The first Team Academy, or “Tiimiakatemia”, as it was originally known, came to life in 1993 at the JAMK University of Applied Sciences in Jyväskylä, Finland. An inspired teacher, Mr. Johannes Partanen, placed a simple message on the university’s messaging board:

“Do you want to travel around the world and learn some marketing at the same time?”

24 enthusiastic, rebellious, and free-spirited students applied for the crazy program. Within weeks they’d made it their own. They named themselves the RTW (Round the World Team), and quickly took over “Classroom number 147”, removing all the desks and filling it with a circle of comfy chairs so they could converse, share knowledge and share their learning experiences. In this unassuming, unexpected way, a global movement that was soon to spread around the globe was born: Team Academy.

From the beginning, the effectiveness of Team Academy’s learning by doing approach proved successful and valuable for business students around the globe. Inspired by the original philosophy of Tiimiakatemia, Team Academies have launched on almost every continent in scores of countries, both within existing institutions and as stand-alone universities and schools.

In 2008, the first Team Academy was founded in the Netherlands by a team of entrepreneurs. They felt strongly that students in the Netherlands would benefit from an alternative to the traditionally structured courses offered by post-secondary institutions. These founding entrepreneurs were convinced that, by starting their own company while studying, students would not just learn about business, but actually master it in practice. Learning from Tiimiakatemia, they saw that by immediately applying theory learned in interactive workshops to projects or business, students were able to replicate it, remember it, and apply it in the real world. However, they chose to adapt the original program, infusing it with more individuality, allowing students to forge their own paths and learn to take ownership of their future.

From 2011 until the beginning of 2016, Team Academy Netherlands has been working together with the Spanish Mondragon Team Academy, with which it organized a bachelor’s degree in Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation (LEINN). Starting in 2013, a collaboration has been established with the Stichting Schoolvision. Stichting Schoolvision, a “Rechtspersoon Hoger Onderwijs” (recognized legal entity for higher education) focuses on creating innovative (entrepreneurial) education and, as a director/competent authority, is responsible for the program of Team Academy.

And very important, on May 11, 2015, the accreditation of the Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship was awarded.

Team Academy Amsterdam students join the ranks of thousands of gritty, pro-active Team Academy alumni across the globe, building businesses, driving innovation and contributing to real-world change.

We’re always looking people to join our community and help us achieve our mission. Are you ready to take the next step in your entrepreneurial journey? Sign up here for our Open Doors or apply now!