DOBA

What DOBA does

DOBA is a Slovenian private educational institution headquartered in Maribor, founded in 1990 as the first private education provider in the country. It operates as a multi-entity business group (Poslovna skupina DOBA) comprising DOBA Fakulteta (an accredited online faculty), Višja strokovna šola DOBA (a higher vocational school), Mednarodna poslovna akademija (an international business academy), and Društvo Univerza za tretje življenjsko obdobje Maribor (a senior-learning community). The faculty delivers 17 accredited online programs across undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels through what the institution describes as the only internationally accredited online study model in Southeast Europe, drawing roughly 2,000 annual participants from 46 countries.

The core technology stack is a proprietary virtual learning environment ('Moja DOBA') supporting fully online synchronous and asynchronous instruction, supplemented by the 'DOBA Znanja' knowledge platform for content marketing and the Online Summit event series. The vocational school offers two-year programs (Business Secretary, Computer Science, Commerce, Wellness, etc.) free of charge for regular students, while the faculty and academy monetize through tuition and professional-services fees. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the DOBA website, the Slovenian Ministry eVŠ enrollment system, online information days, and B2B channels for corporate Mini MBA and tailored training.

Revenue streams are diversified across individual tuition (DOBA Fakulteta), nominal vocational enrollment fees (€30 first year / €20 second year), customized corporate training and language courses (Mednarodna poslovna akademija), and short certified executive programs (Psihologija za voditelje, UI in digitalizacija za menedžerje). The institution participates in five concurrent Erasmus+ projects and the UP University European Universities alliance, and holds NAKVIS quality certification (March 2026) plus two international online-education accreditations. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; headcount is reported at 11-50 employees, indicating a lean operating model relative to the 2,000-student base.

Name

DOBA

Legal name

DOBA Fakulteta

Website

https://doba.si

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DOBA is a Slovenian private educational institution (founded 1990) operating an accredited online faculty, a vocational school, and a corporate-training academy, serving approximately 2,000 annual learners from 46 countries via the only internationally accredited online study model in Southeast Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAHAB

MBA & Executive MBA Programs

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Business Schools & Management Institutes

Keywords

• Online higher education
• Vocational training
• Executive education
• Corporate training programs
• Distance learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Maribor

HQ country

Slovenia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Enrollment Fees: Revenue from accredited study programs including undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees. Regular study programs at Višja strokovna šola are tuition-free with nominal enrollment fees (30 EUR first year, 20 EUR second year). DOBA Fakulteta programs generate tuition revenue through semester-based fees.
2. Professional Development and Corporate Training: Revenue from Mednarodna poslovna akademija (International Business Academy) offerings including Mini MBA programs, custom corporate training, language courses, and business education programs.
3. Executive Education Programs: Short certified programs through DOBA Executive Akademija including Psychology for Leaders and AI/Digitalization for Managers programs. Programs delivered online with certification upon completion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DOBA is a Slovenian private educational institution operating DOBA Fakulteta (an accredited online faculty offering undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs), Višja strokovna šola DOBA (a higher vocational school with two-year diploma programs), and Mednarodna poslovna akademija (corporate training, Mini MBA, and Micro Master programs). All instruction is delivered online through DOBA's proprietary virtual learning environment (Moja DOBA), supported by a research-based pedagogy developed over more than 25 years.

Product overview

DOBA is a Slovenian educational institution founded in 1990 as the first private educational institution in Slovenia, operating through three main divisions: DOBA Fakulteta (Faculty of Applied Business and Social Studies), Višja strokovna šola DOBA (Higher Vocational School), and Mednarodna poslovna akademija (International Business Academy). DOBA Fakulteta offers 17 accredited online public study programs including undergraduate (Menedžment, Marketing in digitalno komuniciranje, Informatika in menedžment, Uporabna psihologija, Menedžment v sociali in izobraževanju), master's (Mednarodno inovativno poslovanje, Menedžment marketinga in prodaje, Menedžment pametnih mest, Psihologija, Inovativni menedžment v sociali in izobraževanju), and doctoral (Inovacije in trajnostno poslovanje v digitalni družbi) programs, all delivered entirely online through an internationally accredited model. The Višja strokovna šola provides two-year vocational programs (Poslovni sekretar, Računalništvo in informatika, Kozmetika, Velnes, etc.) with free regular study options. The Mednarodna poslovna akademija offers Mini MBA programs, customized corporate training, and the Mikro master program on innovative online education. The DOBA Executive Akademija provides short certified programs including Psihologija za voditelje and UI in digitalizacija za menedžerje. Supporting platforms include Moja DOBA student portal, DOBA Znanja knowledge platform with articles and webinars, and annual events like Online Summit and SMART AKADEMIJA. The institution serves students from 46 countries and operates on 4 markets with approximately 2,000 online participants annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DOBA Fakulteta: Accredited online faculty offering undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs in management, marketing, applied psychology, smart city management, and more. Known as the leading online faculty in the region.
• Višja strokovna šola DOBA
• Mednarodna poslovna akademija
• DOBA Executive Akademija
• DOBA Znanja

