Challenges and future plans: Promoting sustainability

Posted: 2022-12-08 / Category: Austria country reports > Austria 2022

The VÖV mentions that Austria faces a serious shortage of qualified teachers, as many long-standing course instructors have stopped teaching over the course of the pandemic. It is therefore a challenge to find newly qualified teachers. Furthermore, it will be important to recall participants and attract new participants to adult education.

COVID 19: Participation figures have fallen sharply

The current situation of adult education is still marked by the Corona pandemic. Participation figures have fallen sharply, and general adult education has been hit particularly hard.

While vocational adult education lost about 23% of its participants during the pandemic, general adult education lost around 62%. Currently, there are already signs of a slight recovery, with participation figures growing again by about 10% in both areas. This is shown by statistics of the Conference of Adult Education Austria

The VÖV also reports that, due to the good equipment of the IEB programme, the basic skills' education continued success in the digital environment during the pandemic.

Future plans

ARGE continues to participate in two international Erasmus + projects.

A number of press activities have been implemented to draw attention to the achievements of adult education and advocate for more funding. A film with VÖV President Heinz Fischer, a relaunch of the VÖV website and the development of a VÖV advocacy programme is also planned.

Sustainability

The VÖV is currently developing a strategy to promote sustainability in their work procedures. The topic of sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is addressed in the VÖV committees and in a separate Austrian working group. In addition, practical experiences are exchanged and adult education centres and regional associations make their offerings available for transfer.

Moreover, the creation of Austria-wide offers in the field of sustainability and SDGs are planned. Cooperation with Birdlife Austria is developed, whereby courses are offered throughout Austria. Within the framework of the Austrian UNESCO Commission, there is the Advisory Board on Transformative Education, which deals with the implementation of the SDGs in Austria.

ARGE reports that sustainability is omnipresent in their activities, even without a special strategy. ARGE’s members provide education offers relating to sustainability and are keen on using resources sustainably. ARGE also promotes sustainability through specific classes on green skills.

Recommendations to policymakers

ARGE states that there should be a closer relationship between all organisations which are part of KEBÖ (Conference of Austrian Adult Education). Moreover, the Campaigning for ALE should increase, and active citizenship should be promoted.

VÖV emphasises that:

ALE should be recognised as an equal part of the education system through contemporary adult education law.
One percent of the federal education budget should be available for adult education
There is a need for structural funding and long-term education programmes instead of project funding
Low-threshold, democratic and scientific education as well as diversity and sustainability are to be established as basic principles of adult education and its funding.