The ibw, the Institute for Research on Qualification and Training of the
Austrian Economy was founded as an association by the Austrian Federal Economic
Chamber and the Federation of Austrian Industrialists in 1975. Since this time
the ibw has completed more than 800 projects. The results of its scientific
works are published in a monthly newsletter called "ibw-Mitteilungen",
the quarterly "news" (in English) and in the research paper series
called "ibw-Schriftenreihe - Forschungsberichte" (till now more than
100 reports published in irregular intervals).
The core of the ibw's staff are well experienced scientists in the field of
vocational research, including engineers, graduates of sociology, educational
sciences, social and commercial sciences and psychologists.
According to the subjects of applied vocational research the objectives of
our activities are rather manifold:
Many of our studies focus on the apprenticeship training. In all German
speaking countries the dual system, a combination of inplant vocational
training and compulsory public vocational schooling, had developed from the
traditional training in crafts and is now running in nearly all economic
branches. Additionally the ibw tries to develop pedagogical and didactic
concepts according to the framework of in-plant training but we also design
practical guidelines to facilitate the realisation from essential
qualificational demands into practical training-steps.
Other points of main interest are performed by labour market analyses and
qualificational research.
Furthermore there are ibw-studies on school education (secondary level),
at universities or at "Fachhochschulen" (universities of applied
sciences).
Other activities embrace research and documentary work on educational
counselling, vocational guidance and career planning.
Since its foundation the ibw has carried out numerous surveys in the field
of vocational adult education and training.
Last but not least there are scientific projects focussing on education
policy and vocational training in the European Union and in Austria as well.
