Landesverband der Volkshochschulen Schleswig-Holsteins e.V.

What Landesverband der Volkshochschulen Schleswig-Holsteins e.V. does

Landesverband der Volkshochschulen Schleswig-Holsteins e.V. is a state-level registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein, Amtsgericht Kiel VR2132KI) founded in 1949 that coordinates approximately 150 member Volkshochschulen and Bildungsstätten delivering publicly funded adult education across Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The association is governed by a managing director, Karsten Schneider (Geschäftsführer/Verbandsdirektor), and an executive board chaired by Dr. Ernst Dieter Rossmann, with 18 staff at its Kiel headquarters. It wholly owns vhs SH Projekt-gGmbH, a project subsidiary established in 2022 to administer large state-funded programmes such as STAFF.SH (German language courses for refugees, €4.9M in 2025) and the Deutschkurs-Kompass.

The association's core products and digital infrastructure include the statewide Kursportal Schleswig-Holstein (55,000+ courses from ~1,100 providers, operated by vhs Pinneberg under a €594K state grant), the Deutschkursfinder portal, the vhs.cloud national networking and learning platform (coordinated with the DVV), the vhs-Online-Akademie for instructor training (delivered via BigBlueButton), the Digital Learning Campus (€4.7M, 2024), seven Grundbildungszentren for basic literacy, mobil.digital bookmobile for rural digital education, and the Bürgerakademie volunteer training platform (launched July 2025). The Prüfungszentrale administers Einbürgerungstest, telc, Xpert and school-leaving examinations. Large-scale public events include the Aktionsmonat Naturerlebnis (May, 850+ events, 10,000+ participants) and Lange Nacht der Demokratie (October, ~100 events).

The business model is overwhelmingly grant-based: core institutional funding from the Land Schleswig-Holstein (including an 8% increase in the 2026 state budget for member VHS), project-specific grants from the state Social Ministry (STAFF.SH), Education Ministry (DLC, Grundbildungszentren, school-equivalence courses), Energy Transition Ministry (environmental education), federal BAMF integration course reimbursements to member institutions, and EU Erasmus+ accreditation for staff mobility. Course fees are set independently by each of the ~150 member Volkshochschulen and are typically low or subsidised, so participant revenue is not centrally collected. Pricing tiers span publicly funded free offerings (integration, basic education), freemium services (Grundbildungszentren counselling and courses), and pay-as-you-go general adult education courses.

Name

Landesverband der Volkshochschulen Schleswig-Holsteins e.V.

Legal name

Landesverband der Volkshochschulen Schleswig-Holsteins e.V.

Website

https://vhs-sh.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The state-level non-profit umbrella association coordinating approximately 150 Volkshochschulen and Bildungsstätten delivering publicly funded adult education across Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, including language integration, basic literacy, and digital skills programmes administered through its subsidiary vhs SH Projekt-gGmbH.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Cross-District Consortia & Shared Services Authorities (EDADABAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Intergovernmental Education Cooperation & Bilateral/Multilateral Programs (EDADALAA)

Keywords

• Adult education services
• Continuing education programs
• Language integration courses
• Basic literacy training
• Civic education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kiel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Course fees from participants: Fees charged to participants for certain courses, particularly where public funding does not fully cover costs. Specific pricing not publicly disclosed.
2. Public institutional funding: Core operational funding from Land Schleswig-Holstein (state government), including institutional grants for member Volkshochschulen (increased 8% in the 2026 state budget), project-specific funding for Grundbildungszentren (68,000 EUR per center annually), and programme support such as 100,000 EUR for secondary-school-equivalence courses.
3. STAFF.SH language programme funding: State-funded integration language programme (Starterpaket für Flüchtlinge Schleswig-Holstein), totalling approximately 4.9 million EUR in 2025. Administered through vhs SH Projekt-gGmbH. Includes 220 compact courses in state shelters and 87 German courses in municipalities and online.
4. Low-threshold German course continuation funding: Approximately 4.3 million EUR in continuation funding for low-threshold German learning offerings, administered by vhs SH Projekt-gGmbH, funded by the State Ministry for Social Affairs.
5. EU project funding (Erasmus+): Erasmus+ accreditation enables staff mobility and international exchange projects for member institutions.
6. Kursportal Schleswig-Holstein operation: Platform operated by vhs Pinneberg with 594,000 EUR state grant for 3-year operation period, covering the education holiday portal and German language course portal, hosting over 55,000 courses from ~1,100 providers.
7. Examination and certification fees: Revenue from administering recognised examinations and certifications (German naturalisation test, telc language certificates, Xpert, school-leaving exams), forwarded to testing institutes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Landesverband der Volkshochschulen Schleswig-Holsteins e.V. is the state-level umbrella association coordinating approximately 150 Volkshochschulen (adult education centres) and Bildungsstätten across Schleswig-Holstein. It supports quality assurance, member cooperation, and statewide adult education programmes including language integration (STAFF.SH), basic literacy (Grundbildungszentren), civic and environmental education, professional development for instructors, and digital learning initiatives. Services are funded primarily by federal, state, and EU public grants, supplemented by course and examination fees.

