ibW Höhere Fachschule Südostschweiz

What ibW Höhere Fachschule Südostschweiz does

ibW Höhere Fachschule Südostschweiz is a private higher vocational education institution headquartered in Chur, Graubünden, Switzerland, founded in 1990 and operating across five physical campuses (Chur, Maienfeld, Sargans, Ziegelbrücke, Samedan) with specialty co-located centers including the Schule für Gestaltung Graubünden, Bildungszentrum Wald, AGVS-Zentrum (automotive), and HWSGR (business). It positions itself as one of the largest Höhere Fachschulen in Switzerland, delivering over 100 federally recognized part-time diploma programs spanning business administration, information technology, automotive and electrical technology, forestry, wood/construction/energy trades, design, and hairdressing, alongside approximately 200 specialist courses, seminars, language programs, post-diploma studies (NDS HF), corporate training (Firmenseminare), and a Juniors Academy for younger learners. The institution is ISO 9001, ISO 21001, and eduQua certified.

The underlying technology platform is the open-source OpenOlat learning management system, hosted at openolat.ibw.ch, complemented by an in-house Blended Learning Center (BLC) that operationalizes digital and hybrid course delivery. Pricing is denominated in Swiss Francs across four distinct streams: semester-based diploma fees (CHF 2,190–CHF 8,420 per semester), full program/certificate fees (CHF 1,390–CHF 16,000), individual short courses and seminars (CHF 110–CHF 990), and language courses (~CHF 620 per course). Corporate training is delivered as customized Firmenseminare. Distribution is event-driven and campus-driven, with acquisition primarily through info evenings (Infoabend), free Beratungsgespräche, public events (including the Wirtschaftsforum Südostschweiz), newsletter marketing, and an extensive web catalog of 376 offerings. Record institutional throughput is evidenced by 166 HF diplomas awarded in a single year.

The customer base consists of working professionals seeking career advancement, trade and technical practitioners pursuing federal certifications (eidg. Fachausweis), and business/management personnel pursuing HF Betriebswirtschaft credentials, served alongside a smaller corporate-training segment. No parent company, equity investors, or external funding are identified in the source data, and the institution appears to operate autonomously, likely under Swiss vocational education governance frameworks. No financial figures are disclosed, and ownership commentary indicates no external capital structure.

Name

ibW Höhere Fachschule Südostschweiz

Legal name

ibW Höhere Fachschule Südostschweiz

Website

https://ibw.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

ibW Höhere Fachschule Südostschweiz is a Swiss private vocational higher education institution operating across five campuses in southeastern Switzerland, delivering over 100 federally recognized part-time diploma programs, ~200 specialist courses, language training, corporate seminars, and digital learning for working professionals, tradespeople, and businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Vocational Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional & Executive Short Courses (Non-Degree, International) (EDAIAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Academic Program Housing (Study Abroad, Language Schools, Field Schools) (THAMAGAE)

Keywords

• Vocational education
• Continuing education
• Higher vocational training
• Professional development courses
• Diploma programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Chur, Graubünden

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Semester-based Course Fees: Primary revenue stream from semester-based tuition fees for diploma programs (HF - Höhere Fachschule). Fees vary by program, ranging from approximately CHF 2,190 to CHF 16,000 per program or semester.
2. Individual Course and Seminar Fees: Revenue from individual short courses, seminars, and specialist courses ranging from CHF 110 to CHF 9,000 depending on duration and type.
3. Language Course Fees: Revenue from language courses offered in German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, and other languages, typically priced at CHF 620 per course.
4. Company/Corporate Training: Revenue from customized firm seminars (Firmenseminare) and specialized corporate training programs for businesses and organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ibW Höhere Fachschule Südostschweiz is a Swiss higher vocational school that delivers federally recognized HF diploma programs, post-diploma studies (NDS HF), specialist short courses and seminars, language courses, and customized corporate training. Programs span business administration, information technology, building/energy technology, forestry, wood/construction, design, hairdressing, and management, primarily delivered part-time to working professionals across five regional campuses plus online formats.

