- 2022Design
- 2023Implementation
- 2024Implementation
Background
International competences are indispensable in a globally active society and economy. It is important to impart them to learners as early as possible. This presupposes that teachers, in their function as mediators and multipliers, also have the necessary competences. Specific competences in the area of international affairs, including language acquisition, intercultural behaviour and negotiation skills, knowledge of international economic relations and financial markets, are a prerequisite for the successful integration of VET learners into the labour market and the competitiveness of Austrian companies.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF), in coordination with the Ministry of Labour and Economy (BMAW) and the social partners, has therefore defined internationalisation as a core theme in education policy for the next few years within the framework of the National implementation plan (NIP). Among the goals to be pursued by 2025 is the 'establishment or further development of a structure for increased internationalisation of VET schools'. Transnational cooperation and mobility for students and teachers should become a regular part of education and training in both intermediate and higher vocational schools.
Objectives
BMBWF, which is responsible for the VET schools (i.e. three- to five-year school-based VET programmes), is pursuing the following specific goals with the establishment and further development of a structure for increased internationalisation in VET:
- promotion of international competences among students and teachers;
- supporting VET schools in implementing their internationalisation projects/strategies;
- promoting the European and international dimension in VET schools;
- promote Erasmus+ accreditation to support VET schools' internationalisation efforts;
- increase awareness of the Erasmus+ programme and its opportunities amongst students and teachers.
Description
The Erasmus+ VET team Austria, located at OeAD, the Agency for Education and Internationalisation, plays an essential role in pursuing these goals. This is a network of professionals with expertise in European VET topics and Erasmus+. OeAD, in cooperation with BMBWF, has defined the following procedure in connection with the above objectives.
Activity 1: Status quo survey and feedback from practitioners
In the course of this activity, interviews with practitioners from Boards of Education and schools will be conducted in the first half of 2023 to gain insight into existing internationalisation practices, especially in relation to mobility activities. In both cases, institutions with many years of mobility experience and those with little experience will be interviewed. Existing structures and processes will be discussed and challenges faced by the institutions will be identified. The interviews will also focus on wishes and suggestions as well as requirements that would be necessary from the practitioners' point of view.
Activity 2: Symposium
The results of the interviews will be incorporated into a 'practice report' containing recommendations for the (further) development of structures and instruments to support the internationalisation (mobility) activities of VET schools. In autumn 2023, the findings from the interviews and the recommendations derived from them will be discussed in a symposium.
Activity 3: Implementation by...
The Erasmus+ VET team Austria, located at OeAD, the Agency for Education and Internationalisation, plays an essential role in pursuing these goals. This is a network of professionals with expertise in European VET topics and Erasmus+. OeAD, in cooperation with BMBWF, has defined the following procedure in connection with the above objectives.
Activity 1: Status quo survey and feedback from practitioners
In the course of this activity, interviews with practitioners from Boards of Education and schools will be conducted in the first half of 2023 to gain insight into existing internationalisation practices, especially in relation to mobility activities. In both cases, institutions with many years of mobility experience and those with little experience will be interviewed. Existing structures and processes will be discussed and challenges faced by the institutions will be identified. The interviews will also focus on wishes and suggestions as well as requirements that would be necessary from the practitioners' point of view.
Activity 2: Symposium
The results of the interviews will be incorporated into a 'practice report' containing recommendations for the (further) development of structures and instruments to support the internationalisation (mobility) activities of VET schools. In autumn 2023, the findings from the interviews and the recommendations derived from them will be discussed in a symposium.
Activity 3: Implementation by BMBWF
After the final 'practice report' is available (end of 2023), in which the results of the symposium are also incorporated, BMBWF will discuss the concrete implementation of the proposals with the responsible actors and take appropriate measures (planned period: 2024-25).
In 2022, the design of the measure and procedure took place and the questionnaires for the status quo survey and feedback from practitioners were developed. The search for identification and selection of suitable interview partners and feedback providers began.
In the period between March and June 2023, interviews were conducted with 17 representatives from schools in various subject areas and from all Länder as well as representatives from Boards of Education. These were intended to gather feedback on both positive aspects and challenges in connection with the existing structures of Erasmus+ mobilities.
The findings from the interviews and recommendations derived from them were discussed with teachers, school leaders and education directorates at an event in autumn 2023. The results and the recommendations derived from them were summarised in a report which was delivered in November 2023 (not published) and should subsequently help to make the necessary structural adjustments.
There were no new developments regarding an implementation of the recommendations of the report of 2023.
Bodies responsible
- Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF)
- Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OeAD)
Target groups
Learners
- Learners in upper secondary, including apprentices
- Young people (15-29 years old)
Education professionals
- Teachers
Entities providing VET
- VET providers (all kinds)
Thematic categories
European and international dimensions of VET
This thematic category covers both European and international cooperation in initial and continuing VET, aimed at promoting EU VET systems as a European education and training area and making it a reference for learners in neighbouring countries and across the globe.
Expanding opportunities and increasing participation of VET learners, young and adult, and staff in international mobility for learning and work, including apprenticeship and virtual and blended mobility, account for most initiatives in this thematic category.
Apart from established and financially supported EU cooperation, VET opens up to cooperation and promotion of European values and national practices beyond the EU, which is becoming a trend. This thematic category also encompasses internationalisation strategies, transnational cooperation projects and initiatives – including those where joint VET programmes, examinations and qualifications are developed – and participation in international skills competitions that promote the image of VET. Using international qualifications – awarded by legally established international bodies or by a national body acting on behalf of an international body – in the national VET systems and recognising them towards national qualifications is also in focus.
This thematic sub-category refers to developing internationalisation strategies supporting a strategic approach to international cooperation in VET and lifelong learning, including going beyond the EU.
This thematic sub-category refers to providing opportunities for, implementing and increasing rates of, learning mobility of VET and adult learners and staff, including virtual mobility, apprenticeship placements, long-duration mobility and mobility to third countries, in line with national regulations, collective agreements and health and safety provisions. It also includes the provision of information about mobility, support structures and tools, strengthening the quality of mobility experiences and recognition of learning outcomes acquired abroad, including with the use of relevant EU tools, e.g. memoranda of understanding or learning agreements (ECVET elements).
European priorities in VET
VET Recommendation
- VET as an attractive choice based on modern and digitalised provision of training and skills
Osnabrück Declaration
- European Education and Training Area and international VET
Subsystem
Further reading
Country
Type of development
Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2025). Increasing internationalisation in VET: Austria. In Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2025). Timeline of VET policies in Europe (2024 update) [Online tool].
https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/sv/tools/timeline-vet-policies-europe/search/44421