Product overview

Landesverband der Volkshochschulen Schleswig-Holsteins e.V. operates as a state-level association coordinating approximately 150 Volkshochschulen (public adult education institutions) across Schleswig-Holstein. Its digital product portfolio centers on web-based course discovery and delivery platforms: the main vhs-sh.de website with integrated course search, the statewide Kursportal Schleswig-Holstein (sh-kursportal.de) aggregating over 55,000 courses from 1,100 providers, and the specialized Deutschkursfinder/Deutschkurs-Kompass for German language courses. Digital education initiatives include the vhs-Online-Akademie for instructor training via video conferencing, the Digital Learning Campus (DLC) creating physical and virtual learning locations (funded at 4.7M EUR), and mobil.digital using a converted bookmobile to reach rural areas. The vhs.cloud platform serves as the collaborative digital infrastructure for all Volkshochschulen. Direct service products include STAFF.SH and EOK.SH language programs for migrants and refugees, Wegweiserkurse for cultural mediation, and seven Grundbildungszentren providing basic literacy and education. Seasonal initiatives like the Aktionsmonat Naturerlebnis (May, 800+ events) and Aktionswoche Biologische Vielfalt (September) extend educational programming to environmental awareness. The Bürgerakademie aggregates volunteer training across the state.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STAFF.SH: Starterpaket für Flüchtlinge Schleswig-Holstein – state-funded low-threshold German language and integration courses delivered via the vhs SH Projekt-gGmbH.
• EOK.SH
• Deutschkurs-Kompass
• Digital Learning Campus (DLC)
• mobil.digital
• vhs-Online-Akademie
• vhs-netz online
• Bürgerakademie
• Engagementstrategie / engagiert-in-sh.de
• Aktionsmonat Naturerlebnis
• Lange Nacht der Demokratie

