Kaufmännische Schule Waldshut

What Kaufmännische Schule Waldshut does

Kaufmännische Schule Waldshut (KSWT) is a public vocational and upper-secondary school in Waldshut-Tiengen, Germany, maintained by the Landkreis Waldshut under the Baden-Württemberg Schulgesetz. The institution traces its origins to a Gewerbeschule founded in 1837 and became an independent Handelsschule on 23 August 1921; today it operates across five programme tracks: the three-year Wirtschaftsgymnasium leading to the Abitur; the Kaufmännisches Berufskolleg I+II with practice-firm (Übungsfirma) pedagogy leading to Fachhochschulreife; the Kaufmännische Berufsschule serving approximately 600 dual-system apprentices in commercial trades (industrial clerks, wholesale/foreign-trade clerks, office management, retail, and medical assistants) two days per week; the Wirtschaftsschule and Ausbildungsvorbereitung covering students with and without Hauptschulabschluss; and a work-integrated Bachelor of Arts in Betriebswirtschaft delivered in partnership with FHM Bielefeld on Saturday sessions at the school. Its digital infrastructure comprises WebUntis for scheduling and messaging, Microsoft Office365, a Nextcloud school drive, and a managed device fleet of Apple iPads (students) and Surface devices (staff), with six dedicated computer labs and full intranet coverage since internet access was introduced in 1996.

The school's competitive positioning rests on its Dreiländereck (Germany–Switzerland–France) location, which underpins cross-border credentials (DELF French, EUREGIO certificate, Erasmus+ mobility), and on a composite qualification stack — KMK English, EUREGIO, DELF, Übungsfirma simulation, and work-integrated degree — that is unusual for a rural vocational school. Annual throughput is steady: 48–58 Abiturienten and 131–146 Berufsschule completions per year, with Abitur averages of 2.5–2.6. The school has received consecutive fobizz Schule designations (2024/25 and 2025/26) for digital education adoption and is publicly funded through taxation with no tuition; the only learner-borne cost is a €350 self-sufficiency contribution for Erasmus+ participants, typically reimbursed. As a government institution, KSWT has no commercial revenue model, no investors, and no equity structure; expansion is expressed through programme breadth, international mobility, and digital/AI tooling adoption rather than market entry.

Name

Kaufmännische Schule Waldshut

Legal name

Kaufmännische Schule Waldshut

Website

https://ks-wt.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1837

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kaufmännische Schule Waldshut is a public vocational school in Waldshut-Tiengen, Germany, operated by Landkreis Waldshut, offering Wirtschaftsgymnasium, Berufskolleg, Berufsschule, Wirtschaftsschule, and work-integrated bachelor's programmes to roughly 600 dual-system commercial apprentices and several hundred full-time students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational and Upper Secondary Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Apprenticeship Training (611513), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning (EDAAAOAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK), Internships, Externships & Work-Based Learning Placement (EDAMAKAB), Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF), College & Career Transition Services (Bridge Programs, Dual Enrollment Pathways) (EDAAABAK)

Keywords

• Vocational education services
• Commercial apprenticeship training
• Secondary school education
• Business college programs
• Higher education entrance qualification

Headquarters

HQ city

Waldshut-Tiengen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Kaufmännische Schule Waldshut is a public vocational and upper-secondary school that delivers commercial education across five school types: Wirtschaftsgymnasium (three-year Abitur pathway), Kaufmännisches Berufskolleg I+II (Fachhochschulreife pathway with practice-firm pedagogy), Kaufmännische Berufsschule (part-time dual vocational schooling for ~600 apprentices), Wirtschaftsschule (two-year Realschulabschluss pathway), and Ausbildungsvorbereitung (pre-vocational preparation). It supplements classroom instruction with simulated practice firms (CandyShop, SeduChair), international mobility (Erasmus+ to EU countries), and a work-integrated Bachelor of Arts in Betriebswirtschaft delivered in partnership with FHM Bielefeld.

