What Hogeschool IPABO does

Hogeschool IPABO is a Dutch specialized university of applied sciences (hogeschool) whose sole remit is training primary school teachers. Founded in 1987 through the merger of the Van Randwijk Academie, Katholieke Pabo Amsterdam, and Da Costa Alkmaar, IPABO operates as a non-profit foundation (Stichting iPabo) with ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling) status. The institution is headquartered at Jan Tooropstraat 136 in Amsterdam with a second campus in Alkmaar, and serves approximately 1,200 students through 120 FTE staff. Its academic portfolio is anchored by the four-year Bachelor Leraar Basisonderwijs (NVAO-accredited), augmented by the two-year Associate degree Pedagogisch Educatief Professional (Ad PEP), the Universitaire Pabo run jointly with VU Amsterdam, the Sportklas variant, zij-instroom (lateral entry) tracks, the Master Leren & Innoveren with Marnix Academie, post-HBO programs, and a Lerarenopleiders training line. The institution maintains five research chairs (lectoraats) covering, among other themes, educational technology, mathematics, and multilingual education, and has rolled out a multi-year curriculum renewal starting with Year 1 in 2025-2026.

The financial model is anchored on Dutch government bekostiging (regulated public funding for higher education), supplemented by statutory and institutional tuition fees (with 2025-2026 institutional tuition of €8,810 per year for non-EU students), revenue from the master's program, from post-HBO courses, and from contractual training activities. IPABO sits inside the Dutch sector governance framework: it is a member of the Vereniging Hogescholen, ALMA, and Velon, operates under the Branchecode Goed Bestuur, maintains a Commissie Wetenschappelijke Integriteit, and participates in Erasmus+ for international mobility. Its governance is structured with a Raad van Toezicht (supervisory board) and a College van Bestuur (executive board) chaired by Sonja Hoogendoorn.

Strategically, IPABO's most material initiative is the buildout of the Samen Opleiden Noord-Holland consortium, which has expanded from 7 founding school boards to 27 boards covering approximately 250-300 schools, integrating clinical placements, supervisor training, and curriculum co-design with the regional primary school sector. The institution's revenue is not publicly disclosed, and its primary customer risk is the concentration of its funding base on Dutch public sector bekostiging.

Name

Hogeschool IPABO

Legal name

Stichting iPabo

Website

https://ipabo.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Hogeschool IPABO is a Dutch non-profit foundation operating a specialized university of applied sciences that trains primary school teachers, serving approximately 1,200 students annually through bachelor, associate degree, master, and post-HBO programs across campuses in Amsterdam and Alkmaar.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Teacher Training / Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Educational Support Services (61171), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Teacher Professional Development & In-Service Training Institutes (EDAHAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional Development / CPD Requirement Administration for Licensure (EDADAJAL), Mentoring, Induction & Probationary Teaching Oversight Authorities (EDADAJAK)

Keywords

• Primary education training
• Teacher training programs
• Higher education services
• Professional development courses
• Vocational teacher education

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition fees (wettelijk collegegeld): Students pay statutory tuition fees set annually by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture & Science. Full-time and part-time bachelor and associate degree programs are publicly funded with regulated tuition rates.
2. Institutional tuition fees (instellingstarief): Students who have already completed a bachelor or master degree in education or healthcare pay a higher institutional tuition rate rather than the statutory rate.
3. Post-HBO professional development courses: IPABO Academie generates revenue through post-hbo programs (e.g., Vakbekwaamheid Bewegingsonderwijs at €1,495 per block, total €4,485), teacher trainer programs (€1,000), and Velon professional registration trajectories (€1,945).
4. Government funding (bekostiging): As a publicly funded (bekostigde) university of applied sciences, IPABO receives government operational funding from the Dutch Ministry of OCW in addition to tuition revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hogeschool IPABO delivers accredited primary education teacher training through bachelor's degree programs (Leraar Basisonderwijs in full-time, part-time, and flexible variants), an associate degree (Ad PEP), an academic combined degree with Vrije Universiteit (Universitaire Pabo), and lateral entry (Zij-instroom) pathways. The IPABO Academie extends the portfolio with post-HBO professional development including the Master Leren & Innoveren, Vakbekwaamheid Bewegingsonderwijs specialist certification, teacher trainer training, and Velon professional registration trajectories for in-service teachers and pedagogical staff.

