Volkshochschule Salzburg

What Volkshochschule Salzburg does

Volkshochschule Salzburg (VHS Salzburg) is a non-profit association (gemeinnütziger Verein) headquartered in Salzburg, Austria, that delivers adult and lifelong-learning courses across all six districts of the state of Salzburg. The organization operates one central headquarters plus ten district and regional offices spanning Salzburg Stadt, Flachgau (West, Ost, Nord, Südwest, Seekirchen), Pongau, Enns-Pongau, Tennengau, Lungau, and Pinzgau (Saalfelden, Zell am See), enabling community-based course delivery in a low-density Alpine region. With 39 employees, VHS Salzburg serves learners ranging from children (summer camps, Kinderkurse) to seniors and from individual hobbyists to corporate clients (Firmenkurse), immigrants pursuing ÖIF/ÖSD German certifications, and adults completing second-chance education pathways including Basisbildung, Pflichtschulabschluss, and Studienberechtigungsprüfung.

The portfolio spans twelve program areas — Health & Movement, Languages (with German as a Second Language and ÖIF/ÖSD exam preparation), Personality, STEM (MINT), Arts & Creative, Politics & Society, Culinary, Parents & Children, Digital literacy, Online Courses, Second Education Path, and Sommerprogramm — delivered both in person and online. Course fees are VAT-exempt under § 6 Abs. 1 Z 12 UStG 1994 and range from approximately €17 for a short Spanish workshop to €669 for the 30-session German Intensiv A2 ÖIF course, with one teaching unit (UE) equal to 50 minutes. Targeted discounts apply for low-income participants, social-benefit recipients, disability pass holders, students, and families via Salzburger Familienpass and sibling discounts.

The technology stack is built entirely on commodity third-party platforms rather than proprietary systems: Kufer Software for course management and administration, a Moodle-based learning platform (sbg.digitalevhs.at) for digital course content and asynchronous communication, Zoom Video Communications for synchronous online delivery, mailingwork GmbH for newsletter distribution, and Google Analytics for consent-gated web analytics. Revenue derives from course fees augmented by institutional partnerships with Land Salzburg, Stadt Salzburg, the European Union, ÖGK (Austrian Health Insurance), ÖIF, ÖSD, and Klimabündnis Österreich. Authorized examination-center status for ÖIF and ÖSD, a statewide regional office footprint, and a comprehensive multi-category course catalog form the core competitive positioning. Leadership comprises Managing Directors Dr. Nicole Slupetzky and Mag. Matthias Strasser under President Bgm. Bernhard Auinger.

Name

Volkshochschule Salzburg

Legal name

Volkshochschule Salzburg

Website

https://volkshochschule.at

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Volkshochschule Salzburg is a non-profit adult education association delivering courses across all six districts of the Austrian state of Salzburg through twelve program areas, including languages with ÖIF and ÖSD exam preparation, serving individual learners, corporate clients, immigrants, and adult second-chance students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Education Services

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts) (EDAIAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

General Language Schools (Multi-Language) (EDAIAEAA)

Keywords

• Adult education courses
• Language learning programs
• Continuing education services
• Community education centers
• Second chance education

Headquarters

HQ city

Salzburg

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Course Fees (Kursgebühren): Primary revenue stream from course registration fees. Prices vary by course type and duration. VAT-exempt under Austrian law (§ 6 Abs. 1 Z 12 UStG 1994). Revenue collected per course registration with various payment methods including bank transfer and potential installment plans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Volkshochschule Salzburg is a non-profit adult education institution that delivers in-person and online courses across the Austrian state of Salzburg. It offers a broad course catalog spanning health and movement, languages (including German as a second language with ÖIF/ÖSD exam preparation), personal development, STEM, arts and creative skills, politics and society, culinary arts, parent-child programs, and digital literacy, as well as structured second-chance education pathways such as basic literacy, German as a foreign language, Pflichtschulabschluss, and Studienberechtigungsprüfung. Courses are delivered through a network of district offices across Salzburg state and via Moodle and Zoom for online learners.

