Volkshochschule Oldenburg

What Volkshochschule Oldenburg does

Volkshochschule Oldenburg is a public, non-profit adult education institution headquartered in Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany, founded in 1924 and recognized as the largest continuing education provider in the city. It operates a 4,300 m² main building (VHS Haus) with 36 seminar rooms across four floors near the central train station, supplemented by branch locations in Hatten and Wardenburg and multiple specialized centers including the Oldenburger Jugendwerkstatt, Pro-Aktiv-Center (PACE), Oldenburger Zentrum für Integration und Kompetenzerweiterung (OL:IN), and the Bildungsberatungsstelle Gewusst wo – gewusst wie. The institution is funded jointly by the State of Lower Saxony and the City of Oldenburg and has maintained DIN EN ISO 9001 certification continuously since March 1999.

The course portfolio spans seven core program areas: Languages (229 courses across 27+ languages), Deutsch/German (including BAMF integration courses and professional language courses for nursing), Beruf & IT (183 courses, including the DigiLab DREI.13 innovation lab covering AI, robotics, automation, IoT, and IT security), Kunst & Kultur (179 courses), Gesundheit (199 courses), Ernährung, Gesellschaft, and Bildungsurlaube (intensive week-long educational-leave programs). It also delivers customized corporate training via Bildung auf Bestellung, language proficiency examinations, youth support programs (LUPO_SiJu, Jugendwerkstatt), and the vhs.wissen live online lecture series on the vhs.cloud platform.

The business model combines (i) course-fee revenue from individual enrollments priced between roughly €10 and €850 per course, with AboCard loyalty discounts, installment plans, and vouchers available; (ii) exam fees for certified assessments; (iii) B2B revenue from customized corporate training; and (iv) recurring government funding from the State of Lower Saxony and City of Oldenburg. Customer segments include general adult learners, immigrants/refugees, corporate clients (notably healthcare employers preparing nursing trainees), schools and day care operators, and Bildungsurlaub seekers. The organization is led by Managing Director Sarah Orlowski and operates with approximately 120 core staff supported by around 740 freelance lecturers and instructors.

Name

Volkshochschule Oldenburg

Legal name

Volkshochschule Oldenburg

Website

https://vhs-ol.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Volkshochschule Oldenburg is a publicly funded, non-profit adult education institution in Lower Saxony, Germany, founded in 1924, offering language, professional, arts, health, and integration courses to adult learners, immigrants, and corporate clients through on-site, branch, and online channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Education Services

NAICS

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAAEAL

Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Continuing Education (Noncredit) & Lifelong Learning Programs

SECONDARYEDAAAMAA

Lifelong Learning Institutes (Osher/OLLI-style) & Senior Academies

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Adult Learning for Seniors (Third Age / Lifelong Learning Institutes)

SECONDARYEDAAAMAI

Arts, Culture & Creative Learning for Seniors (Music, writing, crafts)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Adult Learning for Seniors (Third Age / Lifelong Learning Institutes)

Keywords

• Adult education
• Continuing education
• Language courses
• Professional development
• Integration courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Oldenburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Course Fees: Individual course enrollment fees paid by participants. Fees vary by course type, duration, and intensity. Some courses offer reduced rates with AboCard Nordwest TREUEWELT.
2. Government Funding: Core funding from State of Lower Saxony (Land Niedersachsen) and City of Oldenburg as a recognized adult education institution. Supports affordable pricing and integration programs.
3. Professional Services - Bildung auf Bestellung: Customized training programs for companies and organizations ('Bildung auf Bestellung'). B2B revenue stream for corporate clients.
4. Exam Fees: Fees for language proficiency examinations and other certified assessments.
5. Vouchers: Gift vouchers sold for course enrollment as gifts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Volkshochschule Oldenburg is a public adult education institution that delivers a broad portfolio of continuing education courses, workshops, and events across eight program areas: Languages, German/Integration, Professional & IT, Art & Culture, Health, Nutrition, Society, and Educational Leave. It operates from a 4,300 m² headquarters with 36 seminar rooms and supplements classroom delivery with online courses via the vhs.cloud platform and the DigiLab DREI.13 digital innovation lab.

