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Eurydice

EACEA National Policies Platform:Eurydice
National reforms related to adult education and training

Austria

14.Ongoing reforms and policy developments

14.5National reforms related to adult education and training

Last update: 12 September 2024
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2024

 

Level up -  Adult Education (new cycle of former Initiative Adult Education)

Status: agreement (2024 - 2028) 

Sources: 

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Description:

The Level up - Adult Education (former Initiative Adult Education) enables adults who lack basic skills or never graduated from lower secondary education to continue and finish their education free of charge. The related joint funding program developed by the state and the provinces (Bundesländer) has aimed to a quantitative expansion and to a qualitative development of education programs regarding compulsory education certificates and literacy/basic education since 2011.

Austrian educational institutions that want to take part have to apply for accreditation in accordance with the guidelines of the program "Level up - Adult Education.".

The initiative has two focus areas: training of basic skills and lower secondary education as a basic prerequisite for further education and enhancement of chances on the labour market. The main objectives therefore are:

  • Equal opportunities and reduction of disadvantages,
  • reduction of the number of persons without basic education,
  • increase in the number of persons with basic educational qualifications and
  • increase in the permeability of the education system.

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Measures:

  • Training of basic skills and lower secondary education for adults in preparation for the compulsory school certificate on the basis of general quality standards
  • General quality standards: a Compulsory School Examination Act which contains adult-appropriate and innovative forms of implementation with competence-orientated, cross-curricular programs which are tailored to the target groups, taking their living situations and their particular potential into account.
  • Development of a "Framework Directive for Basic Training and Key Competences" targeted at adults
  • A clearing-period at the beginning and counselling in regard to the transition into work or further education at the end are very important parts of this program.

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Expected impact:

  • Increase of qualification levels, the reduction of disadvantages
  • Provide offers free of charge (literacy/basic education programs, compulsory education).

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Funding: the federal and provincial governments each bear 50% of the costs. This educational offer is free of charge to participants.

Monitoring:

  • Consistent quality guidelines for all courses of this program have been implemented.
  • A monitoring group supervises the process and the results.
  • The total costs will only be refunded to the institutions if participants graduate successfully.
  • Evaluation of the program.

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Involved bodies:

 

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2023

There have been no reforms.

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2022

There have been no reforms.