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BackEurope is faced with huge challenges: growing global competition, the high proportion of low-skilled workers, an aging society and the alarmingly high number of young people without a job. In times like this, vocational education and training is of utmost importance. Austria has shown during the economic crisis that solid vocational education and training can help tackling youth unemployment. That Austria’s vocational education and training could become an export success story, was impressively demonstrated by an event in Brussels, which was co-hosted by AK EUROPA.
“VET is attractive resp. vocational education and training is attractive!”
This was the motto under which an event organised by AK EUROPA, the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Federal Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture and the Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth took place in Brussels this week. The main objective of the event was to present the successful Austrian system of vocational education and training, which includes both vocational training (dual education) as well as intermediate and higher-level vocational schools.
Mayr: the Austrian system of vocational education and training is a best practice model for Europe
Thomas MAYR, Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, commented in his introductory statement that vocational education and training was very positive both for employers and employees. It facilitates the transition from apprenticeship training to work, said Mayr. He pointed out that Austria had a long tradition of dual education, which is a profitable “investment” for businesses, thereby being a win-win situation for young people and employers alike.
Hölbl: the Austrian vocational training system is a success story
Alexander HÖLBL, Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth, outlined the principles of Austrian vocational training and emphasised that an apprentice spends 80 % of his or her vocational training at the company and 20 % at the vocational school. Vocational training on average lasts 3 years.
Horschinegg: having completed compulsory schooling, 80 % of young people in Austria decide to start an apprenticeship
Jürgen HORSCHINEGG, Federal Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture (BMUKK), provided more details of the structures of initial vocational training in Austria. According to this, ca. 40 % of all young people choose an apprenticeship as their initial vocational training and another 40 % intermediate and higher-level vocational schools. Only 20 % decide in favour of a secondary school, i.e. the general education system. By graduating from a higher-level vocational school (e.g. HAK [commercial academy] or HTL [higher technical school]), graduates not only have an excellent vocational education, but also access to a place at university. Horschinegg also mentioned the role of the BMUKK as the “guardian of quality” of vocational education and training.
Tschirf: the image of vocational education and training still requires some work
Matthias TSCHIRF, Director General, Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth made a brief reference to the negative image, which unfortunately many in Austria associate with vocational training. He also felt it important to mention that with regard to European competition one should not always concentrate on university graduates; school-leaving qualifications, for example higher-level vocational schools would also be of high quality.
Horak: businesses do not offer enough apprenticeships
Bernhard HORAK, Federal Chamber of Labour, also confirmed the merits of Austrian vocational education and training. The whole system had been reliable and successful for decades. However, in contrast to the previous speakers, he named some points, which require action from the perspective of the Chambers of Labour. According to this, businesses did not offer enough apprenticeships, which would lead to enormous expenditure for Public Employment Services (AMS). The situation, where there is no quality assurance with regard to vocational education and training had become untenable. Apart from that, some of the many training courses were on a too narrow scale (200 skilled trades and 600 educational curricula). He demanded for career orientation to become a compulsory subject at last and that the image of dual education was improved as a matter of urgency.
Reithuber: the connection between school and industry is important
Franz REITHUBER, Director of the Federal Higher Technical Institute (HTBLA) Steyr spoke of many successful careers, which had their origin in the HTBLA Steyr; one of its graduates being the former Chairman and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa, Wolfgang Mayrhuber. Reithuber also underlined the importance of the strong connections between HTBLA and industry and that the school was motivating many young people to follow new paths. Many HTBLA graduates would take up a university course (ca. 50 %).
Freilinger: vocational school can be relied upon!
Werner FREILINGER, HR Manager SKF Austria AG added that from an employer’s point of view one could rely on well trained young people who had completed their vocational education and training course. This achievement became even more obvious when young people went abroad to pursue their careers.
Delgado: good vocational education and training results in low unemployment figures
João DELGADO, Head of Unit, European Commission, DG Education and Culture, unreservedly praised the Austrian system of vocational education and training, whereby the seamless transition from apprenticeship training to work was without a doubt the particular strength of the system. However, continued Delgado, one could generally see that in states where good vocational education and training was provided, unemployment figures were far lower than in other comparable states, where this was not the case. But he also warned that the Austrian model could not just be copied or adopted by another country. In particular the close involvement and cooperation of social partners was a vital prerequisite.
