Andragoški zavod Maribor - Ljudska univerza

What Andragoški zavod Maribor - Ljudska univerza does

Andragoški zavod Maribor - Ljudska univerza (AZM-LU) is a public adult education institution (zavod) headquartered at Maistrova ulica 5, Maribor, Slovenia, founded in 1922 and operating continuously for over 100 years. It delivers a comprehensive adult education portfolio built around four pillars: formal education completion (primary and secondary school for adults), National Professional Qualifications (NPK) certification, language and professional training courses, and EU-funded project programs. The institution also operates as an officially recognized external examination provider for Slovenian language proficiency exams (A1–B1) in partnership with the University of Ljubljana's Center for Slovenian as a Second and Foreign Language.

Its core technology stack is conventional: an online learning management system (Spletne učilnice) for virtual classroom delivery, supplemented by in-person instruction at the Maribor headquarters and physical outreach through VGC+ Srce Štajerske intergenerational community centers. The portfolio spans 15+ named products and project programs, including the ZIP integration program for immigrants, PUM-O project learning for unemployed youth, 3ŽO lifelong learning for retirees, financial literacy programs (Moj finančni vodnik, Obvladujem svoje finance), and Temeljne kompetence 2023–2029. There is no proprietary AI, data platform, or technology differentiation beyond the standard LMS.

The business model is a hybrid of fee-for-service and public co-funding. Direct revenue sources include tuition/course fees, Slovenian language exam administration (€172 per candidate), and NPK counseling/assessment fees (€215–€267 per candidate). The institution's economics are dominated by public funding flows — municipal co-funding from the Municipality of Maribor, national funding from the Ministry of Education under the Adult Education Act (ZIO-1), and EU grants through Slovenia's Recovery and Resilience Plan (NextGenerationEU) and ACS-coordinated programs. Customer segments are personas-led: senior citizens, unemployed adults, immigrants/third-country nationals, companies seeking employee training, and adults completing primary/secondary education. GTM is community-led and event-driven (Weeks of Lifelong Learning / TVU), with no commercial sales motion. The organization is part of Slovenia's national adult education network and operates the Local Point SVOS counseling node.

Name

Andragoški zavod Maribor - Ljudska univerza

Legal name

Andragoški zavod Maribor - Ljudska univerza

Website

https://azm-lu.si

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Public adult education institution in Maribor, Slovenia, founded 1922, offering formal schooling, language courses, professional qualifications, and EU-funded programs for immigrants, retirees, unemployed adults, and local employers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Maribor

HQ country

Slovenia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and course fees: Fees for various educational courses including language courses, computer courses, and professional training programs. Some programs are co-funded by the Municipality of Maribor, making them free or reduced-cost for residents.
2. Examination services: Fees charged for administering and proctoring official language examinations (Slovenian as a foreign language exams at A2-B1 levels). Exam fee is €172.00 per candidate.
3. Government-funded programs: EU and national government-funded adult education programs under Slovenia's Recovery and Resilience Plan (NextGenerationEU), including financial literacy and basic competencies programs provided free to eligible participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Andragoški zavod Maribor - Ljudska univerza is a public adult education institution delivering lifelong learning services to the Maribor region. It offers formal primary and secondary education completion for adults, Slovenian and foreign language courses (including free courses for immigrants under the ZIP program), computer literacy training, vocational and professional development courses, National Professional Qualifications (NPK) certification, and official Slovenian language proficiency examinations at A1 and A2-B1 levels. Services are delivered through in-person instruction at its Maribor headquarters, an online virtual classroom platform (Spletne učilnice), and community-based delivery through VGC+ intergenerational centers.

Product overview

Andragoški zavod Maribor - Ljudska univerza is an adult education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational services in Maribor, Slovenia. The core offerings include formal education programs (Primary School for Adults, Secondary Schools for Adults, National Professional Qualifications), language courses (Slovenian for foreigners, English, German), computer courses, vocational training, and specialized programs for target groups. The institution also provides support services including career counseling, self-directed learning resources, and exam administration for Slovenian language proficiency. Multiple EU-funded projects complement the regular curriculum, including financial literacy programs, basic competencies development, social activation, digital skills training, and intergenerational community centers. The organization functions as a public education provider with a mission of 'Knowledge for All Generations' and operates under the Local Point SVOS network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Primary School for Adults (Osnovna šola za odrasle) Formal primary education program for adults offering both full primary school completion and individual subject exams, with 120 enrollment places per academic year for adults who left school early.
• Secondary Schools for Adults (Srednje šole za odrasle) Programs leading to secondary education diplomas, including a preschool education track, offered for adult learners seeking to complete secondary schooling.
• National Professional Qualifications (Nacionalne poklicne kvalifikacije - NPK) Formally recognized professional qualifications including Bookkeeper and Accountant NPK certifications, allowing individuals to formally confirm informally acquired knowledge through examination. Counseling and validation €215; counseling with direct assessment €267.
• Language Courses (Jezikovni tečaji) Language courses including business English, English for beginners, German for beginners, Slovenian for foreigners, and the ZIP (Initial Integration of Immigrants) program.
• Computer Courses (Računalniški tečaji) Computer courses covering basic and advanced training including word processing, Excel, email, internet browsing, and file management. Some courses co-funded for Maribor residents.
• Training and Professional Development (Usposabljanja in izpopolnjevanja) Vocational training and professional development programs including bookkeeping (basic and advanced), forklift operator (viličarist) certification, and other vocational courses.
• Slovenian Language Examinations (Izpiti iz slovenščine) Official examination administration for Slovenian language proficiency at basic (A2-B1) and entry (A1) levels, in cooperation with the Center for Slovenian as a Second and Foreign Language at the University of Ljubljana. Exam fee €172 per candidate.
• Free Slovenian Language Courses for Foreigners (ZIP - Initial Integration of Immigrants) Free Slovenian language courses for third-country citizens covering 60-180 hours of instruction as part of the public Initial Integration of Immigrants (ZIP) program, often free when referred through Office for Migration or Employment Service.
• PUM-O (Project Learning for Younger Adults) Non-formal project-based education program helping unemployed young people without completed education acquire skills and motivation for employment or further education completion.
• Financial Literacy Programs (Finančna pismenost) Free financial literacy programs including 'Moj finančni vodnik' (50 hours) and 'Obvladujem svoje finance' (105 hours), teaching personal finance management, funded by EU NextGenerationEU through Slovenia's Recovery and Resilience Plan.
• Basic Competences 2023-2029 (Temeljne kompetence) Free educational programs for adults aged 55+ and those with maximum secondary education, targeting basic competencies and general education improvement, running from 2023-2029 under Slovenia's national Adult Education Act.
• Social Activation+ Program (Socialna aktivacija+) Program for Albanian-speaking women with language barriers, providing social activation and employment support over 6 months (3x weekly, 4 hours per session).
• VGC+ Heart of Styria (VGC+ Srce Štajerske) Intergenerational community centers offering educational programs, workshops, and intercultural events for all generations in the Styria region.
• Digital Steps (Digitalni koraki) Free 10-hour digital skills education program for strengthening digital competencies among adult learners.
• Career Counseling and Information Services (Svetovanje in informiranje) Career counseling and education planning services to help individuals navigate learning opportunities and career development pathways, operating as part of the Local Point SVOS public counseling network.
• Self-Directed Learning Center (Središče za samostojno učenje) Self-directed learning center providing resources and support for independent adult study.

