SZHCSPS

What SZHCSPS does

SZH/CSPS — the Stiftung Schweizer Zentrum für Heil- und Sonderpädagogik (Swiss Center for Special Needs Education) — is a Swiss non-profit foundation headquartered in Bern, founded in 1972, and serving as the formally recognized national coordination and information center for special needs education across Switzerland. The foundation operates as an intermediary between science, government authorities (notably the EDK — Conference of Cantonal Education Directors), and educational practice, providing consulting, research networking, and policy support to the Swiss Confederation, the 26 cantons, institutions, and individual practitioners.

Its core products include two bilingual peer-reviewed scientific journals (Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Heilpädagogik in German, published nine times annually, and Revue suisse de pédagogie spécialisée in French, published quarterly) — both transitioned to open access via the OJS platform in 2023 — together with the Edition SZH/CSPS publishing house, a literature database, teacher information sheets, and the InSeMa interactive online map. Service offerings include the annual Swiss Congress for Special Needs Education (entering its 14th edition in 2026), continuing education courses, and the Forum Inclusion platform.

Revenue is generated through a diversified set of streams: publication and book sales via shop.szh.ch, journal advertising, continuing-education and conference fees, and presumed cantonal/public subsidies — though no financial figures are publicly disclosed. With 14 employees, a governing Board of Trustees (Stiftungsrat) drawn from former cantonal ministers and education directors, and a broader Advisory Board (Beirat), SZH/CSPS functions more as a quasi-public knowledge infrastructure provider than a commercial enterprise, distributing content via its website, the OJS repository, social media channels, an SZH podcast, and the Swiss Congress.

Name

SZHCSPS

Legal name

Stiftung Schweizer Zentrum für Heil- und Sonderpädagogik SZH/CSPS

Website

https://szh.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SZH/CSPS is a Swiss non-profit foundation (Stiftung) founded in 1972 in Bern, serving as the national coordination and information center for special needs education. It publishes two bilingual peer-reviewed journals, runs the annual Swiss Congress for Heilpädagogik, and advises the EDK, cantons, practitioners, and families on inclusive education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Knowledge Services

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Education Due Process, Mediation & Dispute Resolution Support (EDAKACAH)

Keywords

• Special needs education
• Inclusive education services
• Educational publishing
• Professional development courses
• Special education consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Publications and Publishing: SZH/CSPS publishes two specialist journals (Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Heilpädagogik and Revue suisse de pédagogie spécialisée), operates the Edition SZH/CSPS publishing house, and sells books and professional materials through its online shop.
2. Journal Advertisements: The organization generates revenue through advertisements in its published journals and magazines.
3. Continuing Education Courses: SZH/CSPS offers continuing education courses and professional development programs for educators and specialists in the field of special needs education.
4. Conference Fees: Revenue generated from the annual Swiss Congress for Special Needs Education (Schweizer Kongress für Heilpädagogik).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SZH/CSPS operates as a Swiss national coordination and information center for special needs education. It publishes two peer-reviewed scientific journals (German and French), runs the Edition SZH/CSPS publishing house, organizes the annual Swiss Congress for Special Needs Education, and provides consulting, information services, databases, and continuing education programs to Swiss cantons, educational institutions, and special education professionals.

Product overview

SZH/CSPS operates as a foundation and knowledge center for special needs education in Switzerland, offering a portfolio of publications (two peer-reviewed journals in German and French via its Edition SZH/CSPS publishing house), professional events (including the annual Swiss Congress for Heilpädagogik and Forum Inclusion), online resources (information sheets, databases), and advisory services. The organization functions as a national coordination body providing information, consulting, and networking to federal authorities, cantons, institutions, and stakeholders on challenges in special needs education and inclusive schooling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Heilpädagogik: German-language journal published nine times per year covering special needs education topics
• Revue suisse de pédagogie spécialisée
• Schweizer Kongress für Heilpädagogik
• Forum Inclusion
• InSeMa

