Education

Austria’s educational system is numbered among the best in the world – and it is largely oriented toward the needs of the business world. Serving this end are a practice-oriented educational system for skilled workers, a diversity of vocational schools and a close cooperation between institutes of higher education and the business community – all unique in the world. In raising these standards even further, Austria’s investments reached 5,5% of GDP.

One of the distinctive features of the Austrian educational system is the extensive co- operation prevailing between the business community and educational institutions. Approximately 20 universities of applied sciences offering 240 courses of study as well as 22 universities maintain close ties to the industrial sector.

The dual education system, which combines theoretical and practical teaching, is applied in preparing for careers requiring apprentice training as well as in higher vocational schools. Curriculum and training courses are tailored to the requirements of the business world. Apprentices are professionally trained in companies or gain on-the-job experience. The bottom line results of research and development activities are exploited in a practice-oriented manner within the framework of joint projects carried out by schools working together with the business community, e.g. in theses, dissertations or student enterprises.

This two-pronged approach is considered to be exemplary throughout Europe. Foreign investors highly value the specialized skills and the sound, fundamental know-how of Austrian employees.

In the worldwide ranking of the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2009, Austria is rated among the ten best countries in terms of the quality of its educational system, ahead of Germany, France, Japan and United Kingdom.

Austria leads in continuous education

In addition to a person’s initial education, the strategy of pursuing ’life-long learning’ and continuing, career-related education is increasingly gaining in importance.

In the category of life-long learning, Austria has the highest level of participation throughout the European Union, and one of the top global rankings. In no other EU member state are so many adults involved in professional training as in Austria, according to a study carried out by the Statistical Office of the European Communities in 2005.

89 percent of adult Austrians have taken part in formal or informal professional training courses. The EU average is only 42 percent.