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mestna občina Maribor (Municipality of Maribor)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary municipal partner co-funding adult education programs for local residents. Provides annual program funding for citizen education initiatives including computer courses, language programs, and lifelong learning activities under the Annual Program of Adult Education.
• Center za slovenščino kot drugi in tuji jezik (Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partnership for administering Slovenian language proficiency examinations (A2-B1 levels) under the publicly recognized program 'Slovenian as Second and Foreign Language'. AZM serves as external examination provider.
• Andragoški center Slovenije (ACS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational adult education network partner providing program support, quality standards, and coordination for lifelong learning initiatives including Weeks of Lifelong Learning (TVU).
• Ministrstvo za vzgojo in izobraževanje (Ministry of Education, Slovenia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry providing oversight, curriculum authorization, and funding for public adult education programs. Operates under the Adult Education Act (ZIO-1).
• Javna agencija RS za varnost prometa (Slovenian Road Safety Agency)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for road safety educational events and interactive workshops for community members, including simulator demonstrations and safety awareness programs.
• Center za razvoj kadrov KorakminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal HR development center partnership for career development and professional training initiatives in the Maribor region.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Andragoški center Slovenije (ACS): National adult education center coordinating Slovenia's lifelong learning network. Directly comparable as the umbrella organization for institutions like AZM, with overlapping roles in adult education policy, program quality standards, and coordination of Weeks of Lifelong Learning (TVU).
• Ljudska univerza Ljubljana: People's University of Ljubljana — the capital-city equivalent of AZM, offering formal adult education, language courses, NPK certification, and EU-funded programs in central Slovenia. Direct peer in mission, structure, and service portfolio.
• Ljudska univerza Velenje: People's University of Velenje — regional Slovenian adult education institution with similar program offerings (language, computer, NPK, EU projects) serving the Savinjska region. Closest geographic peer to AZM outside the Podravska region.
• Ljudska univerza Celje: People's University of Celje — another Slovenian Ljudska univerza offering the same adult education mix (formal schooling, language, vocational training) under the same national regulatory framework. Comparable in scale and service portfolio to AZM.

Emerging players

• University of the Third Age (U3A): International movement of senior-focused lifelong learning organizations, comparable to AZM's 3ŽO (Third Life Period) program for retirees aged 55+. Overlaps on target segment and lifelong learning mission but is volunteer-driven rather than state-funded.
• Center za slovenščino kot drugi in tuji jezik (University of Ljubljana): University-affiliated center that develops and authorizes Slovenian as a Foreign Language exams. Comparable through its administration of the official language exams that AZM delivers as an external provider, creating a partnership-driven rather than purely competitive relationship.

Broad incumbents

• Volkshochschule (vhs) Germany: Germany's nationwide network of adult education centers (Volkshochschulen) offering language, vocational, and lifelong learning programs. Functionally analogous to the Slovenian Ljudska univerza system at much larger national scale.
• Folkuniversitetet Sweden: Swedish network of adult education institutions offering language courses, professional development, and formal education across multiple cities. Comparable to the Ljudska univerza model in mission and public-benefit orientation.

Regional players

• British Council Slovenia: International cultural and English-language education provider active in Slovenia. Comparable through delivery of language courses and internationally recognized certifications that AZM also offers through RIC and Goethe partnerships.

Others

• RIC (Državni izpitni center): Slovenian national examination center that issues publicly recognized foreign language certificates. Adjacent to AZM's exam administration business as the certifying authority with which AZM partners for "Javnoveljavni izpiti iz tujih jezikov."

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/andragoski
• Facebookfacebook.com/andragoski
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/andrago-ki-zavod-maribor---ljudska-univerza

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Andragoški zavod Maribor - Ljudska univerza