Volkshochschule im Landkreis Cham e.V. - Adult Education Centre in the District of Cham e.V.

Who we are?

The Volkshochschule im Landkreis Cham e.V. (VHS Cham) has been performing the task of adult education for more than 30 years. From its humble origins as a voluntary organization, it has developed and grown over the years into a modern service company with almost 70 employees and 300
freelancers. Together it not only caters to classics like business and careers, languages, health, modern living and culture. Yearly it offers more than 1250 learning offers to more than 15000 people. The institution also successfully promotes international exchange and cooperation.

What we do?

VHS Cham is a registered, non-profit association in Upper Palatinate acting on a regional level. It provides courses in the field of society, vocation, languages, health, culture and special courses. VHS Cham has a long term experience of course development with the specific focus vulnerable groups and experienced in organising courses for specific target groups: young adults and adults with fewer opportunities and special needs (e.g. illiterate, dyslexia), seniors, migrants, refugees and people from rural areas. One of the largest groups of language learners is asylum seekers, migrants and non-native speakers; about 75% of whom are Muslim. For the above groups, it organises language and orientation courses as well as programmes to obtain school certifications and find work. Other activities include: literacy courses, language and professional courses for juveniles and coaching activities.

Additionally, the state-approved vocational school for geriatric nurses in Bad Kötzting, to the state-approved vocational school for physiotherapy in Cham, the Health Academy Eastern Bavaria and the Tourism Academy for Eastern Bavaria in Bad Kötzting, as well as the new established Vocational School for Child Care and Academy for Social Pedagogy are all schools that belong to the VHS Cham.

VHS Cham works in several EU wide Development programmes as Erasmus + and Lifelong Learning Programme or Interreg. As an experienced coordinator and partner institution VHS Cham has completed many European projects, the expertise focuses on project management, research conduct (employees with background in sociology, economy and languages), preparation and realisation of dissemination strategy.

VHS Cham works also in close cooperation with the Bavarian Adult Education Centre Association (bvv), the Institute for International Cooperation of the German Adult Education Association (IIZ/DVV), the German Institute for Adult Education (DIE), and the German Adult Education Association (DVV).

Long-term experience as coordinating organisation in European and national projects and has allowed the VHS Cham to develop a stable basis for operational and financial management.

Our best practices

• “FLAM – Feel like a migrant” a multicultural approach in teaching to raise awareness concerning social cohesion and intercultural dialogue. http://www.flam-project.eu/  and follow up project “SIMILAR – Supporting Integration of Migrant Learners, Asylum Seekers and Refugees” which aims to foster the integration of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers through a multicultural approach and empowering measures in the areas of integration and social welfare.
• “TLC Pack – Teaching Languages to Caregivers” focuses on occupational specific languages to support migrants already working in, or with aspirations to work in, the care giving sector. The project won the EAEA Grundtvig Award in 2016.
• “DysTEFL – Dyslexia for Teachers of English as a Foreign Language 2” a training course pre- and in-service EFL teachers.
• “IN-Life – Integration through Sustainable Lifestyle” –brings newcomers, refugees and immigrants closer to a sustainable and environmentally-friendly way of life in order to facilitate their integration.
• “Assess Well – Assessment and enhancement of vocational language skills in the wellness sector” English videos and language learning materials based on real-life situations in the wellness sector which is accompanied by an assessment tool to help employers assess the level of competences of future employees.