Product overview

Volkshochschule Salzburg is an adult education institution offering a diverse portfolio of in-person and online courses across the Salzburg region. The organization provides a unified course catalog spanning health and movement, languages (including German as a second language with ÖIF/ÖSD exam options), personal development, STEM, arts and creative skills, politics and society, culinary arts, parent-child programs, and digital literacy. Courses operate through multiple regional branches (Salzburg Stadt, Flachgau, Pongau, Tennengau, Lungau, Pinzgau) with a Moodle-based learning platform (sbg.digitalevhs.at) for digital course delivery and communication. Online courses are delivered via Zoom. The portfolio also includes structured second-chance education pathways (basic literacy, German as foreign language, school completion, university entrance exams).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gesundheit & Bewegung (Health & Movement)

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Salzburg radeltminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Cycling initiative partnership (Salzburg radelt 2026) encouraging sustainable mobility among VHS participants and staff.
• Land SalzburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partner providing institutional support and funding for adult education programs across Salzburg. VHS operates as a key educational institution within the state's lifelong learning infrastructure.
• Stadt SalzburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Salzburg municipal partnership supporting local educational initiatives and providing venue access for courses.
• ÖIF (Österreichischer Integrationsfonds)coreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial integration fund partnership for German language courses. VHS offers ÖIF-approved courses and serves as examination center for ÖIF German language certifications.
• ÖSD (Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch)coreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial Austrian German language diploma certification body. VHS serves as authorized examination center for ÖSD German language examinations.
• ÖGK (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth insurance partnership for 'ÖGK Beweg dich' project - health and movement courses supported by the Austrian Health Insurance Fund.
• Raiffeisen SalzburgminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional banking partner supporting VHS through logo placement and collaborative marketing initiatives.
• Klimabündnis ÖsterreichminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustrian Climate Alliance partnership demonstrating commitment to environmental sustainability in operations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Duolingo: Global mass-market language-learning app that competes with VHS Salzburg's flagship language course program on price and accessibility. Important adjacent/competitive force, especially for casual learners, though it cannot deliver certified ÖIF/ÖSD exams.
• Babbel: Consumer language-learning subscription platform competing for the same adult-learner wallet share as VHS Salzburg's language programs, particularly among working-age professionals.

Direct peers

• Volkshochschule Graz (Styria): Styrian VHS network offering the same non-profit adult-education portfolio as VHS Salzburg. Directly comparable on structure, product breadth, and public-funding model.
• Volkshochschule Linz (Upper Austria): State-level VHS peer in Upper Austria offering the same German-language adult education, ÖIF/ÖSD exam preparation, and hobby/qualification courses. Closest comparable peer for VHS Salzburg's model and pricing structure.
• BFI Salzburg (Berufsförderungsinstitut): Austria's leading vocational/professional adult training provider, with a Salzburg branch that competes directly with VHS Salzburg in language, digital, and professional qualification courses. Overlaps significantly on second-chance education and workforce upskilling.
• WIFI Salzburg: Chamber of Commerce–affiliated adult education provider offering professional development and certification courses. Overlaps VHS Salzburg on personality/business courses and corporate training, while being more vocationally focused.
• Volkshochschule Tirol: Tyrolean VHS network with the same non-profit adult education model; comparable on multi-district coverage, language exam partnerships, and second-chance education offerings.
• Volkshochschule Kärnten: Carinthian state VHS operating the same Austrian adult-education playbook; direct peer in catalog, structure, and public-sector mission alignment.
• Volkshochschule Wien (Vienna): Operates an identical adult/community education model in Vienna with a far larger course catalog and headcount. Direct peer in product/mission, business model, and customer segment, but at greater scale.

Regional players

• Sprachencafe / id Austria Integrationsstellen: Austrian integration-course ecosystem partner/complement that channels immigrants into ÖIF-certified German courses, many of which are delivered through Volkshochschulen including VHS Salzburg. Adjacent ecosystem participant that reinforces VHS Salzburg's integration volume.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vhs-salzburg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Salzburg