Ljudska univerza Murska Sobota / University for Adult Education of Murska Sobota

What Ljudska univerza Murska Sobota / University for Adult Education of Murska Sobota does

Ljudska univerza Murska Sobota (LUMS) is a public non-profit adult education institution (zavod) founded in 1960 and headquartered at Slomškova ulica 33, Murska Sobota, Slovenia, serving the Pomurje region in the country's northeast. The institution delivers a portfolio spanning formal adult primary education (Osnovna šola za odrasle), foreign and Slovenian-as-second-language courses with certified proficiency exams, professional and vocational training, life-skills programs, community-based study circles (študijski krožki), project-based learning for NEET youth aged 15-26 (PUM-O+), immigrant integration (ZIP), digital literacy (DigiZvem, DIGILand), senior learning (UTŽO), and a counseling center (Svetovalno središče). Delivery modes include in-person instruction at headquarters and satellite community locations, partner-organization delivery through municipalities and the Employment Service of Slovenia, and growing online/distance delivery.

The business model is a hybrid of government transfers, EU project grants, and fee-based services. Core funding flows from the Slovenian Ministry of Education (MIZŠ) via the national adult education coordinator Andragoški center Slovenije (ACS) and from European programs including the European Social Fund Plus (ESS+), Erasmus+, and Rural Development funds. Active multi-year projects include SPIN Pomurje 2025-2029, Temeljne kompetence 2023-2029, VNRC+ Pomurje, and Erasmus+ partnerships (CT:VR, SenSyn). Fee-based revenue from language courses, Slovenian proficiency exam fees, and specialized training is published in the Cenik storitev LUMS price list, but many programs are offered free of charge to target groups (unemployed persons, immigrants, NEET youth) under public funding. The institution holds the ACS Green Quality Mark, is a member of Zveza ljudskih univerz Slovenije (ZLUS), and is led by Director Dejan Dravec with a small core staff supplemented by project-funded personnel.

Name

Ljudska univerza Murska Sobota / University for Adult Education of Murska Sobota

Legal name

Ljudska univerza Murska Sobota, Zavod za permanentno izobraževanje

Website

https://lums.si

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ljudska univerza Murska Sobota (LUMS) is a public non-profit adult education institution in Murska Sobota, Slovenia, delivering formal education, language, vocational, and community learning programs to adults, unemployed persons, immigrants, NEET youth, and seniors in the Pomurje region, funded primarily by the Slovenian Ministry of Education and EU programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Newcomer & Refugee Student Support Programs (EDAJAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Specialized Homework Support & Academic Coaching (Remediation-Focused) (EDAKADAJ)

Keywords

• Adult education
• Lifelong learning
• Vocational training
• Language courses
• Community learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Murska Sobota

HQ country

Slovenia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-funded adult education programs: Core revenue comes from government-funded adult education programs coordinated through the Ministry of Education (MIZŠ) and Andragoški center Slovenije. Programs include formal adult education (Osnovna šola za odrasle), professional training, and study circles.
2. EU project funding: Significant funding from European Union programs including Erasmus+, European Social Fund (ESS+), and rural development funds. Projects include SPIN Pomurje, Temeljne kompetence, VNRC+, PUM-O+, and various skills training programs.
3. Fee-based courses and services: Revenue from fee-based language courses, exam fees (e.g., Slovenian language proficiency exams), preparation courses for matura exams, and other specialized training programs. A price list (Cenik storitev LUMS) is published for services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LUMS is a public adult-education institution delivering formal primary education for adults (Osnovna šola za odrasle), foreign-language courses for adults, professional training (Strokovno usposabljanje) — including programs for the unemployed — life-success training (Usposabljanje za življenjsko uspešnost), community-based Study Circles, the PUM-O+ project for younger adults, and a Counseling Center (Svetovalno središče). It supplements these with EU- and government-funded inclusion projects such as Temeljne kompetence, DigiZvem, ZIP, Socialna aktivacija+, and SPIN Pomurje, all published with a formal Cenik storitev (price list).

Product overview

Ljudska univerza Murska Sobota operates as an adult education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and programs. The core offerings include formal education (Osnovna šola za odrasle), language courses, professional training, and life skills programs. These are delivered alongside community-based learning groups (Študijski krožki), career counseling services, and specialized programs for vulnerable populations including immigrants (ZIP) and unemployed adults. The institution manages multiple EU-funded projects (2023-2029 Basic Competences, SPIN Pomurje, Erasmus+ partnerships) and coordinates national campaigns like Tedni vseživljenjskega učenja. The overall architecture is a platform-and-project model where core educational services are supplemented by time-bound funded initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Osnovna šola za odrasle (Primary School for Adults) Formal primary education program for adults who did not complete elementary school, leading to a publicly recognized primary-education certificate. Targeted at adult residents of the Pomurje region seeking to obtain or complete their basic education.
• Tuji jeziki za odrasle (Foreign Languages for Adults) Foreign-language courses for adults, including language training commonly used for integration, employment, and personal development. Available to general adult learners and to immigrants/refugees seeking Slovenian-language acquisition.
• Programi usposabljanja za brezposelne (Training Programs for the Unemployed) Vocational training programs commissioned for unemployed adults, typically delivered in cooperation with the Employment Service of Slovenia and supported by active-labour-market financing (ESS+). Aimed at re-skilling long-term unemployed persons.
• Usposabljanje za življenjsko uspešnost (Training for Life Success) A life-skills activation program targeting unemployed and socially excluded adults, focused on motivation, self-management, communication, and reintegration into education or employment.
• Študijski krožki (Study Circles) Community-based non-formal study circles organized in partnership with local organizations across the Pomurje region, supporting active citizenship, third-age learning, and personal development topics.
• PUM-O+ (Projektno učenje mlajših odraslih plus) A project-based learning program for NEET young adults aged 15–26, structured around real-life projects in the community to re-engage participants with education and the labour market. Delivered in cooperation with schools and social-work partners.
• Svetovalno središče (Counseling Center) Free counseling service for adults seeking guidance on education pathways, career development, and learning opportunities, delivered as part of LUMS's adult-education mandate.

