Bundesverband der Fernstudienanbieter

What Bundesverband der Fernstudienanbieter does

The Bundesverband der Fernstudienanbieter e.V. is a Berlin-based, member-funded trade association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 1969 that represents distance learning providers in Germany's adult continuing education market. It serves approximately 120+ member organizations — including Fernschulen, Fernhochschulen, academies, EdTech companies, and service providers — that collectively offer 1,000+ courses and represent roughly 80% of adults in Germany using quality-assured digital learning for Weiterbildung. The association's core activities are political advocacy (notably on the Fernunterrichtsschutzgesetz/FernUSG and AZAV), collective quality assurance via the DQR-Register, and a portfolio of branded projects: the annual Fernstudientag (nationwide action day with 180+ events), FachForum (professional conference), Studienpreis (35+ year-old awards program), Tutor:in des Jahres (student-voted recognition), the annual Branchencheck DistancE-Learning industry report, and the recently launched EduConnect digital event series. Working structures — Fachgruppen, Arbeitskreis Pädagogik, Council KI, and Council DQR — provide member engagement and policy input channels.

The business model is subscription-recurring: the association generates revenue primarily through annual membership dues from its 120+ member organizations, supplemented by event sponsorships and project-specific income. It does not develop proprietary technology products. GTM is community-led: members are acquired and retained via industry networking, shared expertise, collective advocacy, and participation in brand-building projects, marketed through fernstudienanbieter.de, a monthly newsletter since 2004, LEARNTEC trade fair participation, and direct engagement from the Berlin Bundesgeschäftsstelle. The association is governed by an elected Präsidium; Andreas Vollmer became President in January 2025 with six Vice Presidents. Recent strategic priorities include defending FernUSG against proposed abolition (November 2025), positioning the association as the authoritative voice on AI in distance learning via Council KI, and product expansion through EduConnect and modernized Fernstudientag platforms.

Name

Bundesverband der Fernstudienanbieter

Legal name

Bundesverband der Fernstudienanbieter e. V.

Website

https://fernstudienanbieter.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Bundesverband der Fernstudienanbieter e.V. is a Berlin-based German trade association founded in 1969 that represents 120+ distance learning providers collectively covering ~80% of the country's quality-assured digital adult education market, offering political advocacy, quality frameworks (DQR-Register), and branded industry projects including Fernstudientag, FachForum, and Studienpreis.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues and fees: The association generates revenue through annual membership fees paid by its 120+ member organizations, which include distance learning providers, fernhochschulen, EdTech companies, and related service providers. The membership provides access to advocacy, standards setting, networking events, and collective projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Bundesverband der Fernstudienanbieter is a registered nonprofit trade association (eingetragener Verein, e.V.) that represents providers of distance learning (Fernstudium) in Germany. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Berlin, the association delivers regulatory advocacy under the Fernunterrichtsschutzgesetz (FernUSG), industry events, market intelligence, quality assurance, and networking for roughly 120 member organizations covering approximately 80% of the German distance learning market.

Product overview

The Bundesverband der Fernstudienanbieter is a trade association representing distance learning providers in Germany, operating a portfolio of member projects rather than commercial products. The association's offerings center on five core projects: Fernstudientag (annual nationwide distance learning day), DQR-Register (qualifications framework register), FachForum (professional conference), Studienpreis (study awards for graduates and best practices), and Fernunterrichtsstatistik/Branchencheck (annual industry research). Additional programs include the 'Tutor:in des Jahres' award and EduConnect digital event series. The association connects over 120 member organizations offering more than 1,000 courses, with 50+ years of market experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fernstudientag: Annual nationwide event promoting distance learning and continuing education
• Studienpreis
• FachForum
• DQR-Register
• EduConnect

