National Report Presentation of uniT – Verein für Kultur an der Karl-Franzens Universität Graz 2nd partner meeting (Barcelona)

Austrian Situation – Legislation and Administration Confusing situation – Splitted competences: federal government; provence governments and municipial governments 2 brand new laws in Austria: Anerkennungsgesetz and the obligatory education up to 18 Anerkennungsgesetz deals with the validation of non-formal and informally acquired competences - more the process

Validation of Qualification Input-Orientation Since 2012 information centres to foster validation in every provence. There are different types of validation of qualifciation, especially complex is the situation of validation of professional skills due to the Austrian dual system of vocational education and the enourmos amount of regulated professions and a lot of different organisations and instutions involved in the validation process.

Good Practice – Universities MORE Project MORE – an initiative of the universities to support asylum seekers to facilitate the access to universities. language courses – mixing Erasmus students with refugees Possibility to attend courses as a guest student Offering information and counselling in „Welcome Centres“ Implementation of a buddy-system by the student representation in cooperation with the universities Invitation of refugees to social events and sports. Facilitation of validation such as the extension of admission periods and to make the proof of an entitlement to study easier.

The Qualification Plan of Vienna A plan to support all different groups of educationally disadvantaged people. (Labour Market service and Municipality of Vienna; social partners) The main goal is to reduce the number of low qualified people. The tools to reach this goal are: „Qualifikationspass“ Kompetenz mit System Qualification programs in cooperation with enterprises Information and creation of awareness of the rising importance of professional education

Qualifikationspass An online data system to validate qualifications and working experience. All institutions, counselling and information centres in Vienna working in adult education, professional trainings and integration in the labour market shall use this data to build up the career planning of their clients on this information. The information which is uploaded by a central centre is reviewed by the centre so everyone can rely on the information. The Qualifikationspass will be the basis of the individualized career planning of the clients.

Kompetenz mit System It is a module system of qualification. The idea is to use phases of unemployment for trainings which you can put together to get higher qualifications – mainly the apprenticeship certificate which is very important and it is not so easy to pass the exames. 2013 it was possible to get the certificates for 8 professions – 1000 people made use of this possibility.

Validation The vocational schools for some professions in Vienna offer assessments. After the assessment the clients get certificates to proof their skills and to inform them what competences they have to acquire to reach the apprenticeship certificate. There are organisations offering trainings for this purpose. The Viennese Labour Market Service also pays for assessments in enterprises an vocational schools to validate competences as one step on the pathway to a higher professional qualification.

Educational Training in Fohnsdorf (sfz) Sfz offers highly indivdualized trainings in five areas Sfz takes into account all the competences – also the informally and non-formal acquired in the education plans Sfz combines training and mentoring as a support in the process of individualized learning and also in the process of job search 5 areas: metal technology, electrical engineering, wood construction technology, office and IT and tourism

Sfz - Process Clearing: Professional goals, motivation, personal situation (77% will start) Individualized training (1 week to 1,5 years) will be developed and contracted - apprenticeship certificate, qualification as a skilled worker … Personal coach accompanies the process of training

Jugendcollege Vienna Programm for about 1000 young asylum-seekers to offer them individualized training before reaching official asylum status. Language, IT and English courses, career planning and trainings on the job.

Problems - Recommendations The lack of an overall strategy. There are many different institutions, governments and other stakeholders involved – therefore a flexible and common reaction to new developments is quite difficult. Individualized career planning and trainings are more and more important. Mentoring and Coaching are more and more important as a support for people in the lifelong learning process they have to deal with.

Problems – Recommendations The duration of the process of integration – especially of asylum-seekers is much too long. This is a period of frustration and dequalification. But also other groups of educationally disadvantaged people are often not reached with the measurement of qualification and integration. Information and Raising of Awareness Improvement in the use of modern media

Problems - Recommendations To be more flexible in the validation of non-formal and infomally acquired competences. The support of volunteers as a support in mentoring and coaching of educationally disadvantaged people will be very important in the future. Structures of organizing this support are failing.