Individual Learning Accounts: A Tool for Financing Lifelong Learning

Chapter 2
Heidemann, W.
Hans Böckler Stiftung, 2001

2. Austria

Since the mid 90s, several of the federal states in Austria have been developing instruments for funding further training. These operate under a variety of different names - for example the "learning account" scheme in Upper Austria and the "training voucher" scheme in Styria.¹

Learning accounts in Upper Austria

The "learning account" scheme introduced in 1994 in Upper Austria offers employees financial incentives to take part in further training. The scheme does not, however, involve "accounts" in the strict sense of the word, but rather subsidies from the federal state that are given this title.

The idea of the learning account is to offer assistance to employees or unemployed persons with low qualification levels. Applications for funding can therefore only be made by individuals who possess no qualifications other than a completed apprenticeship. 50% of their expenses for vocational further training at a recognised training institution can be reimbursed. There are two types of learning account:

• The general learning account reimburses 50% of the cost of courses leading to professionally useful additional qualifications up to a maximum of 10,000 ATS (726 €) Participants must provide proof of attendance.
• The special learning account, on the other hand, provides funding for training that leads to a recognised qualification (for example for individuals wishing to complete apprenticeship or "master craftsman" exams). If the exams are passed, up to 20,000 ATS (1.450 €) can be reimbursed. In order to ensure the quality of the training on offer, funding is only available for courses run by providers who are registered and recognised in the region.

The experience of the first four years indicates that.

• In the vast majority of cases, funding was provided to individuals who already had completed an apprenticeship -fewer than 2% had no specialist qualification at all. Men also predominated - 2/3 of the participants were male - and more than half of those taking part in the scheme were under 30 years of age.
• Three fifths of cases involved the special training account for funding training that leads to a recognised qualification.

The training voucher scheme in Styria

• The training voucher scheme in Styria has a similar structure. Three different kinds of voucher can be applied for to the federal state authorities and handed over to a training provider:
• Training vouchers for business start-ups,
  1. to prepare individuals for applying for a commercial licence (50% of course costs up to a maximum of 6,000 ATS/436 €) and
  2. further training in business management, marketing and controlling (50% of course costs up to a maximum of 4,000 ATS/290 €).
     The courses must fulfil the following quality criteria: duration at least 80 hours; certificate of successful completion awarded.
• Training vouchers for individuals who have completed an apprenticeship, to promote vocational further training over a period of five years after the apprenticeship (50% of course costs up to a maximum of 4,000 ATS (€ 290), or 5,000 ATS (363 €) for apprentices who have achieved a mark of "excellent" in their exam). The courses must fulfil the following quality criteria: duration at least 80 hours; final examination.
• Training vouchers for special qualifications: these remain valid for up to 10 years after completion of an apprenticeship and can be used for training in the fields of computers, CAD/CAM and marketing. 50% of course costs are met, up to a maximum of 10,000 ATS (726 €). Here, too, the courses must be of at least 80 hours duration and terminate with an examination.

In all three cases it is only possible to select recognised providers within Styria.

[Top]