Enhancing labour market relevance and outcomes of higher education: Country note Austria
This country note presents the results of an analysis of Austria undertaken within
the Labour Market Relevance and Outcomes of Higher Education Partnership Initiative
project. The project was implemented by the OECD with the support of the European
Commission with the aim of helping policy makers and higher education institutions
enhance the employment outcomes of graduates by better aligning higher education provision
and with current and emerging labour market skill demands. Austria is one of the few
OECD countries where women comprise a smaller share of new entrants to Information
and Communications Technology (ICT) master’s programmes than they do to bachelor’s
degree programmes. This is especially a problem given the general preference of Austrian
employers for master’s degrees over bachelor qualifications. Increasing the entry
of women into ICT programmes, including postgraduate study, is a key government priority.
Making progress requires both improvements to study guidance and support for students
to raise success in their studies. The country note reviews the system context, highlights
challenges faced by higher education institutions and, lessons learned from current
practice, and presents policy options.
Available from May 31, 2022
In series:OECD Education Policy Perspectivesview more titles