Institut für Lehrerfortbildung

What Institut für Lehrerfortbildung does

The Institut für Lehrerfortbildung, now operating as the Institut für Religionspädagogik und Lehrkräftefortbildung (IRL Bayern), is a Catholic educational institute headquartered at the former Redemptorist monastery Kloster Gars in Gars am Inn, Bavaria, Germany (Tassilostraße 2). It functions as the central mandated provider of in-service professional development for teachers of Catholic Religious Education across all Bavarian school types (Grundschule, Mittelschule, Realschule, Gymnasium, Berufliche Schule, Förderschule), and was reconstituted as of 1 January 2025 through the succession of the predecessor institutes ILF Gars and RPZ under a unified organizational identity.

The product offering consists of accredited Lehrgänge (continuing education courses) delivered in two modalities: residential programs at the Bildungshaus Kloster Gars site (with integrated accommodation for 62 single-room guests, the Erkersaal plenary venue, and additional seminar and group rooms) and synchronous Lehrgänge Online programs via the institute's virtual learning environment. Specialized tracks include the Qualifizierungslehrgang Schulpastoral (six-module school pastoral qualification), Krisenseelsorge in der Schule (KiS) for crisis intervention, Digitale Horizonte im RU for digital and AI literacy, rBNE modules on education for sustainable development, and interreligious / ecumenical programs developed with university and diocesan partners. Core underlying technology is administrative rather than platform-native: the institute integrates with the Bavarian state's FIBS portal (fibs.alp.dillingen.de) for course registration, uses standard digital tools (Actionbound, TaskCard) within specific modules, and runs a content-driven website (gars-ilf.de / irl-bayern.de). There is no proprietary software platform, mobile app, or API product layer.

The business model is institutional rather than commercial. Revenue derives primarily from public funding allocated under the Bavarian church-state agreement that mandates the institute's central training role, with minor co-payment contributions from participants on selected programs (approximately €25 to €40 per person for offerings such as Unterrichtsstörungen kompetent begegnen and Erlebnispädagogik). Distribution is direct-to-teacher via the FIBS portal and partner venues across Bavaria (including RPZ Heilsbronn, Dillingen, Bernried, Freising, and other diocesan locations); the GTM motion is therefore a state-coordinated captive channel rather than a market-discovered one, and the customer base comprises Catholic RE teachers in Bavaria as a mandated professional audience.

Name

Institut für Lehrerfortbildung

Legal name

Institut für Lehrerfortbildung

Website

https://ilf-gars.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Institut für Lehrerfortbildung (now IRL Bayern) is a Catholic educational institute providing mandated in-service training for Catholic Religious Education teachers across all Bavarian school types, delivering residential programs at Kloster Gars am Inn and online courses via the FIBS portal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Teacher Professional Development Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Teacher Professional Development & In-Service Training Institutes (EDAHAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Instructional Coaching & Teacher Professional Learning (School-Embedded) (EDAJAFAO), Online Teacher Education Universities (Licensure & M.Ed.) (EDAHALAG)

Keywords

• Teacher professional development
• Religious education training
• Catholic theology courses
• In-service teacher training
• School pastoral care training

Headquarters

HQ city

Gars am Inn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. State-Funded Teacher Training: As a publicly funded institute under the Bavarian church-state partnership, IRL Bayern receives institutional funding for providing mandatory and elective professional development for Catholic religious education teachers. Some programs (e.g., Unterrichtsstörungen kompetent begegnen) charge a nominal own contribution fee (approx. €25–40).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

The Institut für Lehrerfortbildung (ILF Gars / IRL Bayern) is the mandated central provider of continuing professional development for Catholic Religious Education teachers in Bavaria, Germany. Operating from the historic Kloster Gars am Inn, the institute delivers accredited in-person residential courses and synchronous online programs covering theology, pedagogy, digital education, school pastoral care, crisis counseling, and interreligious dialogue, organized across all Bavarian school types (Grundschule, Mittelschule, Realschule, Gymnasium, Berufliche Schule, Förderschule).

Product overview

The Institut für Religionspädagogik und Lehrkräftefortbildung (IRL Bayern) provides a comprehensive portfolio of continuing education for religious education teachers in Bavaria. The offering consists of in-person and online courses (Lehrgänge/Lehrgänge Online) across all school types, including specialized programs such as the 'Digitale Horizonte im RU' for digital education, AI integration courses for religious education, 'rBNE konkret' for sustainable development education, 'Qualifizierungslehrgang Schulpastoral' for school pastoral care, 'Krisenseelsorge' for crisis counseling, and digital assessment training. The institute operates from Kloster Gars and collaborates with various dioceses and educational institutions across Bavaria.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lehrgänge (Continuing Education Courses) In-person and online professional development courses for religious education teachers across all Bavarian school types, covering theological, pedagogical, and digital education topics.
• Lehrgänge Online (Online Courses) Virtual continuing education offerings delivered through the institute's online learning platform, enabling remote participation for teachers across Bavaria.
• Digitale Horizonte im RU Year-long training series for 'digital immigrants' exploring AI, digital well-being, and media pedagogical tools like Actionbound, with alternating in-person and online sessions.
• Künstliche Intelligenz im RU - Ziele, Optionen und Konkretionen Course examining AI integration in religious education at vocational schools, covering theological, technological, educational theory and religious didactics perspectives.
• rBNE konkret: Transformative Bildung im Religionsunterricht Module series on religious education for sustainable development (rBNE), focusing on holistic learning and transformative educational processes at vocational schools.
• Qualifizierungslehrgang Schulpastoral Qualification program in school pastoral care with six thematic modules, supervision and project work, covering pastoral theology and school support.
• Krisenseelsorge in der Schule (KiS) Crisis counseling training for school settings, preparing teachers to handle death and mourning situations and establish crisis teams at schools.
• Digitale Leistungserhebungen im RU Digital assessment methods for religious education, covering alternative digital-supported examination formats using tools like digital pinboards.

