Academia Mobility Experience Austria 2024 "Lifelong Career Guidance"

Author: Christine Klas

This year’s Austrian Academia Mobility experience took place in the western province of Vorarlberg, Austria, hosted by BIFO – counselling for education and career www.bifo.at.

From April 9 to 11, 2024, we welcomed 10 career guidance professionals from 8 different EU countries. Over the course of three days, we engaged in lively exchanges on the topic of lifelong career guidance, involving our local career guidance counsellors and other experts. The programme included presentations on various lifelong career guidance initiatives, national best practices, and visits to institutions and projects.

Day 1-2

We began with a meet and greet at the BIFO office in Dornbirn, where participants gained insights into BIFO's lifelong guidance services and our approach to individual guidance for young people and adults. This was followed by a presentation on the Austrian education system by Euroguidance Austria. Later, we moved to our office in Bregenz to learn about the Youth Coaching programme and the Regional Coordination Unit "Education and Training until 18 and Transition from School to Work "www.kost-vorarlberg.at". The first day ended with a welcome dinner in Dornbirn over the rooftops of Dornbirn, which we reached by cable car.

On the second day, activities commenced at the BIFO office in Dornbirn, featuring a presentation on the Talente Check programme www.talente-check.info, a regional programme for educational and vocational orientation in cooperation with compulsory schools.This was followed by a visit to the VKW/Illwerke hydropower company lehre.illwerkevkw.at, where we we had a guided tour through their training centre and learned about the Austrian apprenticeship system.

Day 3

Thursday included a trip to the Principality of Liechtenstein, where we visited the Office for Vocational Education and Career Counselling and got an overview of vocational, study and career guidance and the educational system in Liechtenstein.

After lunch in the medieval castle of Feldkirch, we took a short walk through the city before concluding at the BIFO office in Feldkirch for the official closing, evaluation, and farewell.

Overall, the experience was very enriching and inspiring for both participants and organizers.

Have a look at this short video about the Austrian Academia Mobility Experience 2024!