What SOSU Syd does

SOSU Syd (legal name: Social- og Sundhedsskolen Syd) is a publicly funded Danish vocational education institution headquartered in Aabenraa, Denmark, founded in 1991 and operating with approximately 105 employees. The school delivers accredited vocational training programs across social and healthcare education, including Social- og sundhedshjælper (SSH, ~2 years), Social- og sundhedsassistent (SSA, ~3 years 8 months), Pædagogisk assistent (PAU, ~2 years 11 months), the DigiTech specialization (welfare technology-focused SSA variant), and EUX-velfærd (4 years 6 months combined high school diploma and SSA qualification). It also delivers continuing education (efteruddannelse) and flexible training modules (FSSH) for currently employed healthcare and social workers, alongside the EU-co-financed 'Fælles om Fremtiden' project aligned with the Danish elderly reform. Core technology infrastructure comprises Microsoft Office 365 deployment, digital learning platforms, a podcast series ('SOSU Syd som lyd' with PAU-cast and Elev-lyd spinoffs), and a library transformed into a learning environment with simulation rooms and technology workshops; the school has also published AI usage guidelines for students.

The institution operates under a public-sector governance model with no private ownership, venture capital, or equity holders. Revenue is derived entirely from Danish public educational mandates — primarily state funding plus municipal contributions — making this a regulated, non-commercial revenue model rather than a subscription or transactional business. The school's go-to-market is event- and partnership-driven: recruitment via the school's own website (sosusyd.dk), Instagram (@sosu_syd), open house events ('Åbent hus for voksne'), and direct municipal and high school collaborations (notably Haderslev Katedralskole since August 2023). Distribution is direct on-campus at the Aabenraa headquarters and Sønderborg branch (Alsion), supplemented by municipal training placements (praktik) across the four partner municipalities and Region Syddanmark. Customer segments are split between individual students (young vocational learners and adult continuing education learners) and institutional counterparties (the four municipalities and Region Syddanmark that employ graduates and co-develop curriculum). Board governance includes appointees from Region Syddanmark (chairman Allan Emiliussen), Aabenraa Kommune (vice chair Michael Christensen), FOA Sønderjylland (trade union), and staff/student representatives, with Director Lotte Dalegaard Pedersen and Vice Director Louise Gerber Pedersen leading daily operations.

Name

SOSU Syd

Legal name

Social- og Sundhedsskolen Syd

Website

https://sosusyd.dk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

SOSU Syd is a publicly funded Danish vocational school in Aabenraa, Southern Denmark, delivering accredited social and healthcare education programs (SSH, SSA, PAU, DigiTech, EUX-velfærd) and continuing education for healthcare and social care workers across four partner municipalities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education Services

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Nursing & Allied Health Certification Prep (CNA, EMT/Paramedic, Radiology, Sonography, PT/OT) (EDANAIAB)

Keywords

• Vocational healthcare education
• Social care training
• Welfare technology education
• Continuing professional development
• Pedagogical assistant training

Headquarters

HQ city

Aabenraa

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Vocational Education Funding: As a publicly funded vocational education institution under Danish law, SOSU Syd receives government funding for delivering accredited social and healthcare education programs. Revenue is derived from public educational mandates rather than commercial sales.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SOSU Syd is a publicly funded Danish vocational school delivering accredited social and healthcare education programs, including Social- og sundhedshjælper (SSH), Social- og sundhedsassistent (SSA), Pædagogisk assistent (PAU), the Digi Tech welfare technology track, and EUX-velfærd. It also provides continuing education (Efteruddannelse) for employed healthcare workers across Southern Denmark. Educational delivery combines classroom instruction, simulation rooms, technology workshops, and municipal practical training placements.

Product overview

SOSU Syd (Social- og Sundhedsskolen Syd) is a vocational education institution in Aabenraa, Denmark, offering a portfolio of healthcare and social care training programs. The core product portfolio includes: Grundforløb (foundational vocational training) serving as the entry phase; Social- og sundhedshjælper (SSH, approximately 2 years) for direct citizen care; Social- og sundhedsassistent (SSA, approximately 3 years 8 months) for advanced healthcare roles; the specialized Digi Tech track combining SSA training with digitalization and welfare technology focus; Pædagogisk assistent (PAU, approximately 2 years 11 months) for childcare and pedagogical settings; and EUX-velfærd combining high school completion with SSA qualification over 4 years 6 months. Supporting services include podcast series (SOSU Syd som lyd, Elev-lyd, and PAU-cast), a library and IT resource center, and continuing education offerings. The institution also runs the Fælles om Fremtiden project addressing elderly care reform through EU-co-funded educational development. The programs operate through a network of school-based instruction and workplace training (praktik) partnerships with municipalities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fælles om Fremtiden: EU-co-financed project strengthening education and training on social and healthcare programs in response to new eldercare legislation.
• Digi Tech

