kvhs Ammerland und kvhs Ammerland gGmbH

What kvhs Ammerland und kvhs Ammerland gGmbH does

kvhs Ammerland is a public adult education institution (Kreisvolkshochschule) operated by the Landkreis Ammerland district in Lower Saxony, Germany, operating alongside a nonprofit subsidiary, Kreisvolkshochschule Ammerland gGmbH (HRB 121529). The institution delivers continuing education across ten program areas — Gesellschaft, Pädagogik, Zielgruppe, Grundbildung, Gesundheit, Beruf und IT, Sprachen, Deutsch lernen, Kulturelle Bildung, and Online — and manages over 100 active funded projects spanning integration, youth employment, digital learning, democratic participation, and healthcare. Specialized offerings include BAMF-funded integration courses (up to B1, with 600 language hours plus 100 hours of orientation), Berufssprachkurse DeuFöV (up to B2), and the dedicated Tourismus-Akademie Nordwest for hospitality professionals. Operations span six physical locations across the district (Westerstede HQ plus Rastede, Bad Zwischenahn, Edewecht, Apen, Wiefelstede), supported by a responsive website with online registration, shopping cart, participant portal, and the Stud.IP learning platform.

The revenue model combines per-course participant fees (€69.80–€102.10 tiered by minimum enrollment, plus a €5 enrollment fee, with discounts of 25–75% for trainees, students, volunteers, ALG I/II recipients, and integration course participants at €2.29/teaching unit) with public funding flows from Landkreis Ammerland, Land Niedersachsen (under the Niedersächsisches Erwachsenenbildungsgesetz), BAMF, and ESF/nbank project grants. The institution is explicitly not self-sustaining from course fees alone. Marketing is multi-channel — printed program booklet distributed to households, website, Facebook/Instagram/YouTube/WhatsApp, email newsletter, and local press — and distribution occurs through in-person registration, mail/fax, online self-service, and partnerships with municipalities, schools, and employers. AZAV and ISO 9001 certifications underpin eligibility for state and federal program funding.

Leadership consists of Director and gGmbH Managing Director Winfried Krüger, supported by deputy heads for commercial administration (Imke Reimers, Prokuristin) and pedagogy (Tina Etling), plus department heads for Mensch und Gesellschaft/Sprachen (Frank Ritterhoff), Pädagogik/Deutsch als Zweitsprache (Stefanie Meyer), and project coordination (Silvia Meyerjürgens). The institution is affiliated with VHS Niedersachsen and the Bundesverband der Volkshochschulen, and cooperates with VHS Leer on a coaching qualification program.

Name

kvhs Ammerland und kvhs Ammerland gGmbH

Legal name

Kreisvolkshochschule Ammerland und Kreisvolkshochschule Ammerland gGmbH (kvhs)

Website

https://kvhs-ammerland.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Public adult education center (Kreisvolkshochschule) in the Ammerland district of Lower Saxony, Germany, offering ten program areas and 100+ funded projects in language, integration, vocational, health, and cultural education across six locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult and Continuing Education

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Community & Adult Education (Municipal/Community Schools) (EDAAAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs (EDAAAEAL), Language & Communication Continuing Education (EDAAAEAF), ESL Literacy & Foundational English (Pre-beginner/Alphabetics) (EDAAACAB)

Keywords

• Adult education
• Continuing education
• Language courses
• Integration courses
• Vocational training

