VHS Coburg

What VHS Coburg does

VHS Coburg (legally Volkshochschule Coburg Stadt und Land gGmbH) is a publicly-funded adult education institution headquartered at Löwenstrasse 15, 96450 Coburg, Bavaria, Germany. It delivers continuing education across six program areas — Society (Gesellschaft), Career+IT (Beruf+IT), Languages (Sprachen), Health (Gesundheit), Culture (Kultur), and Youth (Junge vhs) — offering 332 in-person and hybrid courses spread across 20 towns in the Coburg district (Ahorn, Bad Rodach, Coburg, Dörfles-Esbach, Ebersdorf, Großheirath, Grub am Forst/Niederfüllbach, Itzgrund, Lautertal, Meeder, Neustadt, Rödental, Seßlach, Sonnefeld, Untersiemau, Weidhausen, Weitramsdorf, among others) plus access to 800+ live-online qualification courses via the VIONA virtual online academy operated at hubs in Coburg and Neustadt b. Coburg. The organization also runs six specialized publicly-funded projects — Jobnavigator, A+Zubi (with IHK Coburg and HWK Oberfranken), Jobbegleiter, BIWAQ Stabi-plus II, Demokratie leben!, and Europe Direct Oberfranken/Südthüringen — targeting job seekers, disadvantaged youth, refugees, civic engagement, and EU information services respectively.

The technology platform is built on a commodity stack: TYPO3 CMS for the public website, Matomo for privacy-focused (DSGVO-compliant) web analytics, Microsoft 365 for internal operations, the Eye-Able accessibility toolbar from Web Inclusion GmbH for disability access, and the VIONA live-online classroom platform (operated as a shared infrastructure across the Volkshochschule network) for online qualifications. Course discovery runs through a printed program brochure (Programmheft), a digital page-flip Blätterkatalog, and the in-house "Kurskompass" interactive search tool filtering by interest category, day/time, cadence (one-time vs. series), and location across 20 towns. No proprietary AI/ML systems, custom learning platforms, or differentiated technical IP were evidenced.

Revenue comes from two streams: (1) per-course fees from participants, with tiered pricing — standard rates for the general public, a 20% discount for job seekers (ALG II), social welfare recipients, pupils, students, trainees, and Ehrenamtskarte holders, and a 50% discount for Coburg Pass holders (minimum €25.00 fee threshold, discounts do not stack with examination fees), collected via SEPA direct debit or invoice with a €5.00 processing surcharge for non-SEPA payments; and (2) project-based public grants from BAMF (integration courses), the Bavarian State Ministry for Family, Labor and Social Affairs (Arbeitsmarktfonds — Jobnavigator, A+Zubi), the Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior, for Sport and Integration (Jobbegleiter), BMWSB and the EU's ESF Plus (BIWAQ Stabi-plus II), and BMBFSFJ (Demokratie leben! to 2032). GTM is direct-to-consumer via the website search, program catalogue, and social media, with institutional referrals from Agentur für Arbeit/Jobcenter (Bildungsgutschein), BAMF (integration courses), and the municipal network. The organization is governed by Geschäftsführerinnen Anna Stößel and Rainer Maier and is independently operated as a municipal non-profit gGmbH with no disclosed VC, PE, or external institutional ownership.

Name

VHS Coburg

Legal name

Volkshochschule Coburg Stadt und Land gGmbH

Website

https://vhs-coburg.net

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VHS Coburg (Volkshochschule Coburg Stadt und Land gGmbH) is a publicly-funded adult education institution in Coburg, Bavaria, delivering 332 in-person and 800+ online courses in languages, IT, health, culture, and professional development across 20 municipalities, plus federally and EU-funded labor-market integration and civic education projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Continuing Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Community Colleges (EDAHADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE)

Keywords

• Adult education courses
• Vocational training services
• Integration course programs
• Language training courses
• Continuing education center

Headquarters

HQ city

Coburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Course and Seminar Fees: Revenue is generated through per-course registration fees charged to participants. The fee schedule is published per event and confirmed after the second course session. Fees are collected via SEPA direct debit or invoice (with a €5.00 processing fee for non-SEPA payments). Course fees represent the primary revenue stream for the organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

VHS Coburg (Volkshochschule Coburg Stadt und Land gGmbH) is a municipal adult education center providing continuing education across the Coburg district in Bavaria, Germany. It delivers in-person and live-online courses in six program areas (Society, Career+IT, Languages, Health, Culture, Young VHS), BAMF-authorized integration courses for migrants, vocational training and corporate courses, IHK certification preparation, and cultural programming (Sommerakademie, Studium Generale, Coburg liest!).

