VHS Bielefeld

What VHS Bielefeld does

VHS Bielefeld (legal name: Volkshochschule der Stadt Bielefeld) is a municipal adult education center operated by the City of Bielefeld, Germany, founded in 1924 and celebrating its centenary in 2024. It delivers continuing-education programs across eight categories — Society, Culture, Health, Languages, Career, German/Integration, Digital, and Easy Learning — to the general adult population (16+), with particular emphasis on language acquisition, immigrant integration, professional development, and health/wellness. The institution functions as one of the few BAMF-authorized integration course providers in the region and serves as an official examination center (Prüfungszentrum), with a stated capacity of 13 employees coordinating the program.

The operational footprint spans a main headquarters at Ravensberger Park 1 and seven district branches (Brackwede, Dornberg, Heepen, Jöllenbeck, Senne, Sennestadt, Stieghorst), supported by the national VHS Cloud online learning platform for remote course delivery. Core products include in-person and online language courses (including BAMF-funded German integration courses), health and fitness classes (Pilates, Yoga, Nordic Walking), professional development (Xpert Business webinars), cultural and creative workshops, digital skills (including AI/VR literacy), customized corporate training (Firmenschulungen), and seasonal intensive programs (Sommer VHS). Technology is primarily third-party: the VHS Cloud platform and the website-based registration system, with no proprietary AI, no public API, and no mobile app present.

VHS Bielefeld operates a hybrid revenue model combining course fees (typically €17–€118 per course, with reduced rates for BAföG recipients, Bielefeld-Pass holders, and radio-fee-exempt individuals), municipal subsidies from the City of Bielefeld, and federal BAMF funding for integration courses. Distribution is direct-to-consumer across online, phone, email, postal, and in-person registration channels, supplemented by referral partnerships with the Agentur für Arbeit, BAMF, and local civic organizations (Ernährungsrat Bielefeld, DSC Arminia Bielefeld). The institution is ISO 9001:2015 certified by CERTQUA and is led by Director Dr. Karin Gille-Linne.

Name

VHS Bielefeld

Legal name

Volkshochschule der Stadt Bielefeld

Website

https://vhs-bielefeld.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VHS Bielefeld is the municipal adult education center of the City of Bielefeld, founded 1924, delivering government-recognized courses across languages, integration, health, career, culture, and digital skills to 16+ adult learners via one HQ and seven district branches.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult and Continuing Education

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional & Applied Skills Noncredit Certificates (Non-licensure) (EDAAAEAD), Personal Enrichment & Creative Arts Programs (EDAAAEAG)

Keywords

• Adult continuing education
• Language courses
• Integration courses
• Professional development
• Health and fitness courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Bielefeld

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 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 (Kursentgelt): Fees charged for course participation, with standard and reduced rates available for eligible participants (BAföG recipients, Bielefeld-Pass holders, radio fee exempt individuals). Course fees vary by duration and type, typically ranging from 17-110 EUR per course.
2. Public Funding (Municipal): Funding from the City of Bielefeld (Stadt Bielefeld) as a municipal adult education institution
3. BAMF Integration Course Funding: Federal funding through Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF) for integration and language courses, with VHS providing counseling and application support

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

VHS Bielefeld is a municipal adult education center offering in-person and online continuing education courses across eight thematic categories: languages, professional development, health, culture & creativity, politics & society, basic education, youth (Junge VHS), and online learning (vhs@home). It also serves as a BAMF-authorized integration course provider and certified examination center, and delivers customized corporate training (Firmenschulungen) on-site at client companies.

