Walther Rathenau trade school

What Walther Rathenau trade school does

Walther-Rathenau-Gewerbeschule Freiburg (WARA) is a public vocational and technical school operated by the German state of Baden-Württemberg, located at Friedrichstr. 51 in Freiburg, roughly 200 meters north of the main train station. The school delivers dual vocational education in electrical engineering, information technology, chemistry, and pharmacy through four main program tracks: Berufsschule (dual apprenticeships with local employers such as SICK AG Waldkirch and Pyramid Computer), Berufsfachschule (one- and two-year full-time technical foundations), Berufskolleg (CTA and PTA two-year college programs yielding Fachhochschulreife), and Techniker-/Meisterschule (advanced Staatlich geprüfter Techniker and master craftsman credentials, partly operated jointly with Richard-Fehrenbach-Gewerbeschule).

The institution's technology stack centers on open-source digital learning infrastructure rather than proprietary platforms: Moodle LMS at moodle.wara.de, WebUntis scheduling at wara-freiburg.webuntis.com, Nextcloud at cloud.wara.de, SOGo groupware with two-factor authentication, Intrexx and Confluence intranets, plus Microsoft Office 365 distributed free to students and teachers. A flagship facility is the Lernfabrik Industrie 4.0 learning factory, established in July 2021 with a collaborative YuMi robot for hands-on automated manufacturing training.

The business model is state-funded: Berufsschule programs are tuition-free and financed by the Land Baden-Württemberg budget, while the Technikerschule tier charges €1,400 total tuition (€700/year full-time or €350/year part-time) with modest material costs. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Customer segments include dual vocational apprentices (primary), continuing-education technicians and master craftsmen, full-time school students, and university practicum students. Distribution is on-site at the Freiburg campus, supplemented by Erasmus+ exchange partnerships with IES El Argar and IES La Puebla in Almería, Spain. The school markets through wara.de, Instagram, YouTube, and coordinated annual recruitment events with seven other Freiburg vocational schools.

Name

Walther Rathenau trade school

Legal name

Land Baden-Württemberg, vertreten durch die Walther-Rathenau-Gewerbeschule

Website

https://wara.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Walther-Rathenau-Gewerbeschule Freiburg (WARA) is a public vocational school operated by Land Baden-Württemberg, offering dual apprenticeships, technical college, and master craftsman programs in electrical engineering, IT, chemistry, and pharmacy to regional apprentices and continuing-education students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Internships, Externships & Work-Based Learning Placement (EDAMAKAB), College & Career Transition Services (Bridge Programs, Dual Enrollment Pathways) (EDAAABAK)

Keywords

• Vocational education
• Dual training programs
• Technical apprenticeships
• Master craftsman school
• Industry 4.0 training

Headquarters

HQ city

Freiburg Im Breisgau

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Walther-Rathenau-Gewerbeschule is a public vocational trade school that delivers dual education programs combining classroom instruction with workplace apprenticeships in electrical trades, information technology, chemistry, and pharmacy. It offers a full educational ladder from one-year Berufsfachschule through Berufskolleg, two-year technician school, and one-year master craftsman school, supplemented by an Industry 4.0 learning factory and digital learning platforms. The institution is state-funded with no tuition for vocational programs and serves students in the Freiburg region of Baden-Württemberg.

Product overview

Walther-Rathenau-Gewerbeschule (WARA) is a vocational and technical school in Freiburg, Germany, offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs across four main categories: (1) Berufsschule - dual vocational training programs in electronics, IT, chemistry, and pharmacy for apprentices; (2) Berufsfachschule - one and two-year full-time programs in electronics/electrical engineering providing foundational professional education and intermediate secondary qualifications; (3) Berufskolleg - two-year vocational college programs (CTA and PTA) leading to professional certifications and Fachhochschulreife; (4) Technikerschule and Meisterschule - advanced technical education for career advancement to technician and master craftsman levels. Supplementary offerings include language support courses, FHR preparation courses, and Management im Handwerk certification. The school operates an Industry 4.0 Learning Factory with collaborative robotics and maintains digital learning infrastructure including Moodle LMS, Nextcloud, WebUntis scheduling, and SOGo groupware.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Berufsschule (Vocational School Programs)
• Berufsfachschule (Professional School)
• Berufskolleg (Vocational College)
• Technikerschule (Technician School)
• Meisterschule für das Elektrotechnikerhandwerk (Master Craftsman School)
• Lernfabrik Industrie 4.0 (Industry 4.0 Learning Factory)

