Austria's Education Jobs: High Esteem Or Not?

Teachers in China, Malaysia, and Taiwan are held in the highest public esteem, according to an international survey of 35,000 people by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research and the Varkey Foundation. In China, 81% of respondents believe that pupils respect their teachers, compared to an international average of 36%. In contrast, teachers in Brazil, Israel, and Italy are perceived to be less esteemed. The UK falls in the upper half of the rankings, with teachers held in higher regard than in the US, France, and Germany.

Austrian teachers are held in high regard compared to other countries

Teachers in Austria are held in higher regard than in many other countries, including the United States, France, Germany, Russia, Israel, and Japan. However, they are not held in as high a regard as teachers in China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia, South Korea, India, and Singapore.

Austria has a long history of valuing education. Since 1774, when Empress Maria Theresa of Austria made schooling compulsory for both girls and boys aged six to twelve, the country has consistently worked to improve its education system. Over the years, various reforms have been implemented to make education more accessible and equitable for all.

In recent years, Austria has been reviewing its education policies, including previous reforms, to ensure that all students have equal opportunities to succeed. The country has also been investing in education and training, modernising its early childhood and school education system, and promoting adult learning.

One area of focus for Austria has been improving digital skills and capacity for blended learning at all levels of education. This became especially important during the COVID-19 crisis, when schools had to switch to distance learning. To support this transition, the government provided a comprehensive online platform and thousands of computers for students who needed them.

Another area of focus has been addressing socioeconomic and migrant background disparities, as these continue to be major determinants of basic skills. The government has implemented various initiatives to improve access to education for socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals and increase their level of education.

Overall, Austrian teachers are generally satisfied with their careers, with 85.1% expressing satisfaction—14.2 percentage points above the EU-23 average. However, only 16.1% of teachers feel that their profession is valued by society. To address this, the government has committed to evaluating the recently implemented reforms, enhancing professional development opportunities, and improving pathways for people to join the teaching profession without initial teacher training.

While there is no direct comparison of Austria to other countries in terms of teacher esteem, it is clear that Austria prioritises education and is working to support and improve the teaching profession.

Austrian teachers do not need to pass an exam to qualify for a PGCE

In Austria, there are 14 University Colleges of Teacher Education (Pädagogische Hochschulen). However, there is no mention of Austrian teachers needing to pass an exam to qualify for a PGCE.

In Austria, education is divided into public, private, and international schools. The Federal Ministry of Education funds and supervises all primary, secondary, and tertiary education in Austria, but each individual state is the administrator. School attendance is mandatory until the age of 15, through to ninth grade.

Austria has a long academic tradition based on an open-minded atmosphere, creativity, and innovation. The country offers six types of higher education institutions: 22 public universities, 3 medical universities, 3 technical universities, 16 private universities, 21 universities of Applied Sciences, and 14 University Colleges of Teacher Education.

Overall, educational quality in Austria is high, and the system is quite affordable, especially for European nationals, who can study almost for free. Austria has some of the best universities in the world, ranking high in global university rankings. For most study programs, you need to know the German language. However, the country also offers multiple English-taught programs, especially at the postgraduate level, and you can take German language courses while studying.

The Austrian education system has mandatory schooling for nine years

Education in Austria

Mandatory Schooling

Austria has a free and public school system, and nine years of education are mandatory. The Federal Ministry of Education funds and supervises all primary, secondary, and tertiary education in Austria, but each individual state is the administrator. School attendance is compulsory up until the age of 15, through to ninth grade.

Primary Education

Primary school education in Austria is mandatory for all students. It takes place at a Volksschule or Grundschule and caters to students aged six to ten, ending after the fourth grade is successfully completed. The local state authority administers primary schools in the region, however, they are funded by the federal government.

Public primary education is free in Austria, and the quality throughout the country is widely considered to be very high. However, if your child does not speak German, your options are more limited. If your child is young and would thrive in a German-speaking school, you can enrol them in a regular public school. Another option is bilingual schooling. Bilingual schools are public and no-cost, and offer bilingual instruction in German and English. Unfortunately, there are a limited number of bilingual schools, and many are clustered around Vienna and other major cities where spaces fill up fast.

