agency (BA). For people from abroad - an information offering from the Federal Employment Agency. Central Foreign and Specialist Placement of the Federal Employment Agency. Make it in Germany - The welcome portal of the Skilled Workers Initiative for international skilled workers.

The following health limitations could lead to problems when performing this profession. This information may not necessarily apply to every activity profile or every professional application. Increasingly, there are also possibilities to compensate for limitations, for example, through technical aids. Speech impediment, speech defect (e.g., speaking with representatives of educational institutions or those interested in education). Uncorrectable near vision impairment (e.g., designing concepts for knowledge management and the development of employee competencies). Hearing impairment, hard of hearing, deafness, hearing disorder, chronic ear ailments (e.g., advising interested parties on educational opportunities). Note: This information does not form a basis for legal action and is not to be understood as a medical suitability assessment. Actual physical suitability or unsuitability must always be assessed on a case-by-case basis and taking into account possible reasonable precautions.

From an employer's perspective, the following alternative options are available for the profession of Bildungsmanager/in (Education Manager): Activities in personnel services, Business Administrator (Hochschule - university) for Human Resources Management. Similarities: Supporting company management in human resources development matters, identifying further training needs of employees and developing educational measures, collaborating with education providers, considering market trends and potentials as well as company goals. Note: The mentioned alternative may require an induction period, which can vary in length depending on the individual case.