Certificate Program: Digital Services
This certificate program combines three complementary short courses in a structured learning path.
Participants who successfully complete the Certificate Program and pass the final examination receive the corresponding ECTS credits. These credits are fully recognized as one module within the HECTOR School Master of Science program.
Participants build a broad understanding of digital services, covering service innovation and business models, service design thinking, and applied AI in service systems. The program further explores how human-centered design, data-driven methods, and platform-based business models interact with AI-enabled analytics to create innovative, scalable, and value-generating digital services and ecosystems.
General Information
| Date | Oct 25 - Nov 5, 2027 |
| Duration | 10 days |
| Location | On campus - Karlsruhe |
| Language | English |
| ECTS | 8 |
| Cost | 4,980€ |
Further questions?
Martina Waldner
Senior Program Consultant
info∂hectorschool.kit.edu
+49 721 608 47880
Program Structure
This certificate module combines three complementary short courses in a structured learning path.
Participants build a broad understanding of digital services, covering service innovation and business models, service design thinking, and applied AI in service engineering. The module further explores how human-centered design, data-driven methods, and platform-oriented business models interact with AI-enabled analytics to create innovative, scalable, and value-generating digital services and ecosystems.
Service Innovation & Business Models
Introduction to service innovation and business models, covering core concepts of service systems, digital business models, innovation processes, and approaches for designing, validating, and scaling data-driven and customer-centric digital services.
| Date | Oct 25 - 28, 2027 |
| Duration | 4 days |
Service Design Thinking
Introduction to service design thinking, covering core concepts of human-centered innovation, iterative problem-solving, and approaches for need-finding, ideation, prototyping, and testing to develop viable digital services.
| Date | Oct 29 - Nov 2, 2027 |
| Duration | 3 days |
Applied AI in Service Systems
Introduction to applied AI in service engineering, covering core concepts of supervised machine learning, AI-enabled analytics across the service lifecycle, and approaches for deploying, monitoring, and improving data-driven services, including handling concept drift, transfer learning, and human–AI collaboration.
| Date | Nov 3 - 5, 2027 |
| Duration | 3 days |
Who should attend
This module is designed for professionals seeking a structured introduction to digital services, with a focus on service innovation, human-centered design, and AI-enabled analytics.
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IT and digitalization professionals interested in designing, implementing, and operating digital service systems and platforms.
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Product managers, service designers, and UX professionals developing customer-centric services using Design Thinking, prototyping, and iterative testing.
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Data scientists, ML engineers, and analytics specialists applying supervised learning and AI across the digital service lifecycle.
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Innovation managers and business strategists building data-driven service business models, platforms, and ecosystems.
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Project managers and decision-makers overseeing digital transformation, AI adoption, and service-focused initiatives.
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Consultants, researchers, and academics aiming to deepen their expertise in service innovation, human-centered design, and applied AI in service systems.
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Professionals who want a coherent learning path from foundational concepts to practical applications in digital service engineering.
Ready to join the full program?
Book the complete module to benefit from a coherent learning journey across all five certificate courses.