Products and services

• Membership in the Bundesverband der Fernstudienanbieter Core membership offering for German distance learning providers, providing representation, advocacy, and access to association services.
• Fernstudientag Annual nationwide action day promoting distance learning, organized for prospective learners and member institutions across Germany.
• FachForum Professional conference for member institutions and stakeholders in the distance learning industry.
• Studienpreis Annual study prize awarded by the association to recognize outstanding academic work or research in distance learning.
• Branchencheck DistancE-Learning Annual industry research study providing market intelligence on the German distance learning sector.
• Tutor:in des Jahres Annual award recognizing outstanding tutors in the German distance learning sector.
• DQR-Register Register mapping distance learning programs to the German Qualifications Framework (DQR) levels for transparency and comparability.
• EduConnect Digital event series for the distance learning industry, scheduled to run from January through March 2026.
• Council KI Internal working group (AI Council) addressing the role of artificial intelligence in distance learning and shaping association positions on AI policy.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 512,000 people pursued distance learning in Germany in 2024 (Branchencheck 2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Deutsches Institut für Erwachsenenbildung (DIE) e. V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003The DIE (Bonn) is a key strategic partner for research and knowledge exchange in adult education. The association collaborates with DIE on studies, data collection, and the TAEPS study of teaching staff in continuing education. The partnership logo appears in the association's Kooperationen und Mitgliedschaften section.
• European Association for Distance Learning (EADL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEADL is the European-level trade association for distance learning, hosting annual conferences (e.g., EADL Conference 2013 in Hamburg, co-organized with the German association). The association is a member of EADL and participates in its governance and events.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für wissenschaftliche Weiterbildung und Fernstudium (DGWF) e. V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe association holds membership in DGWF and participates in its AG Fernstudium section. DGWF is the German academic association for scientific continuing education and distance learning at universities, facilitating academic-industry exchange.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Verbandsmanagement e. V. (DGVM)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe association is a member of DGVM, which awarded it the 'Verband des Jahres 2006' innovation prize. DGVM provides professional development and networking for association executives in Germany.
• Fernstudium DirektsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFernstudium Direkt is the leading comparison portal for continuing education and distance learning in Germany. The association and Fernstudium Direkt jointly organize the annual 'Tutor:in des Jahres' voting competition, providing a co-branded marketing platform that benefits both the association and its members.
• SRH Fernhochschule – The Mobile UniversitysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSRH Fernhochschule is an active association member that has co-presented webinars on digital teaching alongside the association, and its tutor Prof. Dr. Marco Halber won 'Tutor des Jahres 2019'.
• Staatliche Zentrallstelle für Fernunterricht (ZFU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ZFU is the government body responsible for approving and supervising distance learning programs in Germany under the FernUSG. The association's members must obtain ZFU approval for their programs, and the association advocates on regulatory matters related to ZFU approval processes.
• LEARNTECsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLEARNTEC is Germany's leading trade fair for digital learning. The association is a regular exhibitor and partner, hosting the annual Studienpreis award ceremony on the LEARNTEC Main Stage and distributing free tickets to members.
• Europäische Fernhochschule Hamburg (Euro-FH)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEuro-FH (KMU Akademie & Management AG) is a member since 2003 and co-organizer of the EADL Conference 2013 in Hamburg. It represents the association in academic distance learning circles and contributes to the Studienpreis jury.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bitkom: Germany's largest digital industry association covering EdTech, AI, and digital learning among many other topics. Bitkom's broader portfolio includes digital education policy and competes for advocacy attention on issues relevant to association members.

Others

• Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB): German federal institute for vocational education and training research and policy. BIBB shapes the vocational Weiterbildung landscape relevant to many association member programs, particularly those operating under AZAV and BAföG/AFBG frameworks.
• Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (HRK): German Rectors' Conference representing all state-recognized higher education institutions. HRK addresses Fernstudium and continuing education at universities, overlapping with the Bundesverband's member institutions (Fernhochschulen).
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Verbandsmanagement (DGVM): German professional association for association executives. The Bundesverband is a DGVM member and won its 2006 'Verband des Jahres' award; DGVM provides professional development and benchmarking for the association's management practices.
• Staatliche Zentrallstelle für Fernunterricht (ZFU): German government body responsible for approving and supervising distance learning programs under FernUSG. The Bundesverband advocates on regulatory matters related to ZFU processes, and ZFU approval is mandatory for association member programs.

Direct peers

• European Association for Distance Learning (EADL): European-level trade association for distance learning providers. The Bundesverband is a member and co-hosted EADL Conference 2013 in Hamburg; both organizations serve distance learning providers with advocacy, networking, and events.
• Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft: German business and science association funding education, science, and innovation. Operates similarly to the Bundesverband as a member-based organization driving sector agenda, with overlap in higher education and continuing education policy engagement.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für wissenschaftliche Weiterbildung und Fernstudium (DGWF): German academic association for scientific continuing education and distance learning at universities. The Bundesverband holds membership in DGWF and participates in its AG Fernstudium section; both serve distance learning providers with academic-industry exchange.
• Deutsches Institut für Erwachsenenbildung (DIE): Leibniz Institute for adult education research and knowledge exchange in Germany. The Bundesverband maintains a strategic partnership with DIE on studies (e.g., TAEPS), data collection, and adult education policy.
• Centrum für Hochschulentwicklung (CHE): German think tank providing higher education rankings, quality analysis, and reform consulting. CHE overlaps with the Bundesverband in evaluating German universities and Fernhochschulen that are association members, including Euro-FH and SRH Fernhochschule.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fernstudienanbieter
• Xx.com/fernlernverband
• Facebookfacebook.com/Fernstudienanbieter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Bundesverband der Fernstudienanbieter