Product overview

Volkshochschule Oldenburg is a public continuing education institution (Volkshochschule) offering a comprehensive portfolio of adult education courses and programs. The organization operates as a unified institution with multiple course categories: Languages (Sprachen) with 229 courses, German language courses for various proficiency levels and purposes, Beruf & IT (Professional & IT) with 183 courses including the DigiLab DREI.13 innovation lab, Kunst & Kultur (Art & Culture) with 179 courses, Gesundheit (Health) with 199 courses, Ernährung (Nutrition) and cooking programs, Gesellschaft (Society) offerings, and Bildungsurlaube (Educational Vacations). The institution also operates branch locations in Hatten and Wardenburg, maintains specialized centers including the Oldenburger Jugendwerkstatt (youth workshop), Pro-Aktiv-Center (PACE), and the Oldenburger Zentrum für Integration und Kompetenzerweiterung (OL:IN). Key services include customized corporate training (Bildung auf Bestellung), language examinations (Prüfungen), and educational counseling. The organization delivers courses through multiple formats including in-person, online via vhs.cloud platform, and hybrid models.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sprachen (Languages) Language courses spanning 27+ languages including English, Spanish, French, Italian, and regional languages such as Plattdeutsch (Low German). Designed for adult learners seeking personal enrichment or professional language skills.
• Deutsch (German) German language courses including BAMF-approved integration courses, Berufssprachkurse (professional language courses), and specialized preparation courses such as German for nursing trainees (Deutsch für die Pflege-Ausbildung). Designed for immigrants, refugees, and professionals needing German skills.
• Beruf & IT (Professional & IT) Professional development and IT courses covering key competencies, software skills (Microsoft Office, Adobe), AI tools, digital literacy, and specialized topics through the DigiLab DREI.13 lab. Includes 183 courses targeting career advancement and digital transformation readiness for working professionals.
• Kunst & Kultur (Art & Culture) Cultural education courses covering art history, music, dance, visual arts, crafts, photography, performing arts, literature, and creative media education. Includes specialized VHS-Kunstwerkstätten art workshop facilities. 179 courses total.
• Gesundheit (Health) Health and wellness courses including treatment methods, yoga, relaxation techniques, fitness, gymnastics, and movement programs. 199 courses targeting adults seeking preventive health and physical wellness.
• Ernährung (Nutrition) Nutrition and cooking courses including cooking events held in the Kulturraum Küche (cultural kitchen), culinary workshops, and nutrition education for adult learners.
• Gesellschaft (Society) Society and community courses covering social topics, politics, civic education, and current affairs for adult learners interested in community engagement.
• Bildungsurlaube (Educational Leave) Intensive week-long educational vacation programs for professional and personal development, available across language, professional, and cultural topics. Designed for employed individuals utilizing educational leave provisions; priced €229-389 including materials.
• DigiLab DREI.13 Digital innovation lab focusing on trends such as artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, Internet of Things (IoT), and IT security. Includes open consultation hours with volunteer Digital Guides (Digitallots*innen) providing free assistance for computer and smartphone questions.
• Prüfungen (Examinations) Language proficiency examinations and testing services for foreign languages and certified assessments, including separate examination fees for foreign language and integration course exams.
• Bildung auf Bestellung (Customized Education) Customized educational programs and corporate training tailored to specific organizational or company needs. B2B service delivered on-site at the client or at VHS facilities, addressing workforce skill gaps and corporate learning needs.
• vhs.wissen live Live knowledge series featuring lectures and discussions with experts, broadcast online through the vhs.cloud platform, extending the institution's reach beyond its physical locations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully conducts >2000 events, courses, and seminars annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration19 records

