Verwaltungs- und Wirtschaftsakademie

What Verwaltungs- und Wirtschaftsakademie does

Verwaltungs- und Wirtschaftsakademie (VWA) is the federal association (Bundesverband Deutscher Verwaltungs- und Wirtschafts-Akademien e. V.) of 21 member academies operating at over 60 locations across Germany, delivering part-time continuing education programs to working professionals and apprentices in business and public administration. Founded in 1921 and headquartered in Überherrn, the organization is structured as a registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein, gemeinnützig) governed by a Presidium chaired by Univ.-Professor Dr. Gerd Waschbusch. The core product is the six-semester Betriebswirt/in (VWA) qualification, which since October 2024 has been assigned to DQR/EQR Level 6, making it the first non-formal vocational qualification recognized at Bachelor's-equivalent level in the German Qualifications Framework and eligible for up to 90 credit points toward subsequent university Bachelor's programs.

The product portfolio includes variants such as Verwaltungs-Betriebswirt/in and Informatik-Betriebswirt/in, plus shorter four-semester programs (Wirtschaftsfachwirt/in, Ökonom/in, Fachwirt/in), seminars, advanced study programs, and dual study programs that combine vocational apprenticeships with academic instruction. Delivery uses a blended learning model combining small-group in-person instruction (evenings and Saturdays) with interactive live online streaming, enabling remote participation across branches such as the VWA Freiburg–VWA Potsdam study center cooperation (2023) and the new VWA Rhein-Neckar Frankfurt branch (February 2024). All programs are unified under binding Rahmenstudien- und Rahmenprüfungsordnungen and carry the trademarked Studienprogramm-Gütesiegel certification. The go-to-market is sales-led, distributed through semi-autonomous local member academies with local recruitment, supplemented by digital content marketing (vwa.de), the free monthly VWA-Deutschlandreise online lecture series, annual Hauptversammlung forums, and parliamentary breakfast events in Berlin.

Revenue is generated through tuition and registration fees, with pricing described as comparatively low due to non-profit status and efficient association-based operations. No pricing is publicly disclosed and the organization operates without external equity funding, parent company, or subsidiaries. Notable outcomes include alumni such as Bärbel Bas (Federal Minister for Labour and Social Affairs, May 2025; former President of the German Bundestag 2021-2025) and Anna Zenz (77th German Wine Queen 2025/2026), and recognition including the FOCUS-Siegel TOP-Anbieter für Weiterbildung 2023 and the R56+ Award 2025 for the VWA Koblenz digital management program.

Name

Verwaltungs- und Wirtschaftsakademie

Legal name

Bundesverband Deutscher Verwaltungs- und Wirtschafts-Akademien e. V.

Website

https://vwa.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Short description

VWA is a German federal non-profit association of 21 member academies operating at 60+ locations, delivering part-time continuing education programs (anchored by the DQR/EQR Level 6 Betriebswirt/in qualification) to working professionals and apprentices in business and public administration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Continuing Education and Professional Development

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs (EDAAAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Project, Quality & Operations (PMP PDUs, Six Sigma, Quality CE) (EDAAALAM)

Keywords

• Part-time continuing education
• Business administration studies
• Professional development programs
• Vocational academic bridging
• Adult education Germany

Headquarters

HQ city

Überherrn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Registration Fees: Revenue is generated through tuition and registration fees from students enrolled in part-time study programs. The organization operates as a non-profit association (gemeinnützig), which enables relatively low fee structures while maintaining quality instruction from university professors and industry experts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

VWA delivers part-time continuing education study programs for working professionals and apprentices through a network of 21 member academies at 60+ locations across Germany. The core offering is the Betriebswirt/in (VWA) six-semester qualification, which is assigned to DQR/EQR Level 6 (equivalent to a bachelor's degree), with specialized tracks in Digitales Management, Digital Leadership, Informatik, and Verwaltungs-Betriebswirt. Programs are delivered in evenings and on Saturdays using a blended model of in-person instruction and interactive online live streaming, with progression pathways to bachelor's and master's degrees at partner universities.

