The ifm (Center for Small and Medium Sized Business Research) at the University of Mannheim and the PMA (Print Media Academy) of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) have joined forces to offer a new "Knowledge Camp for Company Successors". The PMA is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. This initiative with the ifm marks the first opportunity for the Academy to offer its expert know-how to company successors at small and medium-sized enterprises in all sectors of industry. Participants will gain a real edge over their counterparts. The ifm at the University of Mannheim - Germany's leading university for business management - and the Print Media Academy will adopt a practical approach to providing the latest know-how. The six-day intensive seminar will be held in English from August 16 to 21, 2010 and in German from August 23 to 28, 2010 at the Print Media Academy in Heidelberg.

Participants will learn how to master the challenges of company succession and structure the associated processes. The seminar will enable them to position and run their companies successfully in an increasingly dynamic market environment.

The aim of the seminar is to gear corporate strategy to the future and maintain and increase corporate value over the long term. "When young managerial staff take over at small and medium-sized enterprises, they are always faced with complex challenges," explains Martina Brand, head of International Business Training at the Print Media Academy. "It is virtually impossible and makes little sense for them to try to acquire the necessary know-how on their own. The best way of acquiring new knowledge and developing the necessary skills is to talk and work with external specialists and like-minded people. In collaboration with the University of Mannheim, we have now extended the range of options we offer to cover all branches of industry," she continues.

Learning from experts and in a network
The seminar adopts a practical approach. It is based on actual case studies and answers participants' specific questions. Training is provided by experts from the Print Media Academy and professors from the University of Mannheim. They have many years of in-depth practical experience in industry and consultancy, working on an international level. Solutions and strategies for company succession are developed in workshops. The training team supervises and coaches participants for practical scenarios. The opportunity to network and share information with other participants is another important aspect of the seminar.

"Many company successors are poorly prepared for the tasks that await them," says Professor Michael Woywode, head of the ifm at the University of Mannheim. "However, our experience tells us that they achieve above-average success during the succession phase if they acquire expert knowledge and apply this to their specific situation. This largely avoids the pitfalls associated with company succession," continues Woywode.

The entire program and a detailed seminar timetable can be accessed at www.print-media-academy.com and www.ifm.uni-mannheim.de. The fee for the six-day seminar is EUR 3,400 plus VAT. This does not include travel, accommodation or other expenses.

Dates
English seminar: August 16 - 21, 2010
German seminar: August 23 - 28, 2010

The ifm at the University of Mannheim
The ifm (Center for Small and Medium Sized Business Research) is an interdisciplinary research institute at the University of Mannheim. For more than 20 years, the Institute's research work has focused on topical and structural issues relating to small and medium-sized enterprises. Professor Michael Woywode currently heads a team of 25 research staff. The ifm's great strength lies in its interdisciplinary orientation and its ability to bridge the gap between science and practice. The ifm considers it important to pass on its experience for use in real-life situations and is therefore committed to providing a large number of practical lectures, interactive seminars and other training events each year. 

The Print Media Academy
The Print Media Academy at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG offers specialist and management staff a comprehensive range of training opportunities specifically geared to the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises in the print media industry and beyond. Well-known speakers and training experts impart knowledge on technology innovations and successful management. This year, the Print Media Academy in Germany is celebrating its tenth anniversary. In the past year alone, 9,000 participants from all over the world have attended courses at the PMA.