National strategy

Austria’s National Strategy to Prevent Early Leaving from Education and Training (ELET) (Nationale Strategie zur Verhinderung frühzeitigen Aus-Bildungsabbruchs) is a non-legislative policy framework. It was first adopted in 2012 and revised in 2016, when compulsory education and training was introduced for those up to the age of 18 (Ausbildung bis 18).

The strategy coordinates existing measures across education, the labour market, and youth policy within a three-pillar approach: prevention, intervention and compensation (reintegration). It focues on the early identification of risks, the strengthening of support systems, such as the nationwide Youth Coaching programme (Jugendcoaching), and the provision of targeted measures for disadvantaged groups, including young people with a migrant background. Re-entry pathways and ESF-funded projects complement these efforts (see section 6.3.2).

These actions are coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Education in cooperation with the ministries responsible for social affairs and labour, as well as social partners. Although there is no comprehensive, strategy-wide evaluation, monitoring is carried out via the National Eduction Report (Nationaler Bildungsbericht), key performance indicators (e.g. completion reates for upper secondary education) and the evaluation of selected ELET measures (see section 6.3.4). The results inform adjustments to programme design and partnership arrangements. 

Formal education: main policy measures on ELET

To prevent early school leaving and support young people in re-engaging with education and training, Austria has developed a comprehensive policy framework, which combines legal measures, coordinated support services and structural reforms throughout the education system. 

At its core is the Education/Training until age 18 (AusBildung bis 18) initiative, introduced in 2016, which requires young people to participate in education, training or preparatory courses until the age of 18. The initiative enhances coordination among existing programmes and establishes new support mechanisms focused on guidance, dropout prevention and transition support for disadvantaged young people. Key measures include:

• Youth Coaching (Jugendcoaching) provides personalised counselling and early intervention for young people aged 14-19 (and in specific cases up to 25) to support their transition from school to work and prevent dropout from education or training. Implemented in schools and extracurricular settings such as youth centres, it helps participants identify suitable educational and vocational pathways after compulsory schooling. In 2024, around 70,500 young people took part in the programme.
• Fit for Training (AusbildungsFit) supports young people aged 15-21 who need to strengthen basic skills before entering vocational training or further education. It offers a low-threshold entry and targets those subject to compulsory training, school leavers, and youth with special needs (up to 25).
• The Training Guarantee until 25 – supra-company apprenticeships (Ausbildungsgarantie – Überbetriebliche Lehrausbildung, ÜBA) enables young people (18-24) which are unable to secure a company-based apprenticeship to pursue a qualification and potentially transition into regular training. In 2024, around 9,600 young people were trained on inter-company apprenticeship courses.
• The Apprentice and company coaching (Lehrlings- und Lehrbetriebscoaching - Lehre statt Leere) supports apprentices and training firms, reducing dropout rates and ensuring successful completion (with around 9,290 apprentices and 850 companies supported in 2024).

In addition, complementary structural reforms were introduced with the aim to modernise the education system and strengthen learning outcomes. These include the establishment of Middle Schools (Mittelschulen), competence-based curricula, standardised examinations, modular upper secondary structures, and expansion of all-day schooling. Additional initiatives such as the Pedagogy Package (Pädagogik-Paket), improved career guidance and literacy support, promote equity and educational quality. 

At school level, early identification systems, mentoring, tutoring and Youth Coaching services (see above) provide student at risk with tailored support. Preventive and reintegration measures are reinforced by school social work (Schulsozialarbeit), psychosocial counselling (Psychosoziale Beratung), violence prevention programmes (Gewaltprävention), and increased parental involvement. 

Targeted initiatives support specific groups, such as students from migrant or refugee backgrounds, through language and transition programmes (e.g. StartWien College). In addition, vocational and lifelong learning initiatives, such as the vocational diploma (Lehre mit Matura) and career information, guidance and counselling ibobb (Bildungs und Berufsorientierung), broaden future prospects and encourage well-informed educational choices. Early childhood measures, including the free compulsory kindergarten year and German language promotion, help to ensure equal opportunities from the outset. 