Product overview

Hogeschool IPABO is a specialized university of applied sciences offering primary education teacher training programs from its Amsterdam and Alkmaar locations. The institution provides a comprehensive educational portfolio comprising bachelor's programs (Leraar Basisonderwijs in full-time, part-time, and lateral entry variants), an associate degree program (Pedagogisch Educatief Professional - Ad PEP), an academic teacher training (Universitaire Pabo) jointly with Vrije Universiteit, and a specialized Sports track. The IPABO Academie extends offerings through professional development courses including the Master Leren & Innoveren, Vakbekwaamheid Bewegingsonderwijs certification, and teacher educator training programs. With approximately 1,200 students annually, the institution operates through a partnership model (Samen Opleiden) collaborating with over 300 primary schools across North Holland for workplace-based learning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Leraar Basisonderwijs Bachelor Four-year bachelor's degree program training students to become qualified primary school teachers for ages 4-12. Includes full-time and part-time variants, delivered from the Amsterdam and Alkmaar campuses, NVAO-accredited from May 16, 2022.
• Pedagogisch Educatief Professional (Ad PEP) Two-year associate degree program focused on child development (ages 0-14) for those working at the intersection of education and childcare, supporting teachers and providing broad-based educational support. NVAO-accredited from December 31, 2016.
• Universitaire Pabo Four-year combined program with Vrije Universiteit leading to two bachelor's degrees: Primary Education Teacher and Pedagogical Sciences. Available only in Amsterdam for vwo-background students combining professional teaching qualification with a scientific degree.
• Sportklas Four-year primary education teacher training combined with specialized sports pedagogy, qualifying graduates as both class teachers and specialist physical education instructors for all primary school grades.
• Zij-instroom Two-year trajectory for individuals with HBO or university degrees to become certified primary school teachers while working in primary education, combining employment with training.
• Leraar Basisonderwijs Flexibele Deeltijd Flexible part-time primary education teacher training with 2, 3, or 4-year routes to accommodate different backgrounds and work experience levels.
• Master Leren & Innoveren Two-year Master program enabling education professionals to drive educational innovation and change as catalysts for school transformation, leading to a Master of Education degree. Offered jointly with Marnix Academie via Radiant Hogescholen partnership since September 2022.
• Vakbekwaamheid Bewegingsonderwijs Three-block post-HBO program training teachers as specialist physical education instructors for all primary school grades, covering activity delivery, guidance, and customization. 200 hours study load at EUR 1,495 per block (total EUR 4,485).
• Training Lerarenopleiders - Basis Two-day plus third closing day training program for teacher educators covering mentoring skills, feedback literacy, and educational pedagogy, with certification for supervising student teachers. Priced at EUR 1,000.
• Velon Beroepsregistratie Lerarenopleiders Group trajectory for professional registration in the Teacher Educators Professional Register (BRLO), including portfolio development and peer feedback, with Velon certification. Priced at EUR 1,945 including Velon registration fee of EUR 475.

