AEHT

VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR THE TOURISM AND LEISURE INDUSTRY:
THE AUSTRIAN SYSTEM

A. The Austrian system ofeducation and training - in general

 PRIMARY SCHOOL ("VOLKSSCHULE")

either LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOL ("HAUPTSCHULE")
or LOWER LEVEL OF ADVANCED GENERAL SECONDARY SCHOOL ("UNTERSTUFE der AHS" = ALLGEMEINBILDENDE HÖHERE SCHULE)

either one POLYTECHNICAL STUDY YEAR ("POLYTECHNISCHE SCHULE") and
apprenticeship (see below) to follow
(a t 1 5 y e a r s : end of compulsory schooling, i.e. start of occupational life possible)

6 - 10 years of age
10 - 14 years

at the age of 14

1. or 4 years of UPPER LEVEL OF ADVANCED GENERAL SECONDARY SCHOOL ("AHS-OBERSTUFE"), ends with matriculation examination or 'A' Level exam ("REIFEPRÜFUNG" or "MATURA")
   or 3 years' attendance at a MEDIUM LEVEL VOCATIONAL SCHOOL ("FACHSCHULE" or "BMS" = BERUFSBILDENDE MITTLERE SCHULE) ending with a school-leaving examination or 'O' Level ("ABSCHLUSSPRÜFUNG")
   or 5 years' attendance at an ADVANCED LEVEL TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL SCHOOL ("BHS" = BERUFSBILDENDE HÖHERE SCHULE), ends with an 'A' Level exam ("REIFE- UND DIPLOMPRÜFUNG")
   
   
   * "KOLLEG" = vocational training / studies in supplementary courses
   ** "FACHHOCHSCHULE" = NON-UNIVERSITY TERTIARY SECTOR
   *** Studies at UNIVERSITIES.
   
   
after graduating from AHS or BHS - at the age of 18 or 19

1. The Apprenticeship:
Starts at the age of 15, is a "dual" system: for 4 days each week the vocational training is done in the (tourist) enterprise, on the 5th day at a vocational school ("BERUFSSCHULE"). It takes 3 years to complete (or 4 years with double apprenticeship). 5 apprenticeship trades in tourism: 1. cook, 2. restaurant specialist (formerly waiter / waitress), 3. "system gastronomer" (in fast-food chain stores), 4. hotel and restaurant trade commercial assistant and 5. travel agency assistant.
2. Vocational education and training in schools:
2.1: 3 years (age 14 - 17) at a "medium level vocational school" (BMS); the most important type being the INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL FOR THE HOTEL INDUSTRY AND CATERING OCCUPATIONS (= "HOTELFACHSCHULE") complements general education and provides students with all necessary knowledge and skills for occupations in the catering industry; see curriculum point C below.
school year lasts 8 months (daily); practical training in enterprises: 2 periods 12 weeks.
2.2: 5 years (age 14 - 19) at a "higher technical and vocational school" (BHS), called an ADVANCED LEVEL SCHOOL (OR COLLEGE) FOR TOURISM (= "HÖHERE LEHRANSTALT FÜR TOURISMUS").
Provides students with advanced level general education and theoretical and practical knowledge for leading positions in tourism.
5 academic years of 9 months, full time; 4 periods of two months' practical work in summer.
School leaving exam entitles graduates to study at universities or to start professional life.
2.3) After 'A' Level exams at AHS or BHS:
* POST-SECONDARY COURSE IN TOURISM (= "KOLLEG" FÜR TOURISMUS UND FREIZEITWIRTSCHAFT): 4 terms = 2 years of 8 months; full time.
Provides students with all the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge for leading positions in tourism. 12 weeks of practical work in tourist enterprises between terms 2 and 3.
** Study courses at FACHHOCHSCHULE (= non-university institutions in higher education) specialising in tourism; duration: 3 - 4 years; successful completion leads to the academic degree "Magister FH".
*** UNIVERSITY STUDIES with programmes for tourism, e.g. in business administration;
last 4 and more years; graduates hold the academic degrees Magister or Doktor.
3. Further training:
E.g. in training courses at WIFI (= Trainings' Institute of the Chamber of Commerce), the "bfi" (same institute run by the Chamber of Laborers) etc.
Courses for chefs, certified barkeepers..., preparatory training for examinations in occupational competence for opening trades like hotels, travel agencies, tourist guides etc.
Courses for managers of local tourist offices ...

SPECIALIZATION:
-Third Modern Language or
-Language and Economy or
-Hotel Management or
-Tourist Management or
-Cultural Studies or
-City Tourism and Event Management or
-Data Processing
Additional Compulsory Subjects at School's Discretion = „SEMINARS":
Seminar in Foreign languages
General Education
Theory of Tourism
Practical Skills

D.Recognition of the Austrian vocational education by EU-member states
Appendix1 on the Reifeprüfung and diploma certificate from colleges for tourism: main area of training: hotel management (BGBl. [Federal Law Gazette] No. 734/1993)
Training level and duration of training: from school year 9, 5 years
Training objective:
Colleges for tourism provide a sound general education, general and subject-specific commercial training, training for the area of tourism and catering, the subject-specific application of at least two modern languages as well as practically oriented knowledge and skills in the services sector (equivalent to the vocational concept of restaurateur), in kitchen management and organisation (equivalent to the vocational concept of cook), as well as in administration and customer service (equivalent to the vocational concept of hotel and restaurant business assistant, office administrator or travel agency assistant).
The practical training prepares students to work for employers (as employees) or on a self-employed basis (as entrepreneurs) in various branches of the tourism and leisure industry and administration on the clerical and management, as well as administrative, levels.
Professional competencies:
Beyond this, colleges for tourism with the main area of training in hotel management provide sound knowledge and skills in the areas of organising events, hotel management, food and beverage management as well as business management and personnel management.
Graduates are mainly employed in areas requiring a high level of responsibility of their own, such as in the creation of regional and supraregional tourism concepts, in the planning and monitoring of business operations, in the planning and co-ordination of EDP applications relating specifically to these sectors, in conducting negotiations and negotiating contracts, in personnel management and staff management, in planning the allocation and utilisation of working resources, as well as in the planning, organisation, financing and supervision in businesses providing accommodation and catering.
Access to careers:
The training is on a high vocational level, which can be directly turned to account on the labour market and used for management-level careers. Graduates achieve a high level of vocational training, comparable with graduates of post-secondary education courses in other Member States of the European Union and can assume similar responsibilities and undertake corresponding tasks.
For self-employed persons, in addition to satisfying the general requirements for practising a trade, evidence of any specific practical and/or qualifying requirements must also be provided. After satisfying the necessary requirements, graduates of the above colleges can, for example, undertake business as accredited professionals in the hotel and restaurant business, commerce or as commercial agents or take the examination for the qualifying certificate for travel agencies, tourist guides, insurance consultants, management consultants, investment consultants, advertising agencies, real property consultants, forwarding agents, etc.
Access to the tertiary sector:
The successful completion of training entitles students to take up study at a university, Hochschule, Akademie or a course of study at a Fachhochschule. The period of study may be reduced if an appropriate course at a Fachhochschule is taken.