Pädagogische Hochschule Steiermark

What Pädagogische Hochschule Steiermark does

Pädagogische Hochschule Steiermark (PH St) is a public university college for teacher education headquartered in Graz, Austria, operating across five campus locations (Campus Nord at Hasnerplatz 12, Theodor-Körner-Straße 38, and Grabenstraße 48; Campus Ost at Dürergasse 2; Campus Süd at Ortweinplatz 1 and Anzengrubergasse 6-8). The institution delivers accredited initial teacher education programs — Bachelor, Master, and extension studies (Erweiterungsstudien) — across four education levels: early childhood (Elementarstufe), primary (Primarstufe), secondary general education (Sekundarstufe Allgemeinbildung), and secondary vocational education (Sekundarstufe Berufsbildung), alongside lateral-entry pathways (Quereinstieg and Sondervertragslehrperson at 20/30/60/90 EC tiers) and continuing professional development (Fortbildung) including Hochschullehrgänge and Masterlehrgänge in mentoring, health promotion, inclusion, and school library management.

The core technology stack is a standard Austrian higher-education configuration: Moodle-based e-learning, Microsoft 365 for email and productivity, Webex for videoconferencing, Turnitin for academic integrity, and the proprietary PHSt Online (ph-online.ac.at) student information system. The institution complements instruction with on-campus practice schools (Praxisvolksschule and Praxismittelschule) and Hochschullernwerkstätten including a Digital Learning Lab. Research infrastructure comprises four dedicated centers — FZIB (inclusive education), KiJuLit (children's and youth literature), NATech (natural sciences and technology), and SU:AT (primary school interdisciplinary teaching) — supported by the peer-reviewed didacticum journal (ISSN 2707-0905, Open Journal Systems 3.3.0.17), the Leycam-Verlag Studienreihe PHSt monograph series (19+ volumes), and two biennial congresses: the Grazer Grundschulkongress (with Private Pädagogische Hochschule Augustinum, proceedings via Waxmann Verlag) and the Grazer Berufsbildungskongress.

The business model is publicly funded under Austrian federal/state law: PH St receives the bulk of its operating revenue from federal (BMBWF) and Styrian state allocations as a Pädagogische Hochschule under the Hochschulgesetz, supplemented by income from Hochschullehrgänge, Masterlehrgänge, professional development courses (Fortbildung), Erasmus+ and bilateral mobility grants (including Thailand and Ukraine), and EU research project funding. No tuition is charged to EU/EEA students; only the nominal ÖH semester fee applies. Marketing and student recruitment are channeled through institutional outreach (www.phst.at, online Studieninformation sessions, educational fairs) and social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Flickr). Leadership is provided by Rectorin Beatrix Karl with Vice Rectors Regina Weitlaner and Elisabeth Amtmann, supported by HS-Professoren across specialized institutes.

Name

Pädagogische Hochschule Steiermark

Legal name

Pädagogische Hochschule Steiermark

Website

https://phst.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pädagogische Hochschule Steiermark is a public Austrian university college in Graz that delivers accredited teacher education (Bachelor, Master, extension, continuing) across early childhood, primary, secondary general, and vocational levels, funded primarily by federal and Styrian state allocations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Teacher Education (Higher Education)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Assessment, Observation & Documentation Training (Portfolios, DRDP/CLASS/ECERS) (EDACAIAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Curriculum, Standards & Assessment Policy Research (EDADADAH)

Keywords

• Teacher education programs
• Higher education instruction
• Professional development training
• Vocational teacher training
• Educational research

Headquarters

HQ city

Feldkirchen Bei Graz

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Funding (State & Federal): As a public university of teacher education under Austrian law (Hochschulgesetz), PH Steiermark is primarily funded by public (federal and state Styrian) government allocations. This covers core teaching operations, research activities, and institutional overhead.
2. Continuing Education & Professional Development Programs: Revenue generated from Hochschullehrgänge (university-level continuing education programs) and Fortbildung (professional development courses) for in-service educators, including master programs, specialization certificates, and seminars.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pädagogische Hochschule Steiermark (PHSt) is a public Austrian university college providing initial teacher education degree programs (Bachelor, Master, Extension levels) for early childhood (Elementarstufe), primary (Primarstufe), secondary general (Sekundarstufe AB), and secondary vocational education (Sekundarstufe BB), delivered through on-campus instruction, practice schools, and blended learning. It also delivers continuing professional development (Fortbildung), university-level advanced training programs (Hochschullehrgänge, Masterlehrgänge), applied educational research through four dedicated research centers (FZIB, KiJuLit, NATech, SU:AT), and disseminates scholarship via the didacticum journal, the Studienreihe PHSt monograph series, and the Grazer Grundschulkongress and Grazer Berufsbildungskongress congresses.