Products and services

• Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Heilpädagogik A peer-reviewed scientific journal published nine times per year in German, covering topics in special needs education, inclusive education, and participation of people with disabilities. Open access since 2023.
• Revue suisse de pédagogie spécialisée A peer-reviewed scientific journal published four times per year in French, covering topics including specialized early intervention, inclusion of learners with special educational needs, accessibility, new technologies, and social participation of people with disabilities. Open access since 2023.
• Edition SZH/CSPS The organization's own publishing house producing books, series, and other professional publications related to special needs education, sold through a web shop.
• Schweizer Kongress für Heilpädagogik Annual Swiss Congress for Special Needs Education bringing together professionals, researchers, and practitioners in the field of special needs and inclusive education.
• Forum Inclusion (Schweizer Forum für inklusive Bildung) A platform for personal exchange and practical knowledge transfer on topics of school integration, Universal Design, and accessibility, including events and discussion forums.
• InSeMa (Integrative und Separative schulische Massnahmen) An interactive online map and publication providing a national overview of integrative and segregative school measures across Swiss cantons, promoting discussion on equal opportunities and inclusion.
• Informationsblätter für Lehrpersonen Information sheets supporting teachers with the integration of students with special educational needs, containing general information on disorders/disabilities and pedagogical adaptations.
• SZH-Literaturdatenbank A literature database containing scientific literature in German and French related to special needs education and inclusion.
• Weiterbildung (Continuing Education) Continuing education courses, conferences, and action days for professionals in the field of special needs education.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• European Agency for Development in Special Needs EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSZH/CSPS maintains membership and active participation in the European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education, contributing to international collaboration and knowledge exchange on special needs education policies and practices.
• Conference of Cantonal Education Directors (EDK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSZH/CSPS works closely with the EDK, Switzerland's coordination body for cantonal education policies. The organization supports the EDK's coordination of special needs education at the national level.
• Pädagogische Hochschule der Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz (PH FHNW)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for the annual Swiss Congress for Special Needs Education. SZH/CSPS collaborates with the university on conferences and educational events.
• Pädagogische Hochschule Bern (PHBern)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the InSeMa project (Integrative and Separative school measures), providing a national overview of cantonal approaches to inclusive education through an interactive online map and publication.
• Network for Research in Special Needs EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSZH/CSPS coordinates and hosts a research network for special needs education, facilitating networking events, online events, and collaboration among researchers in the field.
• Network for Digital InclusionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSZH/CSPS coordinates a network focused on digital inclusion and ICT in special needs education, hosting regular network meetings and sharing best practices.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education: European-level counterpart that SZH/CSPS actively partners with; both operate as knowledge/coordination centers producing publications, country reports, and policy support on inclusive and special needs education for member states.
• Schweizerische UNESCO-Kommission: National commission covering education policy, including inclusive education and ESD; overlaps with SZH/CSPS on inclusive-education advocacy and policy work in Switzerland.
• Inclusion International: Global federation focused on inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities; addresses overlapping themes (inclusive education, disability rights) from an international advocacy perspective.

Direct peers

• Stiftung zeka (Zentrum für kindliche Entwicklung Aargau): Swiss foundation offering services, advice, and continuing education in special education; a regional practitioner peer with comparable service portfolio to SZH/CSPS at a cantonal level.
• Heilpädagogik Verlag / Edition SZH peer publishers (e.g., Haupt Verlag): Swiss/German-language educational publishers producing books and materials on pedagogy, special education and inclusive education; compete in the same niche publishing space as Edition SZH/CSPS.
• EDK - Schweizerische Konferenz der kantonalen Erziehungsdirektorinnen und -direktoren: Switzerland's national coordination body for cantonal education policy and a core partner/principal customer of SZH/CSPS; operates in the same special-education and inclusive-education policy space at the federal level.
• PHBern - Pädagogische Hochschule Bern: Swiss university of teacher education and direct project partner on InSeMa; offers specialisation programmes in inclusive education, competing and collaborating with SZH/CSPS in continuing education and research.
• Pädagogische Hochschule der Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz (PH FHNW): Host institution of the annual Swiss Congress for Special Needs Education; offers teacher training and research in special education, directly comparable in mission to SZH/CSPS.

Others

• European Disability Forum: European umbrella of disability rights organizations; adjacent stakeholder in the inclusive-education ecosystem where SZH/CSPS operates, with overlapping stakeholder networks.

Emerging players

• National Center for Special Education Accountability Monitoring (NCSEAM-style bodies): Comparable national special-education resource and professional membership organizations (e.g., NASET in the US) that serve as knowledge hubs, training providers and publishers for special-education professionals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/szhcsps
• Facebookfacebook.com/szhcsps
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/szhcsps
• Instagraminstagram.com/szhcsps

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 SZHCSPS