Secondary Education

In Austria, secondary school caters to students aged 10 to 18 and is compulsory until the ninth grade. After completing primary school, students may enrol in different types of schools, depending on their interests and career goals.

Public secondary education in Austria is free and generally very high-quality. Subjects taught include the standard subjects, however, due to the various tracks that students can choose from, there are many options to pursue both academic and vocational interests.

Known as Neue Mittelschule in German, lower secondary school caters to students aged 10 to 14. Generally, students study standard subjects with some options to explore their own interests in certain schools. The Polytechnische Schule is available to ninth-grade students and involves one year of study, often within a polytechnical school. Overall, this year seeks to prepare students for a vocational program or apprenticeship.

Known as Berufsschule, vocational schools offer both school subjects and a structured apprenticeship in their area of interest. They cater to students in grades 10 to 13.

Tertiary Education

Austria has a three-tiered education system, including Bachelor's, Master's and Doctorate degrees. The academic year runs from mid-September or October and ends in September of the following year, with breaks for summer and winter, Easter and Christmas.

The University of Vienna, Graz and Innsbruck, among others, offer a wide spectrum of academic disciplines. Technical and medical universities focus more on specialised applied and theoretical disciplines. Universities of the Arts, like the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, cover music, dramatic arts, fine and applied arts.

There are also numerous private universities in Austria, such as the Central European University, the Sigmund Freud University and the Modul University of Vienna. They offer top-quality education with innovative teaching methods and constantly updated programs.

Austria is a popular study destination, with over 60,000 international students choosing to study there each year.

Austrian teachers are not required to study a body of knowledge like lawyers or doctors

In Austria, teaching is not considered a high-prestige profession, and teachers' salaries are lower than in other countries. However, the Austrian education system is of high quality, and the country has a long academic tradition.

Teachers in Austria are not required to study a body of knowledge in the same way that lawyers or doctors do. Instead, they are expected to have general pedagogical knowledge (GPK) as their basic professional knowledge. This includes knowledge about classroom management, teaching methods, classroom assessment, and student heterogeneity. GPK has a significant influence on sustainable learning and teaching, and Austrian teachers are encouraged to reflect on their GPK and continuously develop it through a process of professional learning.

The requirements and challenges of teaching are constantly evolving, and teachers need to adapt their knowledge and skills accordingly. This may include developing new teaching methods, incorporating technology into the classroom, or finding ways to better support students with special educational needs.

While there is no standardized body of knowledge that all Austrian teachers must study, there are still expectations and standards for teachers' knowledge and skills. This includes both general pedagogical knowledge and subject-specific knowledge, depending on the type of school and the age group they teach.

Overall, while Austrian teachers may not have a standardized body of knowledge like lawyers or doctors, they are still expected to have a strong foundation of knowledge and skills that they can draw on in their teaching practice.

Austrian teachers are not assumed to be able to teach any and all subjects

In Austria, teachers are not expected to be able to teach any and all subjects. The Austrian school system is highly differentiated, with a variety of educational tracks and institutions. This means that teachers specialise in specific subjects or areas of study.

The Austrian school system can be broadly divided into primary, secondary, and tertiary education. Primary education is mandatory for all students and takes place at a Volksschule or Grundschule, catering to students aged six to ten. Secondary education is compulsory until the ninth grade and can be divided into lower secondary school, which caters to students aged 10 to 14, and upper secondary school, which caters to students aged 14 to 18. After completing primary school, students can enrol in different types of secondary schools, depending on their interests and career goals.

Lower secondary school is known as Neue Mittelschule, and during this stage, students study standard subjects with some options to explore their interests. The Polytechnische Schule is available to ninth-grade students and prepares them for a vocational program or apprenticeship. Upper secondary school is divided into vocational schools, known as Berufsschule, and academic schools, known as Allgemeinbildende Höhere Schule or Gymnasium. Vocational schools offer a combination of school subjects and a structured apprenticeship, while academic schools prepare students for university.

In addition to public schools, there are also private and international schools in Austria. Private schools account for about 8% of schools in the country, with some having affiliations with religious or Montessori education. International schools are often chosen by expat parents as they offer a familiar language of instruction and continuity of study when students return to their home country.

Overall, the Austrian school system offers a wide range of educational options, and teachers specialise in specific subjects and areas of study within these different tracks and institutions.

Frequently asked questions