Product overview

Kaufmännische Schule Waldshut is a vocational and upper-secondary school offering a portfolio of educational programs: the Wirtschaftsgymnasium provides a three-year path to Abitur (general university entrance qualification) with economics profile; the Kaufmännisches Berufskolleg (BK I + BK II) offers a practice-firm-based two-year program leading to Fachhochschulreife; the Kaufmännische Berufsschule serves approximately 600 apprentices across commercial training occupations two days per week; and the Ausbildungsbegleitendes Studium enables apprentices to earn a distance-learning Bachelor of Business Administration in partnership with FHM Bielefeld. Supporting offerings include the Wirtschaftsschule (2-year commercial school for Realschulabschluss), Ausbildungsvorbereitung (vocational preparation), Übungsfirmen (simulated practice firms such as CandyShop and SeduChair), and supplementary qualifications such as KMK certificates, EUREGIO certificates, and DELF French language certification. International programs include Erasmus+ mobility, student exchanges with France (St. Louis near Basel) and DELF preparation. The school also integrates fobizz for AI-powered digital education tools and WebUntis/Nextcloud for school operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wirtschaftsgymnasium (Commercial Gymnasium) Three-year upper secondary programme (Klassen 11–13) leading to the allgemeine Hochschulreife (Abitur) with profile subjects in economics (Volks- und Betriebswirtschaftslehre), German and mathematics as core subjects, and electives including French, Spanish, Italian, sciences, informatics, psychology, and Global Studies. For students aged ~16–19.
• Kaufmännisches Berufskolleg (BK I + II)

Quantifiable outcome

• 146 Auszubildende completed vocational training successfully in 2025; 131 in 2026; 48 Abiturienten graduated in 2026 (average 2.6); 58 Abiturienten in 2025 (average 2.5)
• +4 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

