Advanced Procurement Certificate (APC) – Successful completion of the Fall 2025 cohort at Mannheim Business School
Last week, we successfully concluded the latest run of our "Advanced Procurement Certificate" at Mannheim Business School, welcoming a full cohort of 36 participants to our Mannheim campus for an intensive three-day executive program (as an open certificate course).
The curriculum offered a practice-oriented exploration of the strategic transformation of procurement, from a transactional support function to a central driver of value creation. The three days were structured as follows:
- Day 1 – Strategy: Alignment of procurement strategy with corporate objectives, identification of capability gaps, and design of effective operating models.
- Day 2 – Sourcing: Category and supplier management, including a critical examination of the opportunities and limitations of generative AI in procurement processes.
- Day 3 – Negotiation: Advanced approaches to bilateral and multilateral negotiations, with a focus on value appropriation, relationship management, and conflict resolution.
This format reflects our pedagogical philosophy of addressing the “head” (theoretical foundations), the “hands” (methods, tools, and best practices), and the “heart” (new impulses and reflection on one’s own role). We thank all participants for their strong engagement and the high quality of discussion throughout the program.
The next iteration of the Advanced Procurement Certificate will take place in spring 2026, from 22 to 24 April 2026.