Product overview

VHS Coburg Stadt und Land gGmbH is a community education center (Volkshochschule) providing adult education and continuing education services across the Coburg district. The organization operates as a multi-product educational services provider rather than a single software platform. Its core offerings include: the VIONA virtual online academy offering over 800 accredited courses with live online instruction; traditional in-person courses across categories (Society, Career+IT, Languages, Health, Culture, Youth); and specialized integration and vocational training programs. The institution also runs cultural initiatives including the Sommerakademie, Studium Generale lecture series, Coburg liest! reading events, and vhs-Film cinema initiative. Supporting projects address employment (Jobnavigator, Jobbegleiter, BIWAQ Stabi-plus II), youth vocational training (A+Zubi), democracy engagement (Demokratie leben!), and European information services (Europe Direct). The course catalog is accessible via an online Blätterkatalog and searchable through the Kurskompass tool.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VIONA - Virtuelle Online Akademie Virtual online academy offering over 800 qualification courses delivered via live-online classroom instruction at VHS Coburg locations in Coburg and Neustadt b. Coburg. Programs range from two-week vocational courses to twelve-month IHK exam preparation, and are accessible to participants funded via Bildungsgutschein.
• Integrationskurse (Integration Courses) BAMF-authorized German integration courses (Integrationskurse) for immigrants, refugees, and migrants covering language and orientation components. Participants are referred by BAMF and migration authorities and enrolled directly through VHS Coburg.
• Berufliche Bildung und Firmenschulungen Vocational training programs and corporate in-house training (Firmenschulungen) covering Career+IT, languages, and professional development, including IHK-certified courses and Berufliche Weiterbildung offerings.
• Jobnavigator Career orientation project for job seekers aged 18+, offering personal counseling, coaching, qualifications, CV/interview preparation, and networking. Funded by the Bavarian State Ministry, with services free for eligible participants.
• A+Zubi Project supporting disadvantaged youth and young adults in completing vocational training (Ausbildungsabschluss), social competency development, and exam preparation, delivered in partnership with IHK Coburg, HWK Oberfranken, Agentur für Arbeit, and City of Coburg.
• Jobbegleiter Project supporting refugees and migrants aged 25+ with residence permits and labor market access, providing job search assistance, credential recognition, bureaucratic navigation, and language training. Free of charge for participants.
• BIWAQ Stabi-plus II Employment reintegration project offering individual coaching and practical group courses (German for office work, Excel basics) for adults from Coburg, funded by BMWSB and the EU via ESF Plus.
• Demokratie leben! Partnerschaft für Demokratie Federal program promoting civil society engagement and democratic coexistence in the City of Coburg, with VHS Coburg operating the Koordinierungs- und Fachstelle. Entered its 3rd funding period (2025-2032).
• Europe Direct Coburg Europe Direct Information Centre for Upper Franconia/South Thuringia, one of 424 centers across Europe providing free information about EU policies, organizing events, and facilitating citizen engagement with the EU.
• Sommerakademie Coburg Annual summer academy featuring art workshops with a public exhibition at Kunstverein Coburg, available to course participants and the broader public.
• Studium Generale Lecture series offering expert presentations and discussions on general education topics, typically held at Pfarrzentrum St. Augustin.
• Coburg liest! Annual reading event series featuring author readings and literary discussions, with the 2026 edition featuring author Carsten Henn.

