Haaga-Helia University

What Haaga-Helia University does

HELHa (Haute École Louvain en Hainaut) is a Belgian public higher education institution operating under the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. It delivers 65 professional bachelor's and master's degree programs across five domains: Arts, Business and Communication; Education and Social; Health and Medical Technologies; Sciences, Technologies and Living; and Engineering. The institution runs 14 campus locations concentrated in the Hainaut region of Belgium, including Charleroi, Mons, Tournai, Gilly, La Louvière, Montignies-sur-Sambre, Mouscron, Louvain-la-Neuve, and others, with a major Charleroi expansion launched in September 2025 and an additional Notre Dame site opening in February 2027.

The core product portfolio includes standard three- to four-year bachelor's programs, one- to two-year master's programs, alternating (work-study) tracks, specialized certificates (including AI for teachers, manual therapy, organic agriculture, and a Data Center program), and continuing education delivered through the CeREF research center. Technology infrastructure consists of standard educational tooling: a ConnectED student portal, Microsoft Office 365 for staff/students, and online registration platforms, with no proprietary technology platforms or AI/ML systems disclosed.

The business model is a hybrid of regulated tuition (minerval, adjusted annually), Wallonia-Brussels Federation public subsidies tied to enrollment, ARES-funded international mobility programs, and project-based grants (e.g., SPW 2024-2026 robotics funding). Customers are primarily secondary school graduates enrolling directly via the online registration platform, supplemented by adult learners, career changers, and working professionals pursuing continuing education. Recruitment relies on a multi-channel mix including open days, secondary school immersion programs, educational fairs (SIEP, Worldskills), and active social media presence across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok.

Name

Haaga-Helia University

Legal name

HELHa - Haute École Louvain en Hainaut

Website

https://helha.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Short description

BELGIAN PUBLIC HAUTE ÉCOLE OFFERING 65 PROFESSIONAL BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S PROGRAMS ACROSS 14 CAMPUSES IN HAINAUT, SERVING SECONDARY SCHOOL GRADUATES, ADULT LEARNERS, AND WORKING PROFESSIONALS VIA TUITION, GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES, AND CONTINUING EDUCATION.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dion-le-mont

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees (Minerval): The institution charges minerval (tuition fees) to students. The minerval changes for the 2026-2027 academic year according to the website. Fees vary by program and student status (Belgian, EU, or international students).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HELHa delivers professional higher education degree programs (bachelor's and master's) across five domains — Arts/Business/Communication, Education/Social, Health/Medical Technologies, Sciences/Technologies/Living, and Engineering — through 14 campuses in Belgium. Offerings include full-time and alternating (work-study) tracks, specialized certifications (KNX, VCA, BIM), and continuing education certificates, complemented by student support services and applied research via the CeREF center.

Product overview

HELHa (Haute École Louvain en Hainaut) is a Belgian higher education institution offering 65 professional bachelor's and master's programs across five main domains: Arts, Business and Communication; Education and Social Sciences; Health and Medical Technologies; Sciences, Technologies and Living; and Engineering Sciences. The institution operates 14 campuses across the Hainaut region and offers both traditional full-time programs and alternating (work-study) programs. Student support services include social assistance, psychological support, inclusion services, sports programs (HELHa Sport), and academic success cells (CAR, SAR). The institution also provides continuing education certificates and professional development programs through its CeREF research center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arts, Business and Communication Programs Bachelor's and master's degree programs in arts, business, and communication including 3D real-time, animation, direction assistant, communication, accounting, HR management, hotel management, logistics, tourism, marketing, advertising, and public relations. Target audience: secondary school graduates and adult learners seeking professional qualifications in creative and business fields.
• Education and Social Programs Programs in social work, specialized education, and teaching including bachelor's in social assistance and master's in teaching across multiple sections (primary, secondary, technical). Target audience: prospective teachers, social workers, and educators.
• Health and Medical Technologies Programs Health sciences programs including nursing, midwifery, medical laboratory technology, medical imaging, ergotherapy, psychomotor skills, biopharmaceuticals, and specializations in geriatrics, oncology, radiotherapy, and mental health. Target audience: aspiring healthcare professionals.
• Sciences, Technologies and Living Programs Technical and scientific programs including agronomy, automobile, bioquality, chemistry, construction, domotics, electromechanics, electronics, electrical engineering, and computer science with various specializations. Target audience: prospective technicians, agronomists, and IT/engineering students.
• Industrial Engineering School Programs (École d'ingénieur·e·s) Industrial engineering master's programs in biochemistry, chemistry, electromechanics, electronics, and life data technologies. Target audience: engineering students progressing from bachelor's level.
• Continuing Education and Professional Certificates Short programs and certificates including Certificate in AI for teachers, Certificate in Manual Therapy, Certificate in Organic Agriculture Initiation, Data Center Program, and various professional specializations. Target audience: working professionals and adult learners seeking short, targeted upskilling.
• Bachelor in Domotics and Building Technical Management (Bachelier en Domotique et Gestion Technique des Bâtiments) Three-year bachelor's program in building automation and technical building management, unique in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, covering KNX systems, building energy management, HVAC, and smart building technologies. Target audience: secondary school graduates interested in building automation and energy management.
• Bachelor in Sustainable and Local Food Systems (Bachelier en Systèmes Alimentaires Durables et Locaux - SADL) Three-year bachelor's program covering the complete food system from production to consumption, integrating technical, economic, and environmental dimensions for the sustainable food transition. Target audience: prospective agronomists and food-system professionals.
• Research and Continuing Education Center (CeREF) Applied research center and continuing education department offering professional development, specialized training programs, and pedagogical research. Target audience: working professionals, organizations, and the institution's own academic staff.
• Mons Sciences and Technologies Preparatory Courses Pre-program preparatory courses in mathematics covering algebra, trigonometry, fractions, powers, equations and inequalities, priced at €30. Target audience: prospective students entering Mons technical bachelor's programs.
• Tournai Electromechanics and Computer Science Preparatory Courses Pre-program preparatory courses in English, mathematics, electricity, and physics, priced at €25 (refundable upon successful completion of full academic year of 60 credits). Target audience: prospective students entering Tournai electromechanics and computer science programs.
• Health Sector Preparation Week at Gilly One-week intensive preparation program priced at €70, covering study methods, life project reflection, and basic skills review in mathematics, French, physics, chemistry, and biology. Target audience: prospective students entering health sector programs.
• Advertising Preparatory Courses Pre-program preparatory courses in advertising, priced at €75/week for the full program (morning and afternoon) or €50/week for the half program (morning OR afternoon). Target audience: prospective students entering advertising bachelor's programs.