This was the motto under which an event organised by AK EUROPA, the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Federal Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture and the Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth took place in Brussels this week. The main objective of the event was to present the successful Austrian system of vocational education and training, which includes both vocational training (dual education) as well as intermediate and higher-level vocational schools.
Mayr: the Austrian system of vocational education and training is a best practice model for Europe
Thomas MAYR, Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, commented in his introductory statement that vocational education and training was very positive both for employers and employees. It facilitates the transition from apprenticeship training to work, said Mayr. He pointed out that Austria had a long tradition of dual education, which is a profitable “investment” for businesses, thereby being a win-win situation for young people and employers alike.
Hölbl: the Austrian vocational training system is a success story
Alexander HÖLBL, Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth, outlined the principles of Austrian vocational training and emphasised that an apprentice spends 80 % of his or her vocational training at the company and 20 % at the vocational school. Vocational training on average lasts 3 years.
Horschinegg: having completed compulsory schooling, 80 % of young people in Austria decide to start an apprenticeship
Jürgen HORSCHINEGG, Federal Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture (BMUKK), provided more details of the structures of initial vocational training in Austria. According to this, ca. 40 % of all young people choose an apprenticeship as their initial vocational training and another 40 % intermediate and higher-level vocational schools. Only 20 % decide in favour of a secondary school, i.e. the general education system. By graduating from a higher-level vocational school (e.g. HAK [commercial academy] or HTL [higher technical school]), graduates not only have an excellent vocational education, but also access to a place at university. Horschinegg also mentioned the role of the BMUKK as the “guardian of quality” of vocational education and training.
Tschirf: the image of vocational education and training still requires some work
Matthias TSCHIRF, Director General, Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth made a brief reference to the negative image, which unfortunately many in Austria associate with vocational training. He also felt it important to mention that with regard to European competition one should not always concentrate on university graduates; school-leaving qualifications, for example higher-level vocational schools would also be of high quality.
Horak: businesses do not offer enough apprenticeships
Bernhard HORAK, Federal Chamber of Labour, also confirmed the merits of Austrian vocational education and training. The whole system had been reliable and successful for decades. However, in contrast to the previous speakers, he named some points, which require action from the perspective of the Chambers of Labour. According to this, businesses did not offer enough apprenticeships, which would lead to enormous expenditure for Public Employment Services (AMS). The situation, where there is no quality assurance with regard to vocational education and training had become untenable. Apart from that, some of the many training courses were on a too narrow scale (200 skilled trades and 600 educational curricula). He demanded for career orientation to become a compulsory subject at last and that the image of dual education was improved as a matter of urgency.
Reithuber: the connection between school and industry is important
Franz REITHUBER, Director of the Federal Higher Technical Institute (HTBLA) Steyr spoke of many successful careers, which had their origin in the HTBLA Steyr; one of its graduates being the former Chairman and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa, Wolfgang Mayrhuber. Reithuber also underlined the importance of the strong connections between HTBLA and industry and that the school was motivating many young people to follow new paths. Many HTBLA graduates would take up a university course (ca. 50 %).
Freilinger: vocational school can be relied upon!
Werner FREILINGER, HR Manager SKF Austria AG added that from an employer’s point of view one could rely on well trained young people who had completed their vocational education and training course. This achievement became even more obvious when young people went abroad to pursue their careers.
Delgado: good vocational education and training results in low unemployment figures
João DELGADO, Head of Unit, European Commission, DG Education and Culture, unreservedly praised the Austrian system of vocational education and training, whereby the seamless transition from apprenticeship training to work was without a doubt the particular strength of the system. However, continued Delgado, one could generally see that in states where good vocational education and training was provided, unemployment figures were far lower than in other comparable states, where this was not the case. But he also warned that the Austrian model could not just be copied or adopted by another country. In particular the close involvement and cooperation of social partners was a vital prerequisite.