Globalisation is considered by many to be the challenge of the 21st century. The Austrian education system aims to convey competences which promote useful and responsible action in complex global connections. Cross-border contacts with a variety of programmes that help gather international experiences are intended to enable young people to make themselves familiar with the economic, political, cultural and historical situation in other countries and regions and to promote their linguistic competence. In addition, these contacts are meant to raise their desire for independent mobility.

In the work programme of the Austrian Federal Government for the period 2017-2022 the further internationalisation of the Austrian education system is mentioned as an explicit goal.

The Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union (which took effect in 2014, thus replacing the previous Lifelong Learning Programme as well as the Cooperation and Mobility Programmes in Higher Education with third countries) is very important for the promotion of internationalisation and mobility in Austria. It offers various possibilities of either learning mobility or transnational cooperation for learners and teaching staff of all educational levels (cf. chapter 13.1, 13.2, 13.3). With its participation in Erasmus+, Austria is promoting the internationalisation and quality development of Austrian educational establishments from kindergarten up to adult learning and education. In 2015 alone, a total of more than 13,000 mobility stays and over 400 projects were approved. In addition to financing by the EU, Austria makes national funding available in order to ensure a level of participation in Erasmus+ that is as high as possible.

One major aspect in mobility projects is the recognition of learning outcomes acquired abroad. As well as the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) in the higher education sector there is the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET), which is currently being implemented in Austria. Of equal importance for the internationalisation of the Austrian education system and for the promotion of mobility is the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), which was established when the NQF law came into force in March 2016.

The successful EU programme Erasmus+ will be continued for another 7 years from January 1, 2021.

In Austria at all levels of the education system – from early childhood education up to adult learning and education – there are a number of activities and measures to promote mobility and internationalisation. The following table gives an overview of these activities and measures, both for learners and also for teaching staff. You will find more information in the individual chapters. Table 13-1 Selected measures to increase mobility in the Austrian education system according to target groups