Addressing ELET through non-formal and informal learning and quality youth work

Open Youth Work (Offene Jugendarbeit) focuses on open spaces, leisure activities and the social environment of target groups. Activities are developed with young people themselves and are tailored to their living conditions and needs. Specific groups are targeted through gender-reflective youth work, intercultural initiatives, and work with cliques and peer groups. 

By providing spaces for recreation, communication, information, learning, experience, development, counselling, guidance and support, Open Youth Work fulfils an important preventive function. It actively supports young people’s personal growth, with a particular focus on independence, personal responsibility and empowerment. By emphasising aspects such as ‘learning’, ‘knowledge’ and ‘experience’, it strengthens young people’s social, personal, cultural, intercultural, political and gender-related skills. Furthermore, Open Youth Work promotes young people’s ability to take action by initiating and encouraging educational processes. Cognitive eduction is a key element of this, as it helps young people to absorb, process, reflect on and act upon information. All of these Open Youth Work objectives help to address ELET.  

These measures are funded at federal, provincial and local levels. Other important stakeholders and partners involved in providing extracurricular activities include social partners, the Public Employment Service and regional institutions. 

Cross-sector coordination and monitoring of ELET interventions

Multi-agency partnerships

Austria’s ELET prevention strategy is based on cross-sector cooperation between the education, labour market, social and youth sectors, coordinated across federal and regional levels in partnership with schools, social partners and the Public Employment Service, particularly at key transition points. 

Central instruments such as Youth Coaching (Jugendcoaching) and Apprenticeship Coaching (Lehrlings- und Lehrbetriebscoaching - Lehre statt Leere) link the three pillars of the strategy (prevention, intervention and compensation) through structured case management, referral systems and interinstitutional cooperation. Within the NEBA network (Netzwerk berufliche Assistenz), programmes such as Youth Coaching and Fit for Training bring together school leaders, teachers, counsellors, social and youth workers, and AMS staff to develop individual support plans and coordinated pathways for young people at risk. 

In addition, open youth work is implemented in cooperation with municipalities, federal states, youth organisations, social partners and employment services, further strengthening coordinated support structures beyond the formal education system. 

Monitoring, evaluation and quality assurance

The regular national education report (Nationaler Bildungsbericht), issued every three years since 2009, is a legally anchored tasks of the Federal Institute for Educational Research, Innovation and Development of the Austrian School Sector (now IQS). The report provides empirical basis for education policy and system steering, including the analysis of equity, participation and the risk of early leaving. The report’s two-volume structure combines system-wide indicators with thematic analyses of key policy issues, supporting evidence-based decisions on the further development of multi-agency approaches and cooperation structures. 

Quality assurance has been strengthened through sector-wide quality management reform. The Quality Initiative for Vocational Education and Training (QIBB) has systematically embedded quality management in VET schools. Following the Education Reform Act of 2017, the separate systems for general and vocational schools were merged into the new Quality Management System for Schools (QMS), which was introduced in 2021/22. Supported by the national reference point for quality (RQB), the QMS focuses more strongly on teaching and learning processes. Providing a common framework for school-level development. This includes cooperation with external partners, as well as the use of feedback, evaluation, and external support structures. 

Additionally, selected labour market and training measures linked to ELET prevention (e.g. supra-company apprenticeship training, youth coaching and NEBA offers) are regularly evaluated, with the results informing adjustment to programme design and partnership arrangements. Policy development on ELET is also informed by national studies and reports published by the Ministry of Education and other authorities, which analyse dropout risks, target groups, and the effectiveness of measures (Berichte und Studien in Österreich). 

Link to the national Youth Guarantee

In line with the European Youth Guarantee, Austria ensures that all young people under the age of 25 receive an offer of education, training, or employment within four months of leaving formal education or becoming unemployed through the Training Guarantee up to the age of 25 (Ausbildungsgarantie bis 25). This framework is supported by a coordinated set of measures, including the Education and Training until 18 (AusBildung bis 18), Youth Coaching (Jugendcoaching), Supra-company Apprenticeship Training (Überbetriebliche Lehrausbildung, ÜBA), and Fit for Training (AusbildungsFit) as outlined in section 6.3.2.