Headquarters

HQ city

Westerstede, Lower Saxony

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Course Fees (Kursentgelte): Participants pay course fees on a per-course basis. Fees are tiered by minimum participant count (e.g., 10+ participants: €69.80; 8-9: €89.18; 7: €102.10 per course). An enrollment fee of €5.00 is included in each course fee. Discounts are available for trainees, students, volunteers (25%), unemployed persons on ALG I (50%), and persons on ALG II or social assistance (75%, or free for 2 courses per year). The kvhs is not self-sustaining from fees alone.
2. Government Funding (Landkreis and Land Niedersachsen): The kvhs receives ongoing financial support from the Landkreis Ammerland (district) and the State of Lower Saxony. State funding is governed by the Niedersächsisches Erwachsenenbildungsgesetz (Lower Saxony Adult Education Act) and is provided only for eligible courses that meet minimum participant thresholds. Additional public funding comes through federal programs (e.g., BAMF for integration courses, ESF for employment projects).
3. Integration Course Fees (BAMF-Funded): Integration courses are funded by the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF). Participants pay €2.29 per lesson unit, though those receiving ALG II or social assistance can be exempted. BAMF covers the remainder of the cost.
4. Project-Based Funding (ESF, BAMF, Federal/State Programs): Numerous projects are funded through external grants including ESF (European Social Fund), BAMF, federal equality programs (Demokratie Leben), and state initiatives. Examples include MArTA, FaB-AiD, ZAPPA, GLoRiA, KOMPASS, and many others listed in the project portfolio.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

kvhs Ammerland is a publicly funded adult education institution that delivers continuing education courses across 10 program areas including society, pedagogy, health, careers/IT, languages, German integration, cultural education, and online learning to residents of the Ammerland district in Lower Saxony, Germany. Its core services include BAMF-funded integration courses (German language up to B1, orientation), occupational language courses (DeuFöV up to B2), the specialized Tourismus-Akademie Nordwest for hospitality training, and a broad project portfolio (100+ funded projects) addressing youth employment, digital literacy, and social participation.

Product overview

kvhs Ammerland is a public adult education center (Kreisvolkshochschule) offering a comprehensive educational platform with course programs spanning society, pedagogy, health, careers/IT, languages, German integration, and cultural education. The core offerings include integration courses (BAMF-funded), occupational language courses (DeuFöV), and the specialized Tourismus-Akademie Nordwest for hospitality training. Digital learning is supported through the Stud.IP learning platform, online offerings, and the eL4 digital learning initiative. The organization also operates extensive project-based programs for vocational training, integration support, school-to-career transitions, and youth support. Course delivery occurs across multiple locations in the Ammerland district (Westerstede, Bad Zwischenahn, Edewecht, Rastede, Apen) and via online channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kursprogramm / Bildungsprogramm (Continuing Education Course Program) Comprehensive adult education course program covering society, pedagogy, health, careers/IT, languages, German learning, cultural education, and online courses for residents of the Ammerland district in Lower Saxony. Delivered through the headquarters in Westerstede and branch offices.
• Integrationskurse (Integration Courses) BAMF-funded German language and orientation courses for immigrants and refugees, providing instruction up to B1 CEFR level covering German history, culture, and legal system, plus preparation for the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer and Leben in Deutschland tests. Participants pay €2.29 per teaching unit; ALG II/social assistance recipients can be exempted; Spätaussiedler pay no fee.
• Berufssprachkurse (DeuFöV) - Occupational Language Courses BAMF-funded occupational German language courses up to CEFR B2 level with bridge elements, designed to improve employment and training market opportunities for immigrants and refugees.
• Tourismus-Akademie Nordwest Special-purpose training academy within kvhs Ammerland offering tourism and hospitality professional development, including management, marketing, specialist training, bar/cocktail skills, social media, and educational leave courses for industry professionals.
• Online-Angebote (Online Learning Courses) Virtual learning offerings accessible remotely, including video courses, webinars, and interactive online sessions for various subjects in the adult education program.

