1. Success Factors of Transition in Austria Possible considerations and consequences for countries all over the world
Peter Härtel & Michaela Marterer Styrian Association for education and economics
Johannesburg, 23 April 2013

2. Background, Rationale
Increasing Youth unemployment – up to 50% and more - is one of the most challenging aspects in EU and OECD in the last years
Youth unemployment is not only an issue of labour market and employment, it has also deep social and human dimensions for individuals, families, regions and society
Successful transition from initial education, VET to world of work is therefore a key element of future economic, social and human development at local, regional, national, European and global level
Austria as a small country with a long tradition of „central Europe dual education – apprenticeshíp“ has in the last years a stabil top performance concerning transition and youth employment within EU and OECD
This top performance is not only an effect of dual education, but also of developments and reforms in the previous educational processes

3. Youth Unemployment in Europe
Jugendarbeitslosigkeit Jänner 2013
Eurostat 2013

4. Dynamics in Youth unemployment (YU)
Ø EU 27 YU increased from 15 to 22%
In some countries YU increased from less than 10 to more than 30%
More than 20% of EU-members had an YU rate more than 30% in crises 2010
In some countries – and in Ø EU – YU is still increasing
AT as only one (except Germany!) is stabil at low level….

5. Y Youth unemployment rates in the EU27, 2007 and 2010
Notes: Annual average unemployment rate for those aged 15–24 years
Source: Eurostat Labour Force Survey in “Foundation Findings. Youth and work” (2011)

7. Theses
The youth labour market is not an one-dimensional caused issue, many factors are relevant
For Austria, the dual education – apprenticeship – model is one of these, also the high rate of VET students in upper secondary education
But, the visible developments in the Austrian youth labour market parallel to the reforms in pre-vocational education and additional measures allow the thesis, that there exists a strong relation between these elements.

8. Students in vocational upper secondary education
Source: Cedefop

9. Long-term survey pre-vocational school
A reform in prevocational school – 9th grade - in 1997 took place, with the main elements
Improvement of career guidance
Enhance vocational preparation
Implement occupational basic education
Invest in practice-related teacher training
Intensify co-operation with regional enterprises
Basic-skills, related to occupational needs
Inclusion and special support for them who need
This reform process was accompanied from a long-term evaluation, every 2 years,
The results show a clear picture about value and effects of reform and development

10. Flashlights of the results I
The pre-vocational school is in Austria the schooltype
with the highest diversity of student population regarding school performance, social background, migration…
the lowest level of Ø in PISA results,
The only school-type in at 9th grade without a access-barrier
But, pre-vocational school has an excellent performance in „transition“ of students in further apprenticeship as an access to world of work
And, pre-vocational school lays the base for long-term-development of „transition“ after vocational education – the YU of qualified apprentices after initial VET is much lower than of unqualified people

11. Flashlights of the results II
Starting from a good performance of Transition in 1997 the rate of successfull transitions increased during a period of 15 years – up to more than 90% at the end of the school year
Even in time of worldwide financial crises – with dramatic increases of Youth unemployment – the transition process in Austria runs stabil and effective
Supported is this development within school system by external services like „Career catching counsellors – implemented also 1997

12. Youth Unemployment in Styria
Austria © LASTAT Steiermark

13. Rate of return in relation to number of schools and students of main units

14. Results of the survey regarding categories for transition

15. Key findings transition research
Strong relationship between well performing occupational preparation at the transition point from initial education and apprenticeship
First transition points are highly relevant for next transition from VET to work of world
Most effective elements are: individual talents, interests, perspectives; developing self-confidence, strong co-operation between schools and enterprises

16. Premises, Promises, Pitfalls
Premise: Even under difficult conditions high performance transition processes between school, VET, World of Work are possible
Beside of structural and organisational issues in the systems of education, VET and labour market the processes are the most relevant factor – this should be a Promise
Pitfalls could be avoided, if we consider the relevan essentials of transition processes

17. Thank you for attention,
further contact and
co-operation!

18. Success Factors of Transition in Austria Possible considerations and consequences for countries all over the world
Peter Härtel & Michaela Marterer Styrian Association for education and economics
Johannesburg, 23 April 2013