Product overview

Pädagogische Hochschule Steiermark (PHSt) is a higher education institution offering a comprehensive teacher education portfolio consisting of bachelor, master, and extension study programs across elementary, primary, and secondary education levels. The institution operates practice schools (Praxisvolksschule and Praxismittelschule) and university learning workshops (Hochschullernwerkstätten) including a Digital Learning Lab for practical teacher training. PHSt supports research through multiple dedicated centers (FZIB for inclusive education, KiJuLit for children's literature, NATech for sciences, and SU:AT for primary school sciences) and publishes the didacticum academic journal and the PHSt Studienreihe publication series. The institution organizes two major biennial conferences: the Grazer Grundschulkongress (primary school) and the Grazer Berufsbildungskongress (vocational education). Continuing and advanced professional development programs are offered alongside the degree programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• didacticum: Zeitschrift für (Fach)Didaktik in Forschung und Unterricht - Academic journal for subject didactics in research and teaching
• Grazer Berufsbildungskongress (GRABEK)
• Grazer Grundschulkongress

Products and services

• Lehramtsstudien (Teacher Education Degree Programs) Comprehensive teacher education programs at bachelor, master, and extension levels covering early childhood (Elementarstufe), primary (Primarstufe), secondary general (Sekundarstufe Allgemeinbildung), and secondary vocational (Sekundarstufe Berufsbildung) instruction; leading to state-recognized teaching qualifications.
• Fortbildung (Continuing Professional Development) Continuing professional development courses for practicing teachers across all school levels (elementary, primary, secondary general, secondary vocational), including specialized digital education training and summer school (Sommerhochschule).
• Weiterbildung (Advanced Training – Hochschullehrgänge and Masterlehrgänge) University-level advanced programs (Hochschullehrgänge) and master programs (Masterlehrgänge) for in-service educators covering Mentoring, Health Promotion, Special Education, Sports, Democracy Education, School Library Management, Dyscalculia, and School Leadership.
• Praxisvolksschule and Praxismittelschule (Practice Schools) On-site practice schools operated by PH Steiermark providing hands-on teaching experience and practicum placements for student teachers across primary and lower-secondary levels.
• Hochschullernwerkstätten (University Learning Workshops) Practice-oriented learning spaces including a Digital Learning Lab, Mathematics, Sciences (VERNETZT), and German-language workshops integrated into teacher training.
• didacticum – Zeitschrift für (Fach)Didaktik in Forschung und Unterricht Peer-reviewed academic journal published by PH St covering subject didactics in research and teaching, available in German and English, using Open Journal Systems 3.3.0.17.
• Studienreihe PHSt (PHSt Study Series) Monograph and edited volume series published by PH St through Leykam Verlag, supporting postdoc and junior researcher publications on teacher education topics; 19+ volumes issued.
• Grazer Grundschulkongress (Biennial Primary Education Congress) Biennial international congress on primary education research and development, co-organized by PH St and PPH Augustinum, with proceedings (Fokus Grundschule series) published by Waxmann Verlag; 300+ participants at the 2024 edition.
• Grazer Berufsbildungskongress (GRABEK – Biennial Vocational Education Congress) Biennial international congress on vocational education research, organized by PH St, promoting evidence-based vocational education research and international cooperation; 3rd edition held September 2025.

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual throughput of hundreds of newly qualified teachers across all school levels in Styria and Austria
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Integration4 records