Product overview

Verwaltungs- und Wirtschaftsakademie (VWA) is a network of 21 member academies operating at over 60 locations across Germany, offering a unified portfolio of part-time continuing education programs for working professionals. The core product is the VWA Studiengänge system, anchored by the Betriebswirt/in (VWA) qualification (DQR/EQR Level 6, equivalent to bachelor's level), available in generalist and specialist variants including Verwaltungs-Betriebswirt/in, Informatik-Betriebswirt/in, and specialized tracks in Digitales Management and Digital Leadership. This is supplemented by shorter programs (Wirtschaftsfachwirt/in, Ökonom/in, Fachwirt/in), seminars, and dual study programs, as well as bachelor's and master's degrees in cooperation with universities. All programs follow unified quality standards enforced through the verbandsgemeinsamen Rahmenvorgaben and carry the Studienprogramm-Gütesiegel certification. The VWA also conducts the free monthly VWA-Deutschlandreise online lecture series.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Betriebswirt/in (VWA)
• Verwaltungs-Betriebswirt/in (VWA)
• Informatik-Betriebswirt/in (VWA)
• Wirtschaftsfachwirt/in (VWA)
• Ökonom/in (VWA)
• Fachwirt/in (VWA)
• Duale Studiengänge (VWA)
• VWA-Seminare
• Aufbaustudiengänge (VWA)
• Bachelor-Studium (Kooperation)
• Master-Studium (VWA)
• Betriebswirt/in (VWA) Digitales Management

Quantifiable outcome

• DQR/EQR Level 6 qualification equivalent to university Bachelor's degree
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Nationales Bündnis Digitale KompetenzencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 June 2026The federal association joined the National Alliance for Digital Competences for professional and everyday life. The alliance connects key stakeholders to strengthen digital competencies in Germany and raise awareness of their importance. It is part of the EU 'Champions for the Digital Decade' initiative. VWA programs with digital focus include Betriebswirt/in (VWA) with 'Informatik' orientation or specializations like 'Digitales Management' or 'Digital Leadership'.
• Rat der Weiterbildung (KAW) e. V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe federal association is a member of the Rat der Weiterbildung (Council for Continuing Education) - KAW e.V. The council serves as a platform for stakeholders in general, political, professional, and academic continuing education in Germany. It provides independent, non-partisan policy advisory services and acts as a point of contact and catalyst for continuing education.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• IHK继续教育 / IHK Bildungszentren: The Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) network operates vocational and continuing-education programs across Germany in adjacent formats; overlaps VWA in serving Berufstätige from business and administration, though anchored to chamber infrastructure rather than a federal academy network.

Direct peers

• FOM Hochschule: FOM is one of Germany's largest private Hochschulen focused on berufsbegleitende (work-integrated) Bachelor and Master programs for working professionals — directly overlapping VWA's target customer, delivery model, and DQR Level 6 offerings.
• Euro-FH (Europäische Fernhochschule Hamburg): Private, state-recognized Fernhochschule delivering fully online Bachelor and Master programs aimed at working adults; comparable to VWA on degree-level continuing education for professionals.
• AKAD University: Long-established private distance-learning university for working professionals offering accredited Bachelor, Master, and continuing-education programs; overlaps VWA on lifelong learning for Berufstätige.
• SGD (Studiengemeinschaft Darmstadt): One of Germany's oldest distance-learning providers, offering courses, certificates, and full degree pathways to adult learners; competes with VWA's seminar and continuing-education portfolio.
• HFH · Hamburger Fern-Hochschule: State-recognized private Fernhochschule in Hamburg offering Bachelor and Master programs in dual and distance formats for working professionals — closely comparable to VWA's blended, professional pathway model.
• SRH Fernhochschule – The Mobile University: State-recognized private Fernhochschule offering fully online Bachelor and Master programs to working professionals across Germany; competes with VWA's blended Betriebswirt/Bachelor pathways.

Broad incumbents

• FernUniversität in Hagen: Germany's only public distance-learning university, offering accredited Bachelor and Master programs to remote working learners; provides a state-subsidized alternative to VWA's professional education.
• Hochschule Fresenius: Large private German university group offering campus and online Bachelor/Master programs including part-time and continuing-education tracks; overlaps VWA in business and management continuing education.
• IU Internationale Hochschule: Germany's largest private university with extensive online and dual-study offerings across business, tech, and health; competes broadly with VWA in continuing and dual education, with greater scale and a for-profit capital base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vwa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vwa

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

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

Frequently asked questions about Verwaltungs- und Wirtschaftsakademie