Austria Guidance for Adults and Students Peter Härtel Prague, 23-24 March 2006

1. AustriaGuidance for Adults and StudentsPeter Härtel Prague, 23-24 March 2006

2. Austrian Adult Guidance This has become obvious in the establishment of comprehensive "education databases" (www.erwachsenenbildung.at; www.eduvista.com, and education databases in all Austrian provinces), in the formation of a national platform for education counselling, and the arrangement of inter-institutional education information and counselling services acting independently from the service providers (e.g., in Burgenland, Upper Austria, BIBER Salzburg). This project has received funding from the european community

3. It is also the task of adult education to provide qualification services for persons working in careers counselling. To that end, for instance, the course "Bildungsberatung. Eine praxisbegleitende Fortbildung" [Careers Counselling. An in-service course] was established at the Bundesinstitut für Erwachsenenbildung St. Wolfgang in Strobl [Federal Institute for Adult Education in St. Wolfgang/Strobl]. This project has received funding from the european community

4. The so-called "Infotage für Weiterbildung" [information days for further education] are a special service initiated by the bm:bwk and summarise information and counselling opportunities at the beginning of the autumn term on the national and provincial levels. In provinces the former Förderungsstellen des Bundes für Erwachsenenbildung [Federal Centres for the Promotion of Adult Education], under the responsibility of the bm:bwk. ere closed in 2002, now exist in the most provinces regional networks (Arbeitsgemeinschaften) of adult ecucation institutions who offer education information and counseling, esp on virtual platforms, but also in local mobil offers (e.g. Styria, Burgenland). In addition to that, there are several information centres established in cooperation with other bodies (e This project has received funding from the european community

5. On National level the Adult Educations wich are official announcr by law (Erwachsenbildungs – Förderungsgesetz” are organized in the “Conference of Adult Education Austria”, this platforms represent the big nation-wide organized institutions and provide development and guidance in the network of national and regional institutes. This project has received funding from the european community

6. I. Tertiary sector In the Tertiary Sector, most universities offer Psychologische Beratungsstellen für Studierende [Psychological Advice Centres for Students], which fall into the province of the bm:bwk, to support students at the choice of a degree and at coping withstudying, and the Berufsplanungszentren [Career Planning Centres] of the universities.   This project has received funding from the european community

7. The Austrian Student Union provides information, counselling and other services at which students, staff of the University Representation groups and of the individual faculties work as coun­sellors, there are tutors for university entrants offering information about studying, and centralised academic advisers for school leavers who often act as "mobile advisers" visiting schools in person. This project has received funding from the european community

8. The bm:bwk maintains a university information service which publishes various information brochures and CD-ROMs, provides telephone information, and legal aid for students, and organises careers fairs. The biggest of them being the BeSt – Die Messe für Beruf und Studium [The Job and Education Fair] held every spring in Vienna in cooperation with the Public Employment Service Austria,and every second autumn in Graz, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Leoben and Salzburg (in Salzburg together with the BIM – Berufsinfomesse [Careers Information Fair]). This project has received funding from the european community

9. Studies information brochures, e.g. about universities and academies,are drawn up by the bm:bwk and handed out to all school students preparing for their "Reifeprüfung"- exams [A Level equivalent]. They can also be fetched under www.bmwf.gv.at (e.g. "Weiterbildung an Universitäten" [further education at universities]). This project has received funding from the european community

10. Many universities also have special drop-in centres for career planning after graduation, and for information and guidance of graduates starting theirvocational careers. Such centres can be found, for instance, at the University of Economics in Vienna, or at Graz University (Jungakademiker-Service), or other universities (in the form of Career Planning Centres , Career Services, etc.). This project has received funding from the european community

11. In the sector of the Fachhochschul-courses, information and counselling are provided at all locations of "Fachhochschul"-courses (currently 23). In cooperation with the Fachhochschule Council detailled information material ("Fachhochschulführer" – a guide to Fachhochschul-courses, "Dualer Stu­dien­führer") is published (bm:bwk, IWI, CCC). This project has received funding from the european community

12. AustriaGuidance for Adults and StudentsPeter Härtel Prague, 23-24 March 2006