Integration3 records

AI capability2 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fachhochschule des Mittelstands (FHM) BielefeldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKSWT serves as the local Waldshut study centre (Studienzentrum) for FHM Bielefeld's part-time Bachelor of Arts in Betriebswirtschaft. Michael Faller (OStrR) heads the local study centre. Classes are held two Saturdays per month at KSWT. Students apply through the central fernstudium-in-kooperation.de portal and study towards a degree awarded by FHM Bielefeld.
• Travelmania (Austria)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAustrian agency responsible for arranging Erasmus+ internship placements and accommodation for KSWT Auszubildende participating in the EU mobility programme. The agency handles logistical coordination including placement matching and housing in destination countries.
• Günthart (Hohentengen)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGünthart is the partner company of the Berufskolleg I Übungsfirma 'CandyShop'. Students simulate a confectionery import/export business using Günthart as the real commercial reference, gaining authentic trade and logistics experience.
• Sedus Stoll AG (Dogern)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSedus Stoll is the partner company of the Berufskolleg I Übungsfirma 'SeduChair'. The decade-long partnership gives students insights into chair manufacturing and office furniture distribution, with Sedus as the product source for the simulated company.
• Förderverein 'Partner Schule-Wirtschaft e.V.' (Waldshut)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool support association that funds the Azubi Award competition, awards prizes and Lobe to top graduates, and organises the 'Partner – Schule – Wirtschaft' networking forum bringing together business teachers and regional SME entrepreneurs twice yearly since 1988. The Förderverein's board includes representatives from Sparkasse Hochrhein and Villiger Söhne GmbH.
• IHK Hochrhein-Bodensee (Industrial and Commerce Chamber)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides expert jury members for the Azubi Award competition and supports the Berufsorientierungstag. IHK representatives (Alexandra Thoß, Zoé Mielke) participate as evaluators and advisors in school–business cooperation activities.
• Kantonsschule Baden (Switzerland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-border educational partnership established in 1995. Teachers from both schools visit each other's classrooms and discuss pedagogical topics, fostering international professional exchange in the border region.
• Lodi High School (USA) and The Study School Montreal (Canada)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent exchange programmes: Lodi High School (San Francisco area) from 1990–1993, and The Study School Montreal in 1994/95. These historic exchanges provided international cultural immersion for WG students.
• DAA – Deutsche Angestellten-AkademieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDAA is referenced as a support service provider offering language certificates, career orientation, retraining, and IT certification. Their regional office supports KSWT students and the local community with continuing education pathways.
• Regierungspräsidium FreiburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe regional government authority provides funding for cross-border German–French student exchange programmes (Schülerbegegnungen) with the partner school in St. Louis near Basel, including field trips to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
• GWA gemeinnützige GmbH (Waldshut)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGWA gGmbH provides school social work (Schulsozialarbeit) through Rebekka Kredig and youth employment assistance (Jugendberufshilfe) through Katja Uhlenbruck, both based at the school. Funded by Landkreis Waldshut.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kaufmännische Schulen Offenburg: Regional peer in Baden-Württemberg offering the same Kaufmännische Berufsschule, Berufskolleg, and Wirtschaftsgymnasium stack. Operates a similar IHK-aligned apprenticeship model in an adjacent Ortenaukreis catchment.
• Kaufmännische Schulen Konstanz: Another Baden-Württemberg Kaufmännische Schule on the Hochrhein-Bodensee axis, serving a similar commercial-apprenticeship catchment. Directly comparable on Wirtschaftsgymnasium and dual-vocational programmes.
• Kaufmännische Schulen Lörrach: Direct geographic peer: another Kaufmännische Berufsschule in the upper Rhine valley of Baden-Württemberg, offering the same Wirtschaftsgymnasium / Berufskolleg / Berufsschule portfolio. Comparable in size and programme mix to KSWT, with IHK Hochrhein-Bodensee as a shared examination partner.
• Gewerbliche Schulen Waldshut: Co-organiser of the Berufsorientierungstag at Schulzentrum Waldshut and a neighbouring vocational school focusing on technical trades, complementing KSWT's commercial specialisation. Both share the same district catchment and employer network.
• Justus-von-Liebig-Schule Waldshut: Third co-organiser of the Berufsorientierungstag and a neighbouring vocational school in Waldshut-Tiengen (typically agricultural/home economics focus). Operates in the same Schulzentrum ecosystem with shared career-fair infrastructure and overlapping regional employer relationships.

Broad incumbents

• Heinrich-Emanuel-Merck-Schule Darmstadt: Large commercial vocational school in Hessen with a comparable Wirtschaftsgymnasium, Berufskolleg, and Berufsschule portfolio. Larger scale and broader programme mix make it a broader-incumbent benchmark for KSWT's operating model.
• Robert-Bosch-Schule Stuttgart: Large commercial vocational school (Berufliches Schulzentrum) in Stuttgart, offering a broader portfolio of commercial and technical programmes. Compared to KSWT, it operates at materially larger scale with deeper specialisation across commercial trades.
• Max-Eyth-Schule Stuttgart: Commercial vocational school in Stuttgart offering Berufskolleg, Berufsschule and Wirtschaftsgymnasium with a broader specialisation scope. Closely matched on architecture, though at materially larger scale.

Others

• Fachhochschule des Mittelstands (FHM) Bielefeld: Partner institution whose Bachelor of Arts in BWL programme is delivered at KSWT's Saturday seminar centre. FHM is upstream/downstream adjacent rather than a competitor — directly comparable on the work-integrated credential axis.
• IHK Hochrhein-Bodensee: Regional chamber that supplies jury members for the Azubi Award, supports the Berufsorientierungstag, and accredits the apprenticeship examinations. Ecosystem partner rather than competitor, but shapes the regulatory and standards framework KSWT operates within.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kswt.de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/kaufm%C3%A4nnische-schule-waldshut
• Instagraminstagram.com/kswt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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