Bundesinstitut für Erwachsenenbildung

What Bundesinstitut für Erwachsenenbildung does

Bundesinstitut für Erwachsenenbildung (bifeb) is an Austrian federal government institute operating as a subordinate agency (nachgeordnete Dienststelle) of the Bundesministerium für Frauen, Wissenschaft und Forschung (BMFWF). It functions as Austria's designated national competence center for the professionalization of adult education, delivering certified training programs, certification workshops (Zertifizierungswerkstatt), and specialized librarianship courses (Bibliothekslehrgänge) co-developed with the Büchereiverband Österreichs (BVÖ). Its core training portfolio includes the Ausbildungslehrgang Basisbildung (a 412-unit basic education trainer program accredited with 15.5 wba ECTS credits) and the Level Up – Erwachsenenbildung framework-aligned programs.

The institute runs a residential training and conference facility at Bürglstein 1-7 in St. Wolfgang im Salzkammergut, hosting approximately 265 events per year for ~40 staff supported by a network of 25 cooperation partners. Its technology backbone is a self-hosted Moodle LMS (moodle.bifeb.at) used for course organization, progress tracking, and blended learning, with a separate specialized library search portal (search.vbk.ac.at) for Austria's largest adult-education-focused library collection. The institute publishes knowledge through the Wissensblog, the bimonthly bifeb aktuell print magazine, Magazin erwachsenenbildung.at, and free information webinars.

bifeb's revenue model combines institutional government funding (BMFWF appropriations) with course fees paid by participants and sponsoring employers (€70-€590 per course excluding accommodation), supplemented by BMWKMS-covered costs for public library staff training and freemium lead-generation webinars. Distribution is domestic and concentrated in Austria, with enrollment via website, email, and fax, and channel partnerships with BVÖ, Wiener Volkshochschulen, and other adult education institutions. There are no private investment, equity, or acquisition dimensions to the business — it operates as a public-sector competence center under ministry oversight.

Name

Bundesinstitut für Erwachsenenbildung

Legal name

Bundesinstitut für Erwachsenenbildung (bifeb)

Website

https://bifeb.at

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bundesinstitut für Erwachsenenbildung (bifeb) is Austria's federal government competence center for adult education professionalization, delivering certified training programs, librarianship courses, and a residential conference operation in St. Wolfgang under the Federal Ministry for Women, Science and Research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Education Training and Professional Development

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Academic & Research Library Operations (College/University Libraries) (EDAEAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Project, Program & Portfolio Management Certifications (EDAAANAB), Digital Teaching Resources & Lesson Plan Libraries (EDAGAEAK)

Keywords

• Adult education training
• Professional certification programs
• Continuing education workshops
• Librarian training courses
• Residential conference venue

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Wolfgang im Salzkammergut

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: As a subordinate service of the Bundesministerium für Frauen, Wissenschaft und Forschung (BMFWF), bifeb operates as a publicly funded Austrian government institution. Course and accommodation costs for librarians at public libraries are covered by Bundesministerium für Wohnen, Kunst, Kultur, Medien und Sport (BMWKMS).
2. Course Fees: Participants and their employers or sponsoring organizations pay participation fees for courses. Fee examples: €590 for basic education training program (Ausbildungslehrgang Basisbildung), €435 for linguistics course, €339 for event evaluation seminar, €315 for pedagogy basics, €140 for gender & diversity module, €70 for optional add-on modules. Some events are free (e.g., webinar on basic education). Accommodation costs are excluded from course fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bundesinstitut für Erwachsenenbildung (bifeb) develops and delivers certified training, professional development, and continuing education programs for adult education practitioners in Austria, combined with Austria's largest specialized adult education library and a residential conference center at St. Wolfgang im Salzkammergut. Offerings include the 412-unit Ausbildungslehrgang Basisbildung (wba-accredited with 15.5 ECTS), multi-module Bibliothekslehrgänge for public librarians, the Zertifizierungswerkstatt certification workshop series, and approximately 265 seminars, webinars, and residential courses per year delivered via Moodle e-learning and on-site instruction.