Product overview

VHS Bielefeld is a municipal adult education center (Volkshochschule) offering a comprehensive portfolio of continuing education programs. The organization operates as a multi-category platform providing in-person and online courses across several core offerings: Language Courses (German integration courses, world languages), Health & Fitness Programs (Pilates, Yoga, Nordic Walking), Professional Development (career training, Xpert Business), Cultural Education (arts and creative workshops), Digital Skills (technology, AI), and Corporate Training services. The organization also offers VHS@home as its online learning platform through the VHS cloud, and runs seasonal programs like the SOMMER-VHS summer intensive series. The institution serves as an official examination center and provides specialized integration support including BAMF-authorized German courses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Language Courses (Sprachen) Foreign-language courses for adult learners at all levels, including general language courses, business language, and exam preparation.
• Integration Courses (BAMF) BAMF-authorized integration courses for immigrants, covering German language and civic orientation, leading to official BAMF certificates.
• Professional Development Courses (Beruf) Career-oriented courses covering IT, office software, project management, communication, and other professional skills for adult learners.
• Health & Fitness Courses (Gesundheit) Health, fitness, relaxation, and movement courses incl. yoga, pilates, dance, and nutrition awareness for adult learners.
• Cultural & Creative Courses (Kultur & Kreativität) Creative arts and cultural courses covering painting, photography, music, crafts, and literary subjects for adult learners.
• Politics & Society Courses (Politik & Gesellschaft) Adult civic education courses covering political, social, historical, and philosophical topics, often in cooperation with local partners.
• Basic Education Courses (Grundbildung) Foundational literacy, numeracy, and basic digital skills courses for adult learners.
• Junge VHS (Young VHS) Course program designed for younger learners, including school-age and young adult audiences.
• vhs@home Online Courses Online continuing education courses delivered remotely via the VHS Cloud learning platform, allowing adult learners to participate without attending in person.
• Firmenschulungen (Corporate Training) Customized employee training delivered on-site at the contracting company, covering languages, IT, or professional skills.
• VHS als Prüfungszentrum Officially recognized examination center administering standardized language and other exams for adult learners.

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Agentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal Employment Agency partners with VHS for career orientation courses like 'Zu neuen Ufern' professional reorientation workshop, providing certified career counselors for employed individuals considering career changes.
• Ernährungsrat Bielefeld (Bielefeld Nutrition Council)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for regional seasonal cooking courses, combining VHS educational expertise with local food system knowledge.
• VHS Landesverband NRW (VHS State Association North Rhine-Westphalia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level association representing and supporting VHS institutions across NRW, providing network resources and institutional standards.
• VHS CloudcoreTechnology or IntegrationNational VHS cloud platform providing online learning infrastructure for virtual course delivery, accessible at vhs.cloud.
• DSC Arminia BielefeldminorOthersSports club partnership providing billiards course venue at Wilhelm-Bertelsmann-Straße 27 location.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Goethe-Institut: Germany's international cultural institute providing German language courses and exams worldwide. Overlaps VHS Bielefeld on German language and integration instruction and operates the Prüfungszentrum-style certificate testing that VHS Bielefeld also delivers.
• Deutsche Angestellten-Akademie (DAA): Large national provider of adult education, vocational retraining, and integration courses with government accreditation across Germany. Overlaps VHS Bielefeld on integration and professional development but operates at much broader national scale.

Direct peers

• Münchner Volkshochschule (MVHS): Municipal Volkshochschule for the City of Munich operating the same Volkshochschule model of publicly funded adult continuing education across languages, integration, health, culture, career, and digital categories. Highly comparable institutional structure, funding mix, and course portfolio.
• ILS (Institut für Lernsysteme): Germany's largest correspondence/distance-learning school offering certified adult continuing education across languages, professional, and general education. Comparable adult education mission but delivered primarily through self-paced remote formats rather than municipal classroom model.
• Kölner Volkshochschule: Cologne's municipal adult education center operates the Volkshochschule concept in North Rhine-Westphalia (same state as Bielefeld) with comparable BAMF integration courses, language programs, and continuing education categories.
• Hamburger Volkshochschule: Hamburg's municipal adult education provider offers the same Volkshochschule portfolio (languages, integration, professional, cultural, health) with similar BAMF authorization and municipal funding model. Closest regional equivalent to VHS Bielefeld in city-level scope.
• Studiengemeinschaft Darmstadt (SGD): Major German distance-learning provider of state-approved continuing education and vocational credentials. Competes with VHS Bielefeld for adult learners seeking certified career and language qualifications outside the classroom.
• Volkshochschule Berlin: Berlin's municipal adult education centers deliver the same Volkshochschule concept with BAMF integration courses, language programs, and continuing education. Directly comparable in mission, government ownership, and course offerings to VHS Bielefeld.

Emerging players

• Babbel: Berlin-based digital-first language learning platform serving adult learners globally. Competes with VHS Bielefeld's language course category on convenience and price via self-paced mobile/web subscription model.

Others

• vhs.cloud: National cloud-based learning infrastructure used by Volkshochschulen across Germany including VHS Bielefeld. Functions as the underlying platform provider rather than a competitor, but is a critical technology dependency for VHS Bielefeld's online course delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/volkshochschule.bielefeld
• Instagraminstagram.com/volkshochschule.bielefeld
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vhs-bielefeld

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 VHS Bielefeld