Quantifiable outcome

• Bundesverdienstkreuz am Bande awarded to Dr. Cecilia Scorza-Lesch on 20.11.2024 for contributions including the 'Klimawandel verstehen und handeln' project.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Kloster Gars / Bildungshaus Kloster GarscoreOthersKloster Gars is both the physical host venue and a close institutional partner. The Bildungshaus Kloster Gars provides the seminar facilities, accommodation (62 guests), dining, and the contemplative atmosphere for residential programs. The institute operates within the historic Redemptorist monastery complex.
• RPZ Heilsbronn (Religionspädagogisches Zentrum Heilsbronn)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRPZ Heilsbronn is a key co-development partner, particularly for the 'Einführungsseminar RUmeK, KoRUk und konfessionssensible Didaktik' program. Both RPZ and IRL Bayern jointly deliver teacher training under the new unified IRL Bayern structure. RPZ Heilsbronn also jointly delivers the Sonderpädagogische Zusatzqualifikation for special education religious teachers.
• LMU München (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Fakultät für Physik)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLMU München developed the MINT-BNE program 'Die blaue Perle' for children ages 6–10, which the institute adapts for religious education contexts. The program combines astronomy, global learning, and climate education with creation theology. IRL Bayern co-delivers 'Die blaue Perle' programs with LMU for Bavarian schools.
• Universität Augsburg (Lehrstuhl für Schulpädagogik)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThomas Gottfried, Academic Director at the Chair of School Pedagogy at Universität Augsburg, is a cooperation partner for the 'Digitale Horizonte im RU' program, providing academic input on school pedagogy and digital education.
• Fachstelle 5.MD - Medien und Digitalität, Erzdiözese München und FreisingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe media and digitality office of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising is a cooperation partner for 'Digitale Horizonte im RU,' contributing expertise on digital tools and applications for religious education.
• BaFiD - Bayerisches Forschungszentrum für Interreligiöse Diskurse an der FAU ErlangenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Bavarian Research Center for Interreligious Discourse at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg cooperates with IRL Bayern on the program 'Zwischen Nähe und Distanz: Judentum, Christentum, Islam,' contributing research findings and materials from the chair of Prof. Georges Tamer.
• Thomas Gottfried, Academic Director, Lehrstuhl für Schulpädagogik, Universität AugsburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndividual academic expert contributing to the 'Digitale Horizonte im RU' program by providing school pedagogical expertise and academic perspective on digital education in religious settings.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pädagogisches Institut der Evangelischen Kirche in Bayern (PIEB): Protestant teacher training institute operating in Bavaria — the confessionally parallel body to IRL Bayern. Comparable in mission (in-service training, school pastoral, curriculum support), geography (Bavaria) and customer base (religious education teachers in Bavarian public schools).
• Pädagogisches Institut Villigst (Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen): Protestant equivalent of IRL Bayern for the Evangelical Church in Westfalen: provides in-service teacher training, curriculum development, and school pastoral support. Structurally identical role for the other major German confession, making it a strong structural twin.
• RPZ Heilsbronn (Religionspädagogisches Zentrum): The Catholic religious education institute that was merged into IRL Bayern on 01.01.2025. Historically a direct peer and now a sister-entity within IRL Bayern, co-delivering Einführungsseminare and Sonderpädagogische Zusatzqualifikation — useful as a structural and operational benchmark.
• Comenius-Institut (Münster): Evangelical center for religious education research, curriculum and teacher training across the EKD. Closely comparable mission to IRL Bayern on the Protestant side: develops religious education materials, advises churches and schools, and runs teacher development programs.
• Pädagogisch-Theologisches Institut der Evangelischen Kirche im Rheinland (PTI Bonn): Protestant teacher training and curriculum institute for the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland. Same operating model as IRL Bayern — central institute providing religious-pedagogical in-service training to teachers across a German Land, including the new digital and interreligious learning themes.
• Akademie für Lehrerfortbildung und Personalführung (ALP) Dillingen: The state-level Bavarian teacher training academy, running the same FIBS portal through which IRL Bayern registers participants. It is the most direct functional peer: comparable mission (in-service teacher training), same customer base (Bavarian teachers), same geography, but broader subject coverage and state rather than church ownership.
• Religionspädagogisches Institut der Erzdiözese München und Freising: The diocesan-level Catholic religious education institute serving the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, overlapping with IRL Bayern's Bavaria-wide mandate at a more local level. Directly comparable in offering type (Fortbildung, Schulpastoral) and customer base (Catholic RE teachers).

Broad incumbents

• Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt (KU): Germany's only Catholic university, training Catholic religious education teachers for Bavarian schools (and beyond). It is a broader incumbent that produces the same teacher base IRL Bayern then upskills in-service — meaning it is both a feeder and a potential competitor in continuing education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institut-f%C3%BCr-lehrerfortbildung

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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