Quantifiable outcome

• 800+ qualification courses available through VIONA online academy
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF)coreOthersVHS Coburg is an authorized provider of integration courses (Integrationskurse) under official accreditation by the BAMF. Participant data (name, contact details) is transmitted to BAMF as required by law for integration course administration.
• IHK zu Coburg (Chamber of Industry and Commerce Coburg)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIHK Coburg is a network partner in the A+Zubi project, which supports disadvantaged youth in obtaining vocational training and apprenticeship completion. IHK provides industry connections and examination oversight.
• HWK für Oberfranken (Handwerkskammer Oberfranken — Craft Chamber)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHWK Oberfranken is a network partner in the A+Zubi project alongside IHK Coburg, the Agentur für Arbeit Bamberg-Coburg, and the City of Coburg, collectively providing vocational training support for disadvantaged youth.
• Agentur für Arbeit Bamberg-CoburgcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe employment agency (Agentur für Arbeit) is a network partner in A+Zubi and a referral source for VHS programs. It issues Bildungsgutschein (education vouchers) enabling job seekers to access VHS courses (including VIONA) at no personal cost.
• Stadt Coburg (City of Coburg)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Coburg is a network partner in A+Zubi and a co-funder/implementing partner for the 'Demokratie leben!' Partnerschaft für Demokratie in der Stadt Coburg. It is also the municipal owner/shareholder of VHS Coburg Stadt und Land gGmbH.
• Wertebündnis 'Wir sind bunt: Coburg Stadt und Land!'minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA regional values alliance of over 150 institutions and individuals that complements the 'Demokratie leben!' Partnerschaft locally, bringing together actors from politics, business, and civil society to support democratic coexistence in Coburg.
• Hochschule Coburg (University of Applied Sciences Coburg)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Studium Generale lecture series features expert speakers from Hochschule Coburg, including Prof. Dr. Karin Meißner who researches placebo effects and complementary medicine, contributing to public education events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Goethe-Institut: Global German-language and integration training provider; partial overlap on VHS Coburg's Sprachen and BAMF integration-course segments. While operating at much larger international scale, it competes in the same publicly-funded German-language accreditation framework.

Direct peers

• bfz (Berufliche Fortbildungszentren der Bayerischen Wirtschaft): Bavarian vocational training provider under the vbw umbrella offering Beruf+IT, language, and integration courses with Bildungsgutschein eligibility. Same Bavaria footprint and overlap with VHS Coburg's Jobnavigator/Jobbegleiter/Berufliche Bildung portfolio.
• Euro-Schulen / ESO Education Group: Network of BAMF-authorized language and integration schools plus vocational retraining across Germany. Direct overlap with VHS Coburg's Integrationskurse, Jobbegleiter, and Berufliche Bildung offerings within the same funding ecosystem.
• Volkshochschule Berlin (VHS Berlin): Berlin's municipal adult education network offering equivalent course categories (Beruf, Sprache, Gesundheit, Kultur, Integration) with BAMF authorization and Bildungsgutschein acceptance. Operates the same German VHS model in an urban context.
• Volkshochschule Frankfurt am Main: Mid-to-large municipal VHS in Hesse delivering the same six program areas (Gesellschaft, Beruf, Sprachen, Gesundheit, Kultur, Junge VHS) plus BAMF integration courses. Direct business-model peer with overlapping regulatory and funding framework.
• Kolping Bildungswerk: National Catholic-affiliated vocational and adult education provider with substantial overlap on integration courses, vocational retraining, and youth apprenticeship support (A+Zubi-comparable). Operates as a non-profit competitor in the same funding pools.
• Deutsche Angestellten-Akademie (DAA): Germany-wide non-profit adult education and vocational training provider operating under a similar gGmbH-style model, with comparable offerings in integration courses, Beruf+IT, and Bildungsgutschein-accepted qualification programs. Closest non-municipal direct peer.
• Volkshochschule München: Germany's largest municipal Volkshochschule, offering the same community adult-education model (languages, vocational, integration, culture) under public gGmbH/association structure. Directly comparable in product mix and funding mechanics; larger scale provides a benchmark for VHS Coburg's potential.
• BBQ Berufliche Bildung: Baden-Württemberg-based vocational adult education provider with similar offerings in IHK exam preparation, Beruf+IT, and Bildungsgutschein-funded qualification tracks — comparable business model for the VIONA / Berufliche Bildung segments.

Broad incumbents

• Coursera: Global online learning platform offering overlapping IT, language, and professional-development content. Competes with VHS Coburg's unregulated Beruf+IT, Sprachen, and Kultur courses on convenience and price, particularly for self-directed adult learners.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCOXiM7y6v4XpFH5iFYRyDAg/videos?app=desktop&view=0&sort=dd&shelf_id=0
• Facebookfacebook.com/vhs.Coburg
• Instagraminstagram.com/vhs_coburg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vhs-coburg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 VHS Coburg