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Tourism Education  

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Did you know that Austria is 1st in worldwide rankings for per-capita income from international tourism? Or that it’s the world’s 2nd most competitive tourism location? Or that it is the world’s 10th most popular tourism destination by arrivals? The basis for this success comes from the tourism education and training programmes in Austria, with their strong international focus.

 
Content:

The Austrian Educational System

The educational system in Austria comprises the following areas:

  • General Education
  • Apprenticeship Training
  • Tertiary Education
  • Adult Education


Here you can find a visual illustration of educational opportunities in Austria : Graph [gif, 44.8kb]

General Education

Compulsory education starts at the age of six and lasts for nine years. Austrian state schools are generally free of charge and universally accessible.

After four years of Primary School there is a choice between four years at a Lower Secondary School or attending a Secondary Academic School . The latter is divided into four years of lower level and four years of upper level and finishes with a Reifeprüfung-Certificate A-level, which entitles pupils to study at Institutes of Higher Education.

Secondary Vocational Schools can last from one to four years and provide for branch-specific knowledge and skills which are necessary for professional life. Colleges last five years (with Reifeprüfung-Certificate A-level or VET Diploma) and transfer higher branch-specific theoretical and practical knowledge and skills, which provides access to appropriate trade and Institutes of Higher Education.

Supplementary courses shall bring graduates of Secondary Vocational Schools to the education level of Colleges. Post-Secondary Courses shall convey to graduates of Secondary Academic Schools the learning objectives of Colleges.

Apprenticeship Training

The Apprenticeship Training in Austria requires the completion of the compulsory education (9 years) and is based on the principle of the dual system.

Company-based training

  • Job-specific skills
  • Job-specific knowledge


Attendance of a part-time vocational school

  • Transfer of branch-specific knowledge
  • Complementing the company-based training


For the most part, the vocational training takes place in company. It will be complemented by a compulsory attendance of a part-time Vocational School. The basis for the Apprenticeship Training builds the apprenticeship contract between the training company and the apprentice. The apprentice receives a monetary compensation, which is regulated by law in a collective contract. This education is completed with the final apprenticeship examination.

Tertiary Education

Tertiary Education is provided by Institutes of Higher Education:

  • Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulen)
  • Universities


Universities of Applied Sciences offer Bachelor and Master Study Programs and provide scientific and job-oriented education at university level. Internships are part of the programs, which require a Bachelor or Master Thesis at the end.

Universities offer Bachelor, Master and Doctoral Study Programs and provide scientific and theoretical education. They are also in charge of the rising generation of scientists and researchers. The Study Programs require a Bachelor, Master or Doctorate Thesis at the end.

Adult Education

There are two areas of Adult Education:

  • General Adult Education (e.g. general education, personality training)
  • Vocational Adult Education (vocational continuing education)


Internationalization

At the end of the 1990s, the “Bologna Process” was implemented with the goal of an improved comparability of Higher Education in Europe as well as the simplification of the recognition of various domestic and international Higher Education degrees. This creation of the “European Higher Education Area” supports the internationalization of the Tertiary Education sector and strengthens the competitiveness.

Austria participates in this cross-border know how transfer as well. In many fields – like in tourism – this internationalization is of utmost importance. It already starts with international students exchanges (e.g. Sokrates) and internships abroad (e.g. Leonardo da Vinci) during studies and continues with international partnerships and projects in professional life. One example for the support of the export of Austrian tourism know how in the areas of education, research and consulting is the internet platform tourism-knowhow.at, which has been initiated by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour.

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Source and further information:
Last Modified 25. June 2008
 
 
 
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