National report on the development and state of the art of adult learning and education (ALE): Austria

Preparations are being made for the Sixth International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA VI), ‘Living and learning for a viable future - the power of adult learning’, to be held in Brazil in 2009. As part of these preparations, member states are requested to prepare a national report on the developments in adult learning and education since 1997 (CONFINTEA V), on the current state of the art and future challenges of adult learning and education. These reports will constitute a major input for the Brazil conference, help to prepare a regional synthesis for the regional preparatory conferences and supply critical data for a Global Report on Adult Learning and Education (GRALE).

National economic successes are linked to a specific education strategy. Traditionally the Austrian education system is characterised by a focus on intermediate qualifications and a university system with a predominance of long degree courses. In comparison with many other OECD countries, education paths at the upper secondary level have retained relatively high current graduate figures. Due to the strong emphasis on vocational education and training (VET) it should be noted that international educational comparisons underestimate the Austrian system. In the continuum of learning activities (formal, non-formal and informal learning), responsibilities and competences are split between a wide range of agencies and institutions in Austria. In addition, responsibilities and competences for the regulation, provision, financing and support of learning activities vary widely. In the Austrian adult learning and education (ALE) sector in general, apart from public agencies such as the federal government, provincial governments and the municipalities, a strong commitment on the part of religious communities can be observed. These actively co-design the ALE landscape via their educational establishments and associations. Providers can roughly be assigned to the following categories: in-house as well as company-oriented institutions; not-for-profit adult learning providers (mostly small); private training providers and schools; and Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences) programs. One of the fields where development is necessary, as identified by experts within the framework of an audit visit on ALE in Austria, is a weak evaluation and dissemination culture.

Preparations are being made for the Sixth International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA VI), ‘Living and learning for a viable future - the power of adult learning’, to be held in Brazil in 2009. As part of these preparations, member states are requested to prepare a national report on the developments in adult learning and education since 1997 (CONFINTEA V), on the current state of the art and future challenges of adult learning and education. These reports will constitute a major input for the Brazil conference, help to prepare a regional synthesis for the regional ...  [+] Show more