Product overview

ibW Höhere Fachschule Südostschweiz is one of Switzerland's largest Höhere Fachschulen, offering a multi-product portfolio of vocational education and continuing education programs. The core offering consists of over 100 recognized, part-time HF diploma programs across disciplines including Business Administration (Betriebswirtschaft), Information Technology (Technik & Informatik), Forestry (Wald), Wood/Construction/Energy (Holz, Bau & Energie), Design (Schule für Gestaltung), and Hairdressing (Coiffure). These are supplemented by approximately 200 short courses and seminars (Fachkurse & Seminare), language programs (Sprachkurse), post-diploma studies (Nachdiplomstudien NDS HF), youth programs (Juniors Academy), and corporate training (Firmenseminare). The institution operates multiple campuses in Chur, Sargans, Maienfeld, and Ziegelbrücke, with digital learning delivered via the OpenOlat platform. Advisory services (Beratung & Infoabende) and accommodation/gastronomy services support the educational programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Höhere Fachschule (HF) Diploma Programs
• Nachdiplomstudien (NDS HF)
• Fachkurse & Seminare
• Sprachkurse (Language Courses)
• Kurse für Ausbildende (Train-the-Trainer)
• Firmenseminare (Corporate Training)
• Juniors Academy

Quantifiable outcome

• 166 HF diplomas awarded in record year
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record.

• HWSGR (Höhere Wirtschaftsschule Graubünden)OthersHWSGR (Höhere Wirtschaftsschule Graubünden) operates as an integrated part of the ibW network at the Chur location, offering business and economics programs as part of the broader higher vocational school offering.
• AGVS-Zentrum ChurOthersAGVS-Zentrum (Garage and Automotive trades training center) operates as a specialized location under ibW in Chur, providing automotive technical training aligned with ibW's technical education offerings.
• kv edupoolTechnology or IntegrationibW offers programs in partnership with kv edupool including Handelsschule kv edupool, Sachbearbeiter programs in various disciplines, and Höheres Wirtschaftsdiplom (HWD) kv edupool, integrating standardized business education content.
• SQS (Schweizerische Vereinigung für Qualitäts- und Managementstandards)OthersSQS provides ISO 21001 and ISO 9001 quality certifications to ibW, demonstrating institutional quality management standards.
• alice.ch (Swiss Association for Adult Learning)Othersalice.ch awards eduQua certification to ibW, the Swiss quality label for adult education institutions.
• ibW Förderverein (Support Association)OthersibW Förderverein is a support association that promotes and supports the vocational education of the region, providing community and advocacy support for ibW's mission.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fernfachhochschule Schweiz (FFHS): Switzerland's leading distance-learning university of applied sciences, offering fully online HF-adjacent and federal continuing education programs. Comparable on adult professional education but with a more digital-native operating model.
• Benedict Schools: Swiss private school group offering HF and continuing education in business, technology, and healthcare. Comparable in private Swiss vocational model, multi-campus presence, and part-time diploma offerings for adults.
• BVS Business Village: Swiss private vocational school focused on business and management HF programs for working professionals. Highly comparable in target segment (career-advancing adults) and HF diploma offerings in Betriebswirtschaft.
• HSO Wirtschafts- und Informatikschule: Swiss private school focused on business and IT vocational education with multiple campuses. Comparable in private-school model, modular course catalog, and target learner (working professionals seeking federal credentials).
• AKAD Bildungsgesellschaft: One of Switzerland's largest private education providers, offering HF-equivalent and adult continuing education across business, technology, and languages. Comparable in adult-learner focus, broad program catalog, and hybrid (online + classroom) delivery.
• WISS Schulen für Wirtschaft, Informatik und Sicherheit: Swiss private vocational school offering HF diplomas, business, and IT programs in a part-time, work-compatible format. Closely comparable in target market (working professionals), program mix (HF + Fachkurse), and Swiss private-school positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Kalaidos Fachhochschule: Swiss private university of applied sciences operating multiple member schools across business, healthcare, and education. Comparable in Swiss private higher-education model and adult-learner focus, but with degree-granting FH status and national footprint.
• FHNW (Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz): Major public university of applied sciences in Northwestern Switzerland offering HF, FH, and continuing education programs. Comparable in vocational/higher-education focus but with substantially larger scale and public funding.
• HWZ Hochschule für Wirtschaft Zürich: Larger Swiss private university of applied sciences in business and management. Comparable in continuing education and HF-style credentials, but operates at a broader, more national scale than ibW's regional model.
• ZHAW (Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften): One of Switzerland's largest public universities of applied sciences, with extensive continuing education and applied bachelor/master programs. Comparable in Swiss continuing-education and applied learning space, but at significantly larger, publicly funded scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/ibw-h%C3%B6here-fachschule-s%C3%BCdostschweiz

Compliance3 records

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 ibW Höhere Fachschule Südostschweiz