Product overview

Bundesinstitut für Erwachsenenbildung (bifeb) is Austria's competence center for adult education professionalization, operating as a subordinated agency of the Federal Ministry for Women, Science and Research. The institution offers an integrated platform combining educational programs (Bildungsangebot), e-learning infrastructure (Moodle), a specialized library, and conference facilities. Educational offerings include certified training programs such as the Ausbildungslehrgang Basisbildung (412-hour basic education instructor training), Bibliothekslehrgänge (librarianship certification programs with modules covering collection management, digital services, and library management), and specialized workshops in areas including counseling, educational management, and digital competencies. The competence center (Kompetenzzentrum) disseminates knowledge through the Wissensblog, Magazin erwachsenenbildung.at, and working groups. All programs are supported by Moodle-based learning management and delivered at the lakeside conference facility in St. Wolfgang with approximately 40 staff members, 25 cooperation partners, and 265 annual events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 265 events conducted annually with an average of 40 staff and 25 cooperation partners
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• Büchereiverband Österreichs (BVÖ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe BVÖ co-organizes training courses and certification programs for librarians in public libraries with bifeb. Programs include multi-module library training courses (Lehrgänge) with 9 modules covering library management, public relations, digital services, and community engagement. BVÖ coordination handled through Saskia Paul.
• Level Up – ErwachsenenbildungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe basic education training program (Ausbildungslehrgang Basisbildung) is recognized by Level Up – Erwachsenenbildung. The program qualifies trainers for the Level Up adult education framework. Level Up is coordinated by the BMFWF.
• Bundesministerium für Frauen, Wissenschaft und Forschung (BMFWF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partnerbifeb is a subordinate service (nachgeordnete Dienststelle) of the BMFWF. The ministry provides institutional funding, strategic direction, and program oversight. Eileen Mirzabaegi from the ministry participates as a lecturer in the basic education program.
• ARGE Bildungshäuser ÖsterreichminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerARGE Bildungshäuser Österreich commissions programs on behalf of the Cooperative System for Austrian Adult Education (Kooperatives System der österreichischen Erwachsenenbildung). They co-organize seminars such as 'Evaluation von Bildungsveranstaltungen' with bifeb.
• Wiener Volkshochschulen (VHS Wien)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple VHS Wien staff serve as instructors and program leaders at bifeb, including Angelika Hrubesch (Leiterin lernraum.wien), Mareen Köpnick (stellv. Bereichsleiterin IEB), and Bettina Aumair (Gender & Diversity). VHS Wien provides staff expertise to bifeb's training programs.
• wba (Weiterbildungsakademie)coreStrategic or Co-development Partnerbifeb's educational programs are accredited by wba, with participants able to earn recognized ETCS-equivalent credits. The basic education training program carries 15.5 wba credits, with additional recognition possible across competency areas including pedagogy, didactics, counseling, media, and social competencies.
• B!LL – Institut für Bildungsentwicklung LinzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerB!LL (Institut für Bildungsentwicklung Linz) is led by Sonja Muckenhuber and Katja Burgstaller, who serve as course directors (Lehrgangsleitung) for the basic education training program. The institute coordinates professional development for basic education trainers.
• 25 Cooperation Partners (Kooperationspartnerinnen und Kooperationspartner)moderateOthersbifeb works with approximately 25 regional and national cooperation partners in the Austrian adult education ecosystem, including various adult education institutions, associations, and government bodies, to jointly shape educational pathways.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• B!LL – Institut für Bildungsentwicklung: Linz-based institute that directs the basic education training program at bifeb and coordinates professional development for adult basic education trainers in Austria. Closely intertwined curriculum partner operating in the same niche.
• Deutsches Institut für Erwachsenenbildung (DIE): The German national institute for adult education research and professionalization, structurally the closest German counterpart to bifeb. Both act as national competence centers supporting the professionalization of adult educators through research, training, and credentialing.
• Volkshochschule Wien (VHS Wien): Austria's largest adult education provider in Vienna, which is both a cooperation partner supplying instructors to bifeb and a direct provider of certified adult education training. Operates in the same Austrian market and serves overlapping practitioner segments.
• ARGE Bildungshäuser Österreich: Austrian network of adult education centers that co-organizes seminars with bifeb (e.g., event evaluation courses). Operates residential training venues and adult education programming similar to bifeb's conference center model.
• Büchereiverband Österreichs (BVÖ): Austrian library association that co-organizes the Bibliothekslehrgänge with bifeb and is a primary channel for library professional development. Highly comparable mission of professionalizing public library staff and providing continuing education.

Others

• European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA): European-level umbrella organization for adult education providers. Not a direct competitor but a policy and ecosystem stakeholder comparable in function to bifeb's competence center role at the Austrian national level.
• DIPF | Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education: German research institute that produces evidence on adult education and education systems, similar to bifeb's Wissensblog and Magazin erwachsenenbildung.at knowledge dissemination role. Adjacent rather than competing, but comparable in mission.

Regional players

• VHS-Verband (Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband): National federation of German Volkshochschulen, Germany's largest adult education provider network. Operates in an adjacent market (Germany) with a comparable model of publicly funded, multi-program adult education provision.

Emerging players

• Level Up – Erwachsenenbildung: BMFWF-coordinated framework that accredits bifeb's basic education training program. Operates in the same adult education professionalization space as an umbrella credentialing body, partially overlapping with bifeb's mission.

Broad incumbents

• Pädagogische Hochschulen Österreich: Austrian teacher training colleges that provide continuing professional development for educators, including adult educators, and compete for the same training budgets. Wider in scope than bifeb but cover overlapping practitioner audiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bifeb

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bundesinstitut für Erwachsenenbildung