Second Survey School and WOW.pdf

WORKING GROUP: TRANSITION
IV.2.5. Existing networks related to WOW
Austria
In Austria exist some networks, regulated by law, and other related to the special tasks and
programs of school types, additional networks within projects, regional networks and other.
A) A legally based “network” is the regulated partnership between enterprises and school
within the apprenticeship education and training. This apprenticeship is based on a
contract between the apprentice, the enterprise and the parents, including the
compulsory vocational school.
This creates a kind of network between about 40.000 enterprises and some 120
vocational schools in Austria, in all regions, in all sectors of economy, infect the networks
exist really between the concrete partners and in the special sectors of economy (e.g.
construction, tourism, carpenter, mechanists, electronics, etc., more “virtual” in some.
B) In some school types exist very strong and effective living networks between school and
the regional economy and enterprises, so especially for the so called “polytechnical
school – prevocational school”, at the ninth grade, because within this school year the
students have some weeks “work experience” within real enterprises, prepared,
accompanied and reflected within the school program.
This cooperation between school and enterprises is one of the most effective program to
prepare a smooth transition from school to further vocational training and education,
which is also very effective for young people with personal predictions and
qualifications, which are not real good in the school sector, but more practical
orientated.
Additionally exist a lot of cooperations between school and economy / enterprises in a
more or less intensive networking, e.g. in the field of upper secondary vocational school
system (technical, commercial, service, tourism).
C) The third format of networks is – either nation wide or regional or target orientated –
within special programs, projects and activities, e.g. within the European social fund
(forma: EQUAL development partnerships), projects at province level, e.g. “Career Catch
Coaches” Styria, networks and platforms at national level, e.g. for “Lifelong Guidance”
(National Forum for Lifelong Guidance) including all relevant Federal Ministries, social
partners, public employment service, Euroguidance, NGO´s like Austrian Association for
Education and Economics etc.
This networks have in principle an more informal base (but some regulated strictly by
administration regulations), but are in the real sometimes highly effective.
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