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,006 adults reached through basic education courses in 2024 across Schleswig-Holstein (397 courses)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AWO Landesverband Schleswig-HolsteinminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2025One of 17 initial providers on the Bürgerakademie platform, contributing volunteer training offerings to the central training portal for Schleswig-Holstein.
• Kreisjugendringe Schleswig-HolsteinminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2025Multiple district youth rings participate as training providers on the Bürgerakademie platform, contributing youth leadership and volunteer training content.
• Political foundations (Landesstiftungen)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2025Political foundations contribute training content to the Bürgerakademie volunteer education platform, covering topics such as civic engagement and democratic participation.
• Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband (DVV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Landesverband is a member of the DVV, the national association of German adult education institutions. This membership provides shared standards, curricula, advocacy at federal level, and participation in national campaigns. The DVV also coordinates the vhs.cloud platform and national initiatives such as the vhs advertising campaign.
• vhs.cloud (national VHS online network)coreTechnology or Integrationvhs.cloud is the shared online conferencing, exchange and learning portal for all German Volkshochschulen, coordinated by the DVV. It enables course delivery, knowledge sharing and collaboration across the national network.
• Bildungszentrum für Natur, Umwelt und ländliche Räume (BNUR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBNUR, a state institution under the Schleswig-Holstein Ministry for Energy Transition, Climate Protection, Environment and Nature, co-organises the Aktionsmonat Naturerlebnis and the Aktionswoche Biologische Vielfalt. BNUR leads the Bildungsinitiative Biodiversität.
• Stiftung Naturschutz Schleswig-HolsteincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Nature Conservation Foundation of Schleswig-Holstein is a co-organiser of the Aktionsmonat Naturerlebnis and Aktionswoche Biologische Vielfalt, contributing to biodiversity education and environmental awareness campaigns.
• Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe Schleswig-HolsteincoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Sparkassen (savings banks) in Schleswig-Holstein co-finance and co-promote the Aktionsmonat Naturerlebnis (including 340 free nature education sessions for Kitas and schools) and the Lange Nacht der Demokratie. Their funding enables free admission to many events.
• Landesbeauftragter für politische Bildung Schleswig-HolsteincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe state commissioner for political education co-coordinates the Lange Nacht der Demokratie in Schleswig-Holstein alongside the Landesverband. This partnership enables statewide delivery of democratic education events across the state.
• NDR (Norddeutscher Rundfunk)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNDR serves as media partner for the Lange Nacht der Demokratie, providing editorial coverage and on-site moderation at multiple venues across Schleswig-Holstein. All NDR regional studios are involved.
• Büchereiverein Schleswig-HolsteincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe library association cooperates with the Landesverband on the mobil.digital project, using a converted bookmobile to deliver digital education to rural areas. The partnership also includes the vhs-netz online project.
• vhs PinnebergcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributorvhs Pinneberg is the operative lead institution for the Kursportal Schleswig-Holstein, managing the platform under state funding. The portal hosts 55,000+ courses from ~1,100 providers.
• Bertelsmann StiftungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Bertelsmann Stiftung contributes research and expertise to adult education policy discussions. Dr. Kai Unzicker from the foundation delivered a keynote at the 2025 Jahrestagung on civic cohesion and lifelong learning.
• Volkshochschulen Schleswig-Holstein (member institutions)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproximately 150 member Volkshochschulen and Bildungsstätten across Schleswig-Holstein form the core delivery network for all adult education courses. They deliver courses on behalf of and in coordination with the Landesverband and under state/federal funding frameworks.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bayerischer Volkshochschulverband e.V. State-level umbrella association for Volkshochschulen in Bavaria, structurally and functionally equivalent to the Schleswig-Holstein Landesverband. Both coordinate member VHS, deliver state-funded programmes, and represent the state within the DVV.
• Hessischer Volkshochschulverband e.V. Hesse's state-level VHS umbrella with the same coordinating, quality-assurance, and advocacy role for member institutions. Directly comparable mission, governance, and funding model.
• Landesverband der Volkshochschulen Niedersachsens e.V. State-level VHS umbrella for Lower Saxony with parallel member-services, project-management, and state-funding administration responsibilities.
• Landesverband der Volkshochschulen von Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V. Largest state VHS association in Germany (NRW), operating at scale comparable in mission to vhs-sh but with a much larger member base and state population.
• Volkshochschulverband Baden-Württemberg e.V. State-level association of Volkshochschulen in Baden-Württemberg, providing member support, continuing education for instructors, and project coordination analogous to vhs-sh.

Broad incumbents

• Goethe-Institut e.V. Federal institution promoting German language and culture abroad. Comparable to vhs-sh's STAFF.SH/Deutschkurs-Kompass on the German-as-a-second-language domain, but operating internationally rather than state-wide.
• Deutsche Evangelische Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Erwachsenenbildung (DEAE): National umbrella for Protestant adult education in Germany. A parallel, faith-based adult education coordination structure serving a comparable target audience of adult learners through its own state associations.
• Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband (DVV): National umbrella of all German Volkshochschulen and parent association of which the Schleswig-Holstein Landesverband is a member. Operates the vhs.cloud platform and coordinates federal-level advocacy and standards.
• Arbeitskreis der Bildungsstätten und Akademien (AdB): National association of non-formal political education and Bildungsstätten. The Schleswig-Holstein Landesverband's member institutions overlap with this network on civic and political education programming.

Regional players

• Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund — Bereich Bildung: Trade union adult and political education provider operating in parallel to VHS at federal/state level, with overlapping target audience (working adults, civic education) and partial co-funding from state budgets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCWbLKV3v_YbAJvdCNRiXIZw
• Facebookfacebook.com/lv.vhs.sh
• Instagraminstagram.com/lv.vhs.sh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/landesverband-der-volkshochschulen-schleswig-holsteins

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Landesverband der Volkshochschulen Schleswig-Holsteins e.V.