Products and services

• Social- og sundhedshjælper (SSH) A vocational education program training students to provide direct care and assistance to citizens in their own homes and at care centers. Takes approximately 2 years to complete. Targeted at young people entering social and healthcare careers.
• Social- og sundhedsassistent (SSA) A higher-level vocational education qualifying students to provide care and health services at hospitals, home care, and nursing homes. Takes approximately 3 years and 8 months to complete. Targeted at students pursuing advanced social and healthcare roles.
• Pædagogisk assistent (PAU) A vocational education program training students to work in childcare institutions, daycare, and various special needs settings, creating quality moments for children, youth, and adults. Takes approximately 2 years and 11 months. Targeted at students pursuing careers in pedagogy and childcare.
• Digi Tech A specialized variant of the social and healthcare assistant program incorporating digitalization and welfare technology as a core focus area, preparing students to work in the same settings as SSA graduates but with enhanced digital competencies.
• EUX-velfærd A combined program offering both a high school diploma (studentereksamen) and qualification as a social and healthcare assistant. Takes 4 years and 6 months and provides access to most higher education programs.
• Grundforløb (GF) The foundational vocational training program that serves as the initial phase for students entering social and healthcare or pedagogical education tracks.
• Efteruddannelse (Continuing Education) Professional development and continuing education programs for healthcare and social care workers, including courses such as palliative care nursing and flexible social and healthcare helper training modules. Targeted at employed adult learners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Louise Strange Ludvigsen was named 'Årets faglærer' (Teacher of the Year) at Fagenes Fest in Sønderborg, reflecting high student satisfaction with teaching quality.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered moderate, core and minor.

• Haderslev KatedralskolemoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023From August 2023, SOSU Syd partnered with Haderslev Katedralskole to offer a basic vocational course (grundforløb) at the high school's campus, making it easier for young people in Haderslev to access social and healthcare education.
• Region SyddanmarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegion Southern Denmark is the appointing authority for SOSU Syd's board chairman and is a co-financier of the 'Fælles om fremtiden' project, which strengthens teaching and training in social and healthcare education in response to the new elderly reform.
• Aabenraa KommunecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAabenraa Municipality appoints a vice-chair to the board, provides municipal training placements for students, and awarded SOSU Syd its CSR certification (2023) recognizing the school's social responsibility efforts.
• Sønderborg KommunecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSønderborg Municipality collaborated with SOSU Syd to bring the DigiTech program to the city, doubling the number of DigiTech students. The municipality provides municipal training placements and supports the integration of welfare technology education.
• FOA SønderjyllandmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe FOA Sønderjylland trade union has representation on SOSU Syd's board (Bent Holm Poulsen) and co-organizes student events such as summer celebrations. FOA represents the social and healthcare workers that are the school's primary graduate target.
• Friplejehjemmet MøllevangenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigiTech students from SOSU Syd visited Friplejehjemmet Møllevangen in Agerskov on a study trip, experiencing the 'Eden concept' care approach. The nursing home is noted as the first privately purchased active municipal nursing home in Denmark, operating with strong community engagement.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AARHUS TECH: AARUS TECH is one of Denmark's largest technical and vocational schools, offering a broad EUD portfolio. Comparable as a technical/trade school operating under the same Danish vocational education framework, competing for the same youth demographic and state funding allocations.
• SOSU Nykøbing Falster: One of Denmark's regional SOSU schools delivering the same SSH, SSA, and PAU vocational programs under the same public mandate. Operates in a different region but with directly comparable curriculum, funding model, and target student segments, making it the closest functional peer in the SOSU network.
• Social- og SundhedsSkolen Skive: Another regional Danish SOSU school offering social and healthcare vocational training in Central Jutland. Directly comparable operating model, programs, and regulatory environment to SOSU Syd, representing another node in the national SOSU network.
• Roskilde Tekniske Skole: Roskilde Tekniske Skole is a vocational school in Region Sjælland offering EUD programs. Comparable peer in the Danish vocational education ecosystem, serving a similar function of delivering state-funded trade and technical training including adjacent social-education tracks.
• EUC Syd: EUC Syd is a technical and vocational school also headquartered in Southern Denmark (Sønderborg), offering adjacent EUD programs. It is the closest geographic and categorical peer to SOSU Syd, competing for the same youth talent pool and employer relationships across the region's four partner municipalities.
• Learnmark: Learnmark is a multi-track vocational school in Horsens offering EUD programs including healthcare and social education tracks. Comparable as a regional vocational competitor for youth applicants in Jutland, with overlapping employer relationships and similar funding structure.
• ZBC (Zealand Business College): ZBC is a large Danish vocational school on Sjælland offering EUD programs including social and healthcare education. Direct peer under the same public vocational framework, with comparable program mix and employer-funded continuing education offerings.

Broad incumbents

• UCL University College: University College Lillebælt is a larger professional higher education institution in Southern Denmark offering degree programs in nursing, social education, and teaching. Adjacent rather than directly competitive — UCL operates at the higher-education tier while SOSU Syd operates at the vocational tier, but both feed the same regional healthcare workforce pipeline.
• Via University College: Via University College is one of Denmark's largest professional higher education institutions with campuses across Jutland, including nursing and social education programs. Comparable as a broader incumbent producing healthcare professionals, though at a higher credential level than SOSU Syd's vocational offerings.
• Københavns Professionshøjskole (KP): KP is Denmark's largest professional higher education institution, offering nursing, social education, and teacher training programs. Operates at a broader scale and at degree-granting tier rather than vocational, but trains the same healthcare and social work professionals for Danish municipalities, partially overlapping with SOSU Syd's graduate outcomes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/sosu_syd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sosu-syd-kursus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 SOSU Syd