Background
Throughout the past ten years, Austria has seen a significant number of third-country nationals entering the country outside of dedicated labour mobility programs, most notably as refugees from Ukraine and the MENA region. Many of these migrants have obtained professional qualifications and experience, and have gained skills before coming to Austria. At the same time, the Austrian labour market is facing a shortage of qualified workers.
Barriers to labour market entry in qualified positions are especially pronounced for skilled migrants in non-academic regulated professions such as nursing and early childhood education. In Austria, such professions typically require several years of formal vocational training and the successful completion of a final examination. Without formal recognition of qualifications, employment at the appropriate level and salary is not permitted. Therefore, innovative, competence-based recognition systems that also account for professional experience are particularly needed in regulated professions experiencing severe labour shortages.
Project Objectives
Analyse the current situation of recognition procedures in nursing and early childhood education
- Conduct a comprehensive review of relevant literature, publications, projects, and policy initiatives on the recognition of non-academic qualifications in Austria
- Carry out expert interviews and interviews with migrants undergoing a procedure for the recognition of their qualifications
Identify promising practices in the evaluation of competences and skills
- Provide detailed description of evaluation procedures and assess their transferability to the Austrian context
- Develop policy recommendations for reformed recognition procedures in non-academic professions in nursing and early childhood education