Partnerships

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

• Private Pädagogische Hochschule AugustinumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPH St co-organizes the Grazer Grundschulkongress with the Private Pädagogische Hochschule Augustinum on a biennial basis. The congress is a central scientific forum for primary education research, bringing together researchers from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. Both institutions share responsibility for program development, congress leadership, and publication of proceedings.
• Leykam BuchverlagcoreOthersThe Rektorat of PH St publishes its Studienreihe (Studies Series) through Leykam Verlag. This publication series, dedicated to monographs and edited volumes on teacher education topics, serves as a key vehicle for postdoc and junior researcher publication support. The editorial supervision is handled by the Zentrum für Forschungssupport.
• Waxmann VerlagcoreOthersConference proceedings from the Grazer Grundschulkongress (Fokus Grundschule series, edited volumes) are published by Waxmann Verlag, an academic publisher specializing in educational science publications. Volumes 1-3 of the Fokus Grundschule series have been published.
• Erasmus+ Partner Universities (Europe)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPH St participates in Erasmus+ mobility programs with a broad network of European partner universities for student exchanges (outgoing and incoming), staff mobility, and joint educational initiatives. The institution also maintains specific bilateral agreements with universities in Thailand (Auslandsstudium Thailand) and Ukraine (Auslandsstudium Ukraine).
• PH Wien (Pädagogische Hochschule Wien)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPH Wien is represented on the Kongressbeirat (Congress Advisory Board) of the Grazer Berufsbildungskongress 2027, indicating collaborative involvement in vocational education research networks across Austrian Pedagogical Hochschulen.
• PH Tirol (Pädagogische Hochschule Tirol)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPH Tirol is represented on the Kongressbeirat of the Grazer Berufsbildungskongress 2027, indicating collaborative involvement in vocational education research across Austrian Pedagogical Hochschulen.
• PH Niederösterreich (Pädagogische Hochschule Niederösterreich)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA professor from PH Niederösterreich delivered a keynote at the 2nd Grazer Grundschulkongress (2021), demonstrating cross-institutional research collaboration in digital education for primary schools.
• University of GrazminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Graz professors serve on the Kongressbeirat of the Grazer Berufsbildungskongress (e.g., Univ.-Prof. Dr. Elke Gruber) and contribute to joint research publications, representing academic collaboration between PH St and the broader university sector in Styria.
• TU Graz (Technische Universität Graz)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTU Graz professors (e.g., Assoz. Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Barbara Siegmund) participate in the Grazer Berufsbildungskongress advisory board, supporting interdisciplinary collaboration between technical universities and teacher education institutions.
• PH Verbund Süd-Ost (Austrian Pedagogical University Network)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPH St is a member of the PH-Verbund Süd-Ost (Pedagogical University Network South-East), a cooperation structure among Austrian Pedagogical Universities for joint development, resource sharing, and coordinated program development in the southern Austrian region.
• Steirische Hochschulkonferenz (Styrian University Conference)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPH St participates in the Steirische Hochschulkonferenz, the coordination body of all higher education institutions in Styria, fostering regional collaboration among universities, universities of applied sciences, and pedagogical universities.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPH St holds the designation as UNESCO-Hochschule, integrating UNESCO's educational philosophy into its institutional strategy. This includes participation in UNESCO's Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) for 2030 framework, Global Citizenship Education, and related initiatives, with a dedicated UNESCO Newsletter for the academic community.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pädagogische Hochschule Niederösterreich: Austrian PH serving Lower Austria with comparable teacher education degrees and continuing education offerings. Cross-institutional research collaboration is documented via keynote contributions to PH Steiermark's conferences.
• Pädagogische Hochschule Wien: Largest Austrian Pädagogische Hochschule offering comparable teacher training across elementary, primary, secondary general, and secondary vocational levels, plus continuing education. Direct functional peer; represented on PH St's conference advisory boards.
• Pädagogische Hochschule Vorarlberg: Small Austrian PH in western Austria offering comparable teacher training and continuing education. Smaller scale than PH Steiermark but same legal framework and mission.
• Pädagogische Hochschule Salzburg: Austrian PH in Salzburg offering comparable teacher education at elementary, primary, and secondary levels, plus continuing education. Sits in the broader Austrian PH peer network.
• Private Pädagogische Hochschule Augustinum: Co-organizes the Grazer Grundschulkongress with PH Steiermark on a biennial basis. Both institutions train teachers across school levels in Styria, making this the most direct geographic peer in primary teacher education.
• Kirchliche Pädagogische Hochschule Wien: Church-affiliated Austrian PH providing comparable teacher education under a religious sponsor. Different governance framework but parallel mission and overlapping curriculum.
• Pädagogische Hochschule Tirol: Austrian Pedagogical University of comparable mission and offerings, serving Tyrol. Participates in the Grazer Berufsbildungskongress advisory board, indicating collaboration in vocational education research.
• Pädagogische Hochschule Oberösterreich: Large Austrian PH serving Upper Austria. Comparable in mission, scale, and offerings including vocational education specialization. Operates under the same Austrian Hochschulgesetz framework.

Broad incumbents

• Universität Graz: Major public university in Graz offering complementary teacher education programs (largely at secondary level, jointly with PH St). Same geography with broader academic scope; faculty collaborate on PH St's congress advisory boards.

Regional players

• Pädagogische Hochschule Kärnten: Austrian PH serving Carinthia, the Bundesland neighboring Styria. Offers similar teacher training including bilingual German/Slovenian programs; competes for some students and faculty in the southeastern Austrian market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/wwwphstat
• Facebookfacebook.com/PHSteiermark
• LinkedInat.linkedin.com/company/phsteiermark
• Instagraminstagram.com/_phsteiermark_

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Pädagogische Hochschule Steiermark