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• VHS LeerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with VHS Leer for the Systemische Beratung (Systemic Counseling) / Qualifizierung zum Coach (Coach Qualification) program. The two adult education centers jointly offer a coaching qualification course, with VHS Leer contributing its expertise and the kvhs Ammerland facilitating registration and local delivery.
• VHS Niedersachsen (Landesverband)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation with the state-level association of adult education centers in Lower Saxony (VHS in Niedersachsen). Promotional logo displayed on the website footer alongside other regional partners.
• BBV-VHS (Bundesverband der Volkshochschulen)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation with the German Federal Association of Adult Education Centers (Bundesverband der Volkshochschulen). Promotional logo displayed on the website.
• Tourismus-Akademie NordwestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Tourismus-Akademie Nordwest is a key special-purpose institution within kvhs Ammerland, offering specialized training programs for the tourism and hospitality industries. It provides courses in marketing, management, law, social media, language for tourism, and cocktail/bar skills. It is listed as a separate program area with its own course catalog.
• Landkreis AmmerlandcoreOthersThe kvhs is an institution of the Landkreis Ammerland (district). The district provides ongoing financial support and governance through the Kreistag (district council) and a advisory board (Beirat). The district treasury handles SEPA direct debit collection for course fees.
• Land Niedersachsen (State of Lower Saxony)coreOthersState funding provided under the Niedersächsisches Erwachsenenbildungsgesetz (Lower Saxony Adult Education Act). State funds are allocated only for eligible courses meeting minimum participant thresholds. State funding is a core component of kvhs Ammerland's operating model.
• Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF)coreOthersBAMF funds and regulates integration courses and professional language courses (Berufssprachkurse DeuFöV) delivered by kvhs Ammerland. The kvhs must report participant data to BAMF. BAMF approval and funding are prerequisites for offering these courses.
• Europäischer Sozialfonds (ESF) / nbankcoreOthersMany kvhs Ammerland projects are co-funded by the European Social Fund through the nbank (Niedersachsen's development bank). ESF-funded projects include MArTA, GLoRiA, KOMPASS, and numerous others in the project portfolio.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Volkshochschule Osnabrück: City VHS in Lower Saxony operating under the same state Adult Education Act. Comparable scale (multi-thousand courses per year), multi-channel delivery, and project portfolio structure (ESF, BAMF-funded). Strongly comparable in mission and program breadth.
• Volkshochschule Hannover: Large regional VHS serving the Hannover region in Lower Saxony. Same funding model (state + municipal), full program catalog, and project-based funded initiatives; represents the scaled-up analog of what kvhs Ammerland offers.
• Volkshochschule Leer: Adjacent district VHS in East Frisia, Lower Saxony. Already a cooperation partner of kvhs Ammerland for the Systemische Beratung coach qualification; comparable statutory remit, course fee model, and program areas, making it the closest operational peer.
• Volkshochschule Wilhelmshaven: Lower Saxony district VHS serving Wilhelmshaven. Same statutory framework, similar BAMF integration course delivery, AZAV certification, and tiered course pricing; competes for state-level program designations.
• Volkshochschule Bremen: State-level VHS for the city-state of Bremen, adjacent to Lower Saxony. Operates a similar statutory adult education program with integration courses and Berufssprachkurse under BAMF funding; useful peer for benchmarking program scope and online learning delivery.
• Volkshochschule Oldenburg: Neighboring municipal adult education center in the same Lower Saxony state. Operates under the same Niedersächsisches Erwachsenenbildungsgesetz statutory framework, offers similar 10-area program structure (Gesellschaft, Sprachen, Beruf, Gesundheit, Kultur), and competes for the same regional learner pool around Ammerland's borders.

Emerging players

• BBQ Berufliche Bildung GmbH: Privately operated continuing education provider active in Lower Saxony with AZAV-certified vocational programs. Competes for the same ESF/employment-project funding and BAMF integration course delivery as kvhs Ammerland, but as a for-profit operator with broader geographic reach.

Others

• Volkshochschulen Landesverband Niedersachsen: State-level association of which kvhs Ammerland is a member. Provides political representation, coordination of state funding, and shared services to all VHS institutions in Lower Saxony — including the same frameworks used by kvhs Ammerland.

Broad incumbents

• Deutsche Angestellten-Akademie (DAA): National adult education and vocational training provider in Germany with significant BAMF integration course and Berufssprachkurs delivery. Operates a much broader portfolio than kvhs Ammerland but competes for the same government-funded adult learner segments.
• WBS Training AG: Large German private training provider specializing in professional development, IT/digital skills, and AZAV-certified programs funded by BA, ESF, and BAMF. Competes with kvhs Ammerland's Beruf und IT program area for funded adult upskilling contracts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJ8vDTyT6om1dvY09KTUjEA
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/category/Community-College/Kreisvolkshochschule-Ammerland-106403756090356
• Instagraminstagram.com/kvhsammerland/?hl=de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kvhs-ammerland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about kvhs Ammerland und kvhs Ammerland gGmbH