Products and services

• DOBA Fakulteta za uporabne poslovne in družbene študije (DOBA Faculty of Applied Business and Social Studies) Accredited online private faculty offering internationally accredited undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs entirely online in management, marketing, applied psychology, informatics, smart city management, and social/education management. Programs are accessible to students from 46 countries.
• Višja strokovna šola DOBA (Higher Vocational School) Higher vocational school offering two-year professional diploma programs (120 ECTS) including Business Secretary (Poslovni sekretar), Commerce, Computer Science and Informatics, Cosmetics, Wellness, Environmental Protection, and Social Network Organization. Regular study is tuition-free with nominal enrollment fees.
• Mednarodna poslovna akademija (International Business Academy)

Quantifiable outcome

• DOBA Fakulteta is first choice among formal education providers for employed aged 25-45
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Štajerska gospodarska zbornica (SGZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Štajerska gospodarska zbornica, contributing to regional business-education collaboration and supporting practical orientation of educational programs.
• Združenje ManagercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive member of Managers Association, supporting executive education and leadership development initiatives.
• AmCham (American Chamber of Commerce in Slovenia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of American Chamber of Commerce, supporting international business connections and cross-cultural educational initiatives.
• EDEN (European Distance and E-Learning Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of European Network for Digital Education, supporting advancement of online and distance learning across Europe.
• Gospodarska zbornica Slovenije (GZS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, supporting business-education partnerships and graduate employment.
• Arteveldehogeschool (Belgium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in UP University European Universities alliance and STEP+ Erasmus+ project. Collaborates on international mobility, research, and educational innovation.
• FH Münster University of Applied Sciences (Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in UP University alliance and STEP+ Erasmus+ project. Collaborates on digital education, student and staff mobility, and joint educational initiatives.
• Fundació Universitària Balmes / UVic-UCC (Spain)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in UP University alliance, STEP+, and CERAS projects. Supports circular economy education and international student exchanges.
• Universitatea Vasile Alecsandri din Bacău (Romania)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in UP University alliance, STEP+, and CERAS projects. Collaborates on educational innovation and student mobility programs.
• ITC – Inovacijsko tehnološki grozd Murska SobotaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in CERAS project supporting circular economy and sustainability in rural business activities.
• DOBA Fakulteta za uporabne poslovne in družbene študijecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOBA Group entity - part of Poslovna skupina DOBA (DOBA Business Group) along with Višja strokovna šola DOBA and Mednarodna poslovna akademija.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IEDC Bled School of Management: Slovenian business school offering MBA, executive, and professional development programs; the most direct in-country peer competing for the same Slovenian working-adult and international business student segment that DOBA targets.
• GEA College: Slovenian private higher education institution offering undergraduate, graduate, and executive programs; a direct domestic peer in the Slovenian private education market with a comparable focus on working adults.
• Alma Mater Europaea: Slovenia/Austria-based private university with a strong online learning presence and applied business and social studies programs; a direct peer competing in accredited online higher education for the same regional audience.
• Zagreb School of Economics and Management (ZSEM): Croatian private business school offering AACSB-accredited undergraduate, graduate, and executive programs with a strong English-language international focus; a directly comparable private business school model in the Southeast European market.
• Cotrugli Business School: Regional business school with operations across former-Yugoslav markets offering MBA, executive, and corporate training programs; comparable private business education model targeting the same Southeast European working-adult segment.
• Hult International Business School: Global private business school with campuses on multiple continents and a strong online/hybrid offering; comparable international, accredited business education model focused on working professionals and career acceleration.

Broad incumbents

• University of Maribor: Slovenia's second-largest public university with faculties including economics and business; represents the traditional public-sector competition for Slovenian business and management students and the baseline against which DOBA's online model is differentiated.
• Frankfurt School of Finance & Management: German private business school with strong online and executive education offerings; comparable private, accredited business education model with significantly greater scale and an established international footprint.
• The Open University (UK): UK-based pioneer in distance learning offering accredited undergraduate and postgraduate programs; a comparable online-first higher education institution with substantially greater scale and brand in distance learning pedagogy.
• UNED (Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia): Spain's national distance-learning university and one of the largest in the world; a comparable accredited online higher education model offering vocational, undergraduate, and graduate programs with broad subject coverage.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/doba_tw
• Facebookfacebook.com/DOBASlovenija

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DOBA