https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Austria in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed What do foreign parents need to consider when it comes to Austria's education system? From different educational paths to learning German, here's what an Austrian teaching expert had to say. https://www.thelocal.at/20260504/parents-should-inform-themselves-austria-schools-expert-urges-parents-to-research-education-routes Mon, 04 May 2026 12:39:12 +0200 parents-should-inform-themselves-austria-schools-expert-urges-parents-to-research-education-routes A new expert report slams the high number of universities in Austria, recommending that several merge together. But universities are rallying against it. https://www.thelocal.at/20260421/does-austria-have-too-many-universities Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:09:46 +0200 does-austria-have-too-many-universities Many of The Local readers say they struggle with aspects of Austria's education system. In the second part of our series, we look at the changes international parents want to see at schools. https://www.thelocal.at/20260326/make-it-more-inspiring-what-foreign-parents-want-to-see-at-austrian-schools Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:52:56 +0100 make-it-more-inspiring-what-foreign-parents-want-to-see-at-austrian-schools Austria is one of the few EU countries where primary school lasts just four years. A proposal to extend it is back on the political agenda, with supporters arguing it could ease pressure on students and delay splitting them into different tracks. https://www.thelocal.at/20260216/should-austria-extend-primary-school-education-from-four-to-six-years Mon, 16 Feb 2026 12:20:43 +0100 should-austria-extend-primary-school-education-from-four-to-six-years Sofia Corradi, the creator of the EU's Erasmus program which has sent millions of young people abroad throughout Europe to study, died in Rome aged 91, Italian media reported Saturday. https://www.thelocal.at/20251019/europes-erasmus-founder-sofia-corradi-dies-aged-91 Sun, 19 Oct 2025 07:55:22 +0200 europes-erasmus-founder-sofia-corradi-dies-aged-91 Austria’s government has announced the end of Bildungskarenz, leaving workers without a clear alternative for state-supported educational leave. Here's what we know so far. https://www.thelocal.at/20250305/explained-whats-going-to-happen-to-austrias-bildungskarenz Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:18:46 +0100 explained-whats-going-to-happen-to-austrias-bildungskarenz Austria’s new government officially took office this Monday, with key policy changes expected in housing, pensions, and immigration. https://www.thelocal.at/20250303/austrias-new-leaders-take-office-after-months-of-political-negotiations Mon, 03 Mar 2025 12:25:36 +0100 austrias-new-leaders-take-office-after-months-of-political-negotiations Austria’s ÖVP-SPÖ-NEOS coalition has unveiled its government programme, with key changes in housing, pensions, and immigration. https://www.thelocal.at/20250227/what-changes-people-in-austria-can-expect-under-the-new-government Thu, 27 Feb 2025 16:40:22 +0100 what-changes-people-in-austria-can-expect-under-the-new-government Austria’s coalition agreement is set between ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS leaders, but political tensions and party votes will decide if the government takes office next week. https://www.thelocal.at/20250227/breaking-austria-settles-on-new-government-as-three-parties-agree-on-coalition Thu, 27 Feb 2025 10:36:06 +0100 breaking-austria-settles-on-new-government-as-three-parties-agree-on-coalition Lower Austria is tightening integration policies with fines, cultural requirements in kindergartens, and a burqa ban, sparking criticism from opposition parties https://www.thelocal.at/20250224/what-does-lower-austria-plan-to-do-against-foreigners-unwilling-to-integrate Mon, 24 Feb 2025 18:09:23 +0100 what-does-lower-austria-plan-to-do-against-foreigners-unwilling-to-integrate A new regulation in Vienna will ban mobile phone use in primary and secondary schools. Education officials say the rule will ensure consistency across all institutions. https://www.thelocal.at/20250219/vienna-implements-school-wide-mobile-phone-ban-to-improve-focus-in-class Wed, 19 Feb 2025 12:03:08 +0100 vienna-implements-school-wide-mobile-phone-ban-to-improve-focus-in-class With plans to cut Austria’s educational leave program, many are wondering how much time remains to apply. Here’s what we know so far. https://www.thelocal.at/20250130/bildungskarenz-how-soon-will-austria-scrap-end-its-educational-leave-program Thu, 30 Jan 2025 18:17:29 +0100 bildungskarenz-how-soon-will-austria-scrap-end-its-educational-leave-program Coalition negotiators have reportedly agreed on compulsory German tests and lessons for preschool children before school entry. Here's what we know so far. https://www.thelocal.at/20250130/austria-plans-mandatory-early-german-lessons-for-preschool-children Thu, 30 Jan 2025 14:19:34 +0100 austria-plans-mandatory-early-german-lessons-for-preschool-children As the new year rolls in, people in Austria can expect a wave of changes. From new tax brackets and environmental policies to updated school regulations, here’s a guide to what’s new in 2025. https://www.thelocal.at/20241227/taxes-labour-laws-and-bottle-deposits-what-changes-in-austria-in-2025 Fri, 27 Dec 2024 16:32:44 +0100 taxes-labour-laws-and-bottle-deposits-what-changes-in-austria-in-2025 Austria’s Maria Theresa was more than a monarch—her policies revolutionised access to education. https://www.thelocal.at/20230906/schulpflicht-how-austria-pioneered-mandatory-schooling-for-all Wed, 06 Sep 2023 12:39:26 +0200 schulpflicht-how-austria-pioneered-mandatory-schooling-for-all Public sector workers in Austria are preparing for a major demonstration on November 26th, with teachers, healthcare workers, and others demanding salary increases amid tense negotiations. Parents may face school closures. https://www.thelocal.at/20241119/austria-faces-major-public-sector-protest-with-school-set-to-close Tue, 19 Nov 2024 15:31:04 +0100 austria-faces-major-public-sector-protest-with-school-set-to-close Austria has a lot to offer when it comes to higher academic education. Here are the six highest-ranked universities in the country. https://www.thelocal.at/20241017/revealed-what-are-the-top-universities-in-austria Thu, 17 Oct 2024 14:04:13 +0200 revealed-what-are-the-top-universities-in-austria With a crucial election approaching Austria's political parties have laid out how they will tackle key challenges in schools, from teacher workload to preventing violence and language lessons. https://www.thelocal.at/20240906/the-biggest-challenges-in-austrias-education-system-and-how-political-parties-want-to-solve-them Fri, 06 Sep 2024 16:24:23 +0200 the-biggest-challenges-in-austrias-education-system-and-how-political-parties-want-to-solve-them On Tuesday, the majority of private kindergartens, after-school care centres, and school-based recreational care providers are closed from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. due to a strike by employees. https://www.thelocal.at/20231024/viennas-kindergartens-strike-for-better-work-conditions Tue, 24 Oct 2023 08:19:26 +0200 viennas-kindergartens-strike-for-better-work-conditions A new Statistics Austria study finds that as many as 55 percent of all young schoolchildren in Vienna speak a language at home and in their everyday lives that isn’t German – even if they speak German at school itself. Among middle school children, that figure is even higher. https://www.thelocal.at/20231010/over-half-of-young-schoolchildren-in-vienna-dont-speak-german-at-home Tue, 10 Oct 2023 15:28:04 +0200 over-half-of-young-schoolchildren-in-vienna-dont-speak-german-at-home