Quantifiable outcome

• PUM-O program has been operating successfully for 22+ years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Partnerships

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

• Andragoški center Slovenije (ACS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACS serves as the national coordinator for adult education in Slovenia. LUMS collaborates with ACS on program development, quality standards, the Tedni vseživljenjskega učenja (TVU) national campaign, and ACS Recognition awards. ACS provides methodological guidance and co-funding through national programs.
• Republika Slovenija / Ministry of Education (MIZŠ)coreOthersThe Ministry of Education funds adult education programs including Osnovna šola za odrasle, study circles (studijski krožki), and PUM-O. LUMS operates under ministerial guidelines and participates in ministry-coordinated initiatives. The ministry sets curriculum standards and certification frameworks.
• European Union / European Social Fund Plus (ESS+)coreOthersEU co-funding supports multiple LUMS projects including SPIN Pomurje 2025-2029, Temeljne kompetence 2023-2029, and various training programs. EU funds are channeled through national operational programs and direct project grants. The EU flag and reference to Evropska sredstva appear on LUMS communications.
• Srednja šola za gostinstvo in turizem MaribormajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading partner in the 'Ekološki mlečni izdelki in zelišča iz Goričkega v trajnostni prehranski verigi' project under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. Jointly develops culinary and agricultural training programs with LUMS.
• Zavod za zaposlovanje (Employment Service of Slovenia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates training programs for unemployed persons. LUMS delivers professional training under programs like Usposabljanje za brezposelne and participates in SPIN Pomurje, a program co-funded by the Employment Service targeting unemployed individuals in the Pomurje region.
• Občina TišinaminorOthersLocal municipality supports study circle activities in Tišina. The Študijski krožek Tišina received a letter of thanks (zahvalna listina) from the municipality recognizing 20 years of community service.
• Turmanova kmetija (Marjan Ficko)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the rural development project on Goričko. Hosts educational workshops on traditional food preservation, including cabbage fermentation. Contributes to culinary heritage preservation and agritourism education.
• Posestvo Vidov brejg (Tatjana Buzeti)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in rural development project. Hosts educational workshops on herb cultivation, essential oil distillation, and sustainable agriculture. The estate serves as a learning venue for study circles and vocational training participants.
• Center za krepitev zdravja Murska SobotaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on health education initiatives including brain week activities, sleep awareness programs, and general wellness education. Jointly organizes events during TVU and community health promotion activities.
• Zveza ljudskih univerz Slovenije (ZLUS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association of people's universities in Slovenia. LUMS participates in ZLUS conferences and events, collaborating with other adult education institutions across the country on shared initiatives and policy advocacy.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ljudska univerza Ptuj: People's university serving the Ptuj area in the same Podravje/Pomurje macro-region as LUMS. Delivers overlapping programs (adult basic education, study circles, EU project participation) under identical public-sector regulatory framework.
• Ljudska univerza Velenje: People's university serving the Šalek Valley with adult basic education, vocational training, study circles, and lifelong learning programs. Operates the same publicly-funded ljudska univerza model and is a direct regional peer within the ZLUS network.
• Ljudska univerza Celje: People's university in the Savinjska region with comprehensive adult education, language, and vocational training offerings. Comparable scale and program depth to LUMS, with the same ljudska univerza structural model and ZLUS affiliation.
• Ljudska univerza Koper: People's university serving the coastal Slovenian-Italian region with similar adult education, language certification, and EU project portfolio. Comparable in scope and funding model to LUMS, with similar dependence on MIZŠ and ESS+ funding.
• Ljudska univerza Maribor: One of the largest ljudske univerze (people's universities) in Slovenia, serving the Podravje region with the same model of adult primary education, language courses, study circles, and EU-funded project delivery. Closest operational peer to LUMS given shared ZLUS membership and comparable program portfolio.
• Cene Štupar - Center za permanentno izobraževanje Ljubljana: Ljubljana-based ljudska univerza (people's university) offering adult basic education, language courses, study circles, and EU project delivery in the capital. Operates the most similar publicly-funded model to LUMS at a larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Andragoški center Slovenije (ACS): The national coordinator for adult education in Slovenia, operating as a broader incumbent across the entire sector. ACS sets quality standards, coordinates the TVU national campaign, and provides methodological guidance that LUMS and all other ljudske univerze operate within.

Others

• Zveza ljudskih univerz Slovenije (ZLUS): National association of all Slovenian people's universities. Functions as the peer network, policy advocate, and convening body that LUMS participates in; not a direct competitor but a core ecosystem participant shaping the ljudska univerza model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LUMS1960
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ljudskauniverzams
• Facebookfacebook.com/lums1960
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lums1960
• Instagraminstagram.com/ljudska_univerza_murska_sobota

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ljudska univerza Murska Sobota / University for Adult Education of Murska Sobota