AI capability10 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Förderverein Volkshochschule Oldenburg e. V.coreOthersSupport association that promotes and supports the VHS through fundraising, advocacy, and community engagement.
• Landesverband der Volkshochschulen Niedersachsens e. V. (vhsConcept)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level association of adult education centers providing curriculum frameworks, teacher certification, and standardized programs like vhsConcept teaching assistant certification.
• Staatliche Förderung - Land Niedersachsen und Stadt OldenburgcoreOthersCore government funding from the State of Lower Saxony and City of Oldenburg as a recognized adult education institution.
• Oldenburgisches StaatstheaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation for theater courses and joint events including 'BÜHNE FREI!' program with included theater visits.
• Casablanca (Kino)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm cooperation for 'Filme im Originalton' (films in original language) screening series.
• Lokalsender Oldenburg EinsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation for film production workshop allowing participants to create and screen short films.
• VHS QuickbornminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInter-VHS cooperation for joint online events like 'Punkt 9' modern collaboration webinar series.
• Oldenburger KunstschuleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation for art courses such as 'Mal-Zeit für mich' acrylic painting workshops.
• Landessparkasse zu Oldenburg (LzO)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for celebrations and community events including 240th anniversary activities.
• Bündnis Niedersachsen für EuropaminorOthersNetwork partnership supporting European citizenship education and awareness.
• Kulturtafel OldenburgminorOthersCultural table initiative providing cultural access to underserved populations.
• Die Vielen - Region NordwestminorOthersArt and cultural advocacy network promoting values of cultural diversity and inclusion.
• Agentur für Arbeit (Employment Agency)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRefers job seekers to VHS courses for professional retraining and integration.
• Café KurswechselminorOthersSocial enterprise cafe partner for cultural events and community gatherings.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Volkshochschule Hannover: Largest regional VHS in Lower Saxony operating the same municipal/state-funded adult education model across languages, professional development, integration, arts, and health. Closest geographic peer for VHS Oldenburg within the same Landesverband.
• Volkshochschule Bremen: Neighboring state-level VHS offering the same catalog of non-credit adult education courses including integration, Beruf & IT, and Bildungsurlaub. Operates under analogous state/municipal funding framework.
• Berliner Volkshochschulen (VHS Berlin): Largest municipal VHS network in Germany with 12+ locations offering the same comprehensive adult education portfolio (languages, professional, arts, health, integration). Directly comparable service mix and operating model.
• Münchner Volkshochschule (MVHS): One of Germany's largest VHS operators by enrollment, providing non-credit continuing education across all VHS program areas. Comparable scale of course catalog (thousands of courses annually) and Bildungsurlaub offerings.
• Hamburger Volkshochschule: Major metropolitan VHS offering languages, professional development, arts, health, and integration courses under similar municipal/state funding. Same ISO-quality orientation and non-credit model.
• Frankfurter Volkshochschule (VHS Frankfurt): Large municipal VHS with comprehensive adult education programs including AI/digital labs, B2B training, and integration courses. Direct comparable in scale and programmatic breadth.
• Kölner Volkshochschule: Major Rhineland VHS offering the standard non-credit adult education portfolio including Beruf & IT, languages, and Bildungsurlaub. Same DIN ISO-aligned quality standards.
• Stuttgarter Volkshochschule: Large VHS with comparable B2B training, integration, and lifelong learning programs. Operates the same institutional model with municipal/state funding.
• Düsseldorfer Volkshochschule: Mid-to-large metropolitan VHS delivering the standard adult education catalog. Same non-credit, publicly funded model with similar quality certification framework.

Emerging players

• ILS / Fernstudium Direkt: Germany's leading distance-learning provider offering flexible, accredited continuing education courses online. Comparable content areas (languages, professional development) but competes via subscription/distance model rather than in-person VHS delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCvZA_cNFGhgLqR2laTOd4OA
• Facebookfacebook.com/VolkshochschuleOldenburg
• Instagraminstagram.com/volkshochschule_oldenburg

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries6 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 Volkshochschule Oldenburg