Current and Future Challenges

Following legislation that brings greater convergence between teacher training colleges and universities, discussions are now being held about a standardised form of teacher training at one institution, at least for all trainee secondary school teachers. The Austrian Rectors’ Conference and the body representing Austria’s university students (the Austrian National Union of Students) have both declared their clear support for training all teachers at universities.

Teacher training courses at Austrian universities are currently the exception in the reorganisation of higher education to a three-tier system of degree courses (Bachelor, Master and PhD): subjects for teacher training have so far not been reorganised at university level. They remain “Diplom” courses, the underlying structure of which goes back to a law that is no longer in force (UniStG). It remains to be seen how long this status will and can be maintained. At any rate, students at teacher training colleges are already taking bachelor’s degree courses.

Particular attention is currently being paid to the quality of music education in primary schools: this age is especially important for the musical development of children and for this reason discussions are being held as to whether their music lessons should be held by teachers who have specialist training in the subject.

In some Austrian provinces, especially in Vienna, there is a lack of music teachers. As a result some teachers who do not have appropriate qualifications have to teach music and this leads to music as a school subject occasionally being called into question in political discussions – despite the fact that influential voices emphasise the importance of musical and creative subjects.

Further Information

·      Universities (Federal Ministry of Science and Research): http://www.bmwf.gv.at/

·      Teacher training colleges (Federal Ministry for Education, Arts and Culture): http://www.bmukk.gv.at/

·      For extensive statistics on higher education in Austria (students, graduates, expenditure etc.): http://eportal.bmbwk.gv.at/unidat/unidata%20LANDINGPAGE.htm

·      Academies of Music in Austria:

o   Vienna: http://www.mdw.ac.at

o   Graz: http://www.kug.ac.at

o   Salzburg: http://www.moz.ac.at; http://sam.ac

·      Teacher training colleges (overview): http://www.bmukk.gv.at/schulen/bw/leb/ph_standorte.xml