Quantifiable outcome

• NVAO accreditation (May 2022) for Bachelor program and (December 2016) for Ad PEP program, government-recognized qualifications.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bibliotheek KennemerwaardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2026Bibliotheek Kennemerwaard and IPABO continued their successful collaboration on reading promotion and reading pleasure for children. The partnership, formalized on 21 May 2026, aims to ensure future teachers are aware of the value of reading and reading pleasure in child development. The collaboration includes workshops for students and expansion of the library's young adult collection.
• Amsterdamse lerarenagendaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023IPABO participates in the Amsterdam Teachers Agenda alongside all primary, secondary, and secondary vocational schools and teacher training providers, in partnership with the municipality of Amsterdam, to address the teacher shortage. The collaboration investigates how available resources can be deployed to reduce the teacher shortage in Amsterdam, invest in school teams' professional development, and support principals.
• Marnix AcademiecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022IPABO partners with Marnix Academie to jointly offer the Master Leren en Innoveren and Master Onderwijs & Technologie. Since September 2022, IPABO is one of the teaching locations for these accredited masters. The collaboration enables IPABO to offer advanced professional development without operating its own independent master programs.
• Alliantie Lerarenopleidingen Metropoolregio Amsterdam (ALMA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020IPABO is a founding member of ALMA (Alliantie Lerarenopleidingen Metropoolregio Amsterdam), together with Hogeschool van Amsterdam, Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Hogeschool Inholland, Universiteit van Amsterdam, and Vrije Universiteit. The alliance aims to establish sustainable infrastructure for cooperation between teacher training institutions, school boards, and other regional partners. It builds on existing successful partnerships for joint training, professionalization, and research.
• Vrije Universiteit (VU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn collaboration with the Vrije Universiteit, IPABO offers a double degree program where students earn both the bachelor Leraar Basisonderwijs (IPABO) and Pedagogische Wetenschappen (VU). This enables students with a vwo background to combine a professional teaching qualification with a scientific degree. Students attend VU twice weekly and IPABO Amsterdam up to two days per week.
• Radiant HogescholencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPABO participates in the Radiant Hogescholen alliance (Marnix Academie, Driestar, Thomas More, Viaa, KPZ, CHE, Iselinge, De Kempel). Within Radiant, knowledge and strength for educational development and practice-oriented research are pooled. Various networks (e.g., educational managers, ICT, researchers) exchange knowledge. IPABO and Radiant partners jointly offer the master 'Leren en Innoveren' and collaborate on the Master Onderwijs & Technologie.
• Samen Opleiden Noord-Holland (SOHN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOHN is a partnership between IPABO and school boards in North Holland for joint teacher training. The partnership has grown to 27 school boards and 250 training schools covering the North Holland region. 'Ieder in zijn kracht, samen nieuwe energie' (Everyone in their strength, together new energy) encapsulates the shared responsibility for training start-capable teachers.
• Primary Schools in North Holland (approximately 300)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPABO collaborates closely with around 300 primary schools in North Holland. The collaboration focuses on improving learning outcomes for children, developing professionally learning and researching school teams, and school leaders who realize the necessary school culture. Schools serve as 'training schools' (opleidingsscholen) rather than mere internship sites.
• Noord-Hollandse SamenScholingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe two North Holland teacher training partnerships (Noord-Hollandse SamenScholing and Samen Opleiden Noord-Holland) are jointly developing a unified framework for training workplace/practical mentors for pabo students, aligning with the changed curricula of both hogescholen.
• Erasmus+ partner institutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs part of Minor 2 (year 3), students can study for one semester at partner institutions abroad. IPABO participates in Erasmus+ and publishes an Erasmus Policy Statement for 2021-2027. Students can apply for NL Scholarship (€2,500 one-time grant) for non-EU placements.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Driestar hogeschool: Driestar hogeschool (Ede) is a Radiant Hogescholen consortium member and a specialized pabo with comparable faith-based mission orientation. IPABO and Driestar jointly established the Commissie Wetenschappelijke Integriteit, evidencing close operational alignment.
• Marnix Academie: Marnix Academie is a Utrecht-based specialized pabo and Radiant Hogescholen consortium partner that jointly offers Master Leren & Innoveren and Master Onderwijs & Technologie with IPABO. It is the most directly comparable Dutch teacher-training hogeschool in scale, mission, and product mix.
• Iselinge Hogeschool: Iselinge Hogeschool is a Radiant Hogescholen member specializing in primary teacher education. It is comparable to IPABO in scale, mission, and product portfolio (pabo plus post-HBO professional development).
• Hogeschool Viaa: Hogeschool Viaa is a Radiant Hogescholen consortium partner offering pabo programs in a comparable specialized higher-education format. Operates a similar mission-driven, single-sector hogeschool model in a different Dutch region.
• De Kempel: Hogeschool De Kempel is a Radiant Hogescholen partner operating as a specialized pabo with comparable size and positioning. Both institutions share the joint Commissie Wetenschappelijke Integriteit governance arrangement.
• Thomas More Hogeschool: Thomas More Hogeschool (Rotterdam) is a Radiant Hogescholen partner and a specialized pabo with comparable mission-oriented positioning. Both institutions pool knowledge within Radiant and jointly offer the master 'Leren en Innoveren'.
• Hogeschool KPZ: Hogeschool KPZ is a Radiant Hogescholen member and another specialized Christian pabo with comparable size and regional focus. Both institutions participate in the same shared governance and research structures.

Broad incumbents

• Hogeschool Inholland: Inholland is a multi-sector Dutch hogeschool with pabo programs across multiple locations. As a fellow ALMA alliance member with IPABO, it is comparable as a competing primary teacher-training provider but with a much broader non-education portfolio.
• NHL Stenden Hogeschool: NHL Stenden is a large multisector hogeschool with pabo programs in Leeuwarden and elsewhere. It is comparable as a competing teacher-training provider but operates a much broader portfolio beyond primary education.
• Hogeschool van Amsterdam (HvA): HvA is a large Amsterdam-based hogeschool that offers a pabo program and competes for the same prospective teacher pool as IPABO. It is comparable as a pabo provider but operates across many sectors at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@hogeschoolipabo2250
• Facebookfacebook.com/ipabo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hogeschool-ipabo
• Instagraminstagram.com/ipabo
• Xx.com/ipabo

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hogeschool IPABO