Federal Law on Higher Vocational Education

Further development and expansion of electronic reporting procedures should be encouraged.

• Publication in Central Gazette: December 14, 2023
• To come into effect: The day after publication in the Federal Law Gazette, but not earlier than May 1, 2024

target

Development and introduction of further professional qualifications

Content

Federal Law on Higher Vocational Education (HBB Law)

Key concepts

The planned new federal law on the establishment of higher vocational education aims to provide a formal (legally established) quality framework to systematically support higher qualifications in the labor market in a practical manner and according to the needs of the sectors. related to It aims to further train professionals based on transparent criteria, evidence-based and functionally related to the content of their initial apprenticeship or professional experience already gained.

By merging qualification levels from National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 5 to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), highly practical professional qualifications will also be internationally comparable. This will, among other things, enable improved representation of the qualification level of experts employed by Austrian companies when awarding international contracts.

In the context of lifelong learning, it should be around 1.6 Mio. Austrians between the ages of 25 and 64 who have completed an apprenticeship as their highest educational qualification, and who Average 870,000 people who have years of professional experience after completing compulsory schooling can obtain a formal educational qualification and social recognition through the associated, practical work-based methods. At the same time, it aims to create a more sustainable training perspective with formal academic qualifications in several professional fields and to make the choice of apprenticeship or vocational training more attractive.

Need skilled workers va Individuals will benefit from expanding their professional skills and knowledge. HBB-Qualifications should also help prepare people working in organizations for managerial roles and specialized professional functions. As a new section in the Austrian education system, the qualifications of higher vocational education aim to provide a practical level of vocational training for practical learning types in working life according to this federal law.

In order to make new educational offerings sustainable and ensure wide acceptance in their respective professional contexts, experts from respective professions and fields, social partners and vocational training research should be involved in improving qualification standards. The qualifications established under the new law should focus on immediate professional application. Contrary to the provisions on the goals and guiding principles of universities of applied sciences HBB-Qualifications are not based on science-based academic pathways, but on-demand skills based on proven evidence needed for immediate professional practice. Mediation HBB-Qualifications do not take place in a university environment and are not based on regulations for the European Higher Education Area, but mainly through sub-curricular training offers in institutional practice and vocational adult education.

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