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 minor.

• UCLouvain (Université Catholique de Louvain)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHELHa collaborates with UCLouvain on discovery activities for higher education orientation, organizing interactive sessions covering study organization, student support, and student life. Also partners with UCLouvain Mons for certain programs and events.
• ARES (Académie de Recherche et d'Enseignement Supérieur)coreOthersARES funds international mobility programs at HELHa. The institution participates in ARES-financed mobility programs, hosting international guests like Pr. Meriem Khalil from Mohammed V University of Rabat.
• Haute École Provinciale de Hainaut - CondorcetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-diplomation partner for the Bachelor in Sustainable and Local Food Systems (SADL). The two institutions and Collège des Aumôniers du Travail of Charleroi jointly offer this program, pooling expertise and networks.
• Collège des Aumôniers du Travail de CharleroicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-diplomation partner for the Bachelor in Sustainable and Local Food Systems (SADL). Jointly develops the program with HELHa and Haute École Provinciale de Hainaut - Condorcet.
• CIO (Centre d'Information et d'Orientation)minorOthersInformation evenings organized by CIO (UCLouvain) in collaboration with HELHa for prospective students.
• SIEP (Service d'Information sur les Études et les Professions)minorOthersHELHa participates in SIEP-organized info-study salons for student recruitment and awareness.
• Worldskills BelgiumminorOthersHELHa participates in StarTech Days organized by Worldskills Belgium for career and educational awareness.
• TechnocitéminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the robotics workshops project for primary school students, along with CeREF Technique, Education and Social Department, and Health and Medical Technologies Department of HELHa.
• CeREF (Centre de Recherche et de Formation continue)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternal research and continuing education center of HELHa, involved in pedagogical innovation (e.g., Student Success intervention model) and co-developing educational offerings.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Haute École de Namur: Walloon Haute École offering professional bachelor's and master's programs in business, education, health, social, and technical domains. Comparable in mission, regulatory framework (Wallonia-Brussels Federation), and program architecture to HELHa.
• Haute École Charlemagne: Liège-based Haute École providing similar professional higher education tracks across health, education, business, social, and technical fields. Operates under the same federal funding framework and competes for the same regional student demographic in Wallonia.
• Haute École Léonard de Vinci: Brussels-based Haute École delivering applied bachelor's and master's programs in business, engineering, health, and education. Direct comparable given identical institutional mission, federal oversight, and overlapping program portfolio.
• HELMo (Haute École Libre Mosane): Another major Belgian Haute École (university of applied sciences) with campuses across Liège province, offering comparable bachelor's and master's programs in health, education, business, social work, and technical fields. Closest direct peer given identical institutional category and similar program breadth in the French-speaking community.
• Haute École Provinciale de Hainaut - Condorcet: Provincial Haute École headquartered in Hainaut, offering the same categories of professional bachelor's degrees. Directly comparable as a co-diplomation partner for the SADL program and operates in the same regional catchment, competing for the same secondary-school graduates.
• Haute École Galilée: Brussels-based Haute École offering professional degree programs in similar disciplines (health, business, education, technical). Comparable in scope, regulatory framework, and target student segments as a Wallonia-Brussels peer institution.
• Haute École ICHEC - ECAM - ISFSC: Brussels-based Haute École grouping ICHEC (business), ECAM (engineering), and ISFSC (social) — directly comparable professional higher education offerings in business and engineering, operating under the same Wallonia-Brussels Federation oversight.

Broad incumbents

• Université de Mons (UMONS): Public full university in Hainaut providing bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs in sciences, engineering, economics, and humanities. Competes for top-tier secondary graduates in the same geographic catchment and offers longer-cycle academic tracks that overlap with HELHa's applied programs.
• UCLouvain: Full French-speaking Catholic university with comprehensive undergraduate, graduate, and research offerings across the same region. Overlaps with HELHa in health, business, education, and engineering but operates at a higher academic-research tier; also an explicit partner for orientation activities.

Regional players

• HEPL (Haute École de la Province de Liège): Provincial Haute École serving the Liège province with parallel applied degree offerings. Operates under the same federation regulatory framework as HELHa but in an adjacent, non-overlapping geographic catchment within Wallonia.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChcHt9L9LBl6wkxI6SEFWEw
• Facebookfacebook.com/helha.be
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/helha
• Instagraminstagram.com/helhabe
• TikToktiktok.com/@helha58

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Haaga-Helia University