Education, culture

Education is one of the most important factors available to a society for assessing human capital. The purpose of education statistics is to compile and analyse information that is relevant to education and to present it as concisely as possible.

Responsibility for education is initially assumed by the formal education system, which comprises educational institutions from kindergardens through schools to universities. The statistics, which are primarily derived from legal educational documentation, provide an overview of participation in education, i.e. regular attendance at day care centres, schools and universities. Data is also available on the level of qualifications achieved by graduates and also on young people who are no longer in education. Furthermore, information is available on the institutions themselves and on investments in the education system made by society in the form of education expenditure or teaching staff. A cross-section overview of the highest level of education achieved by the Austrian population supplements the data on the current acquisition of education.

Alongside formal basic education, continuing education in the sense of lifelong learning is becoming increasingly important. The statistics describe the population’s participation in continuing education as evidenced by questioning of individuals and surveys of enterprises relating to their continuing vocational training activities. In addition, figures are available on the take up of educational opportunities offered by particular adult education institutions.

The statistics on culture describe the wide variety of cultural institutions and activities in Austria, the numbers of visitors reported by the cultural institutions, and public cultural expenditure.

Please also take note of our publication „Bildung in Zahlen 2007/08 - Schlüsselindikatoren und Analysen“.

This publication gives a overview about the state of education in Austria. Results and indicators are represented in form of texts, tables and figures and offer information concerning the different educational domains as the school and university system, adult education, educational pathways, educational attainment and public educational expenditure. This publication is complemented by another edition which contains a huge set of different tables.