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• IES El Argar (Almería, Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Erasmus+ exchange program partner. Spanish teachers visited for job shadowing to learn about German dual education system, observed classes, and exchanged with students, teachers, and trainers.
• IES La Puebla (Almería, Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Erasmus+ exchange program partner. Spanish teachers participated in job shadowing program to learn about German dual vocational education system.
• Richard-Fehrenbach-Gewerbeschule FreiburgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Cooperative partner for Gebäudesystemtechnik (Building Systems Technology) technician program. Schools jointly operate the 2-year program with shared resources and facilities. Also cooperates on Management im Handwerk (MiH) supplementary qualification.
• VAG Freiburg (Verkehrs- und Versorgungsgesellschaft)minorOthers · 1 January 2025Local transit company provided facility tours for Erasmus+ exchange visitors as part of professional education orientation.
• Gewerbeakademie FreiburgminorOthers · 1 January 2025Local trade academy provided facility tours for Erasmus+ exchange visitors as part of professional education orientation.
• Firma SchönbergerminorOthers · 1 January 2025Company provided facility tours for Erasmus+ exchange visitors as part of professional education orientation.
• SICK AG WaldkirchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Major training company for IT and electronics students. Multiple award-winning students trained at SICK AG, including WorldSkills competitor Aaron Striegel and German champion Alexander Dufner.
• Pyramid Computer GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Training company for IT-System-Elektroniker. Sven Drost, state winner (Landesbester) 2019, trained at Pyramid Computer.
• Caritasverband Freiburg-Stadt e.V.coreOthers · 1 January 2025Cooperation partner for Berufsschulsozialarbeit (vocational school social work). Caritas provides social work services at the school supporting students with personal, social, and career development.

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Berufsbildende Schulen des Landkreises Emmendingen: Public vocational school serving the Emmendingen district in Baden-Württemberg, directly adjacent to Freiburg. Comparable as a regional Berufsschule serving similar industry mix in the upper Rhine valley, competing for some of the same apprentice candidates from local employers.

Broad incumbents

• Robert-Bosch-Schule Stuttgart: Large, well-known technical vocational school in Stuttgart offering programs in electronics, IT, automotive, and engineering under the dual system. Comparable as a Baden-Württemberg technical Berufsschule with significantly larger scale and broader program scope than WARA.
• Gottlieb-Daimler-Schule Stuttgart: One of Baden-Württemberg's largest and most established vocational schools, offering comprehensive technical vocational programs in electronics, IT, automotive, and mechatronics in the Stuttgart region. Comparable program breadth and dual-education model, though significantly larger scale and broader industry exposure.

Direct peers

• Werner-von-Siemens-Schule Mannheim: Technical vocational school in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, specializing in electrical engineering, information technology, and mechatronics apprenticeships. Comparable program portfolio and dual-education structure to WARA, serving the Rhine-Neckar industrial region.
• Carl-Benz-Schule Karlsruhe: Major technical vocational school in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, offering dual vocational programs in electronics, IT, and mechatronics under the same state framework. Directly comparable in program offerings to WARA, with similar industry partnerships in the Baden technology corridor.
• Richard-Fehrenbach-Gewerbeschule Freiburg: The direct cooperation partner for WARA's Gebäudesystemtechnik technician program, sharing facilities and the same Friedrichstraße administrative leadership. Both schools jointly deliver the 2-year building systems technology program and cooperate on the MiH (Management im Handwerk) qualification. Located in the same city with overlapping vocational offerings.
• Gewerbeschule Lörrach: Public vocational school in Lörrach, Baden-Württemberg, offering dual vocational training in technical and commercial fields. Operates under similar state framework as WARA, serving the southern Upper Rhine region with comparable program structures for electronics, IT, and commercial apprenticeships.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCXihiidFfr4DqR6W2SZByRQ
• Instagraminstagram.com/waltherrathenaugewerbeschule
• Facebookfacebook.com/waltherrathenau.gewerbeschule.1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/walther-rathenau-gewerbeschule

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Walther Rathenau trade school