University College of Agricultural and Environmental Education
The university is the centre for the training of teachers and advisors in the fields of agriculture, forestry, and environmental education.
Hochschule für Agrar- und Umweltpädagogik Wien
The university is a renowned and innovative educational institution. Education in the agricultural and environmental sector is an important investment in the future.
Education and training
The main focus of education is on the two degree programmes in agricultural education and environmental education. Each programme concludes with a Bachelor of Education (BEd), and a Master’s programme can be added. The university also serves as a hub for continuing and further education in agricultural and environmental pedagogy for teachers and advisors in Austria. Currently, there are around 1,000 students (in master’s programmes and university courses).
Background
Both rural and urban economic areas in Austria will increasingly be influenced in the future by structural, ecological, and social change. Well-educated young people and opportunities for continuing education of multipliers are central elements of sustainable development and therefore form the core of the study programmes at the university.
The University College for Agrarian and Environmental Pedagogy provides scientifically sound, practice-oriented education. Students acquire pedagogical and personal key competences with a focus on sustainability in order to meet professional and societal challenges.
Study programmes at the university
In addition to full-time degree programmes in agricultural and environmental education, a part-time bachelor’s programme is also offered. E-learning is used extensively. Blended learning is also integrated into various university courses.
Currently offered programmes include, for example:
- Professional school leadership
- Mentoring – supporting career entry professionally
- Learning space nature
- Sommelier/Sommelière in schools
- Green Care
- Information management and e-learning
Continuing education
The university is not only an educational institution but also a continuing education provider, offering extensive training for teachers in agricultural schools as well as staff in agricultural advisory and funding services and in environmental education.
Around 130 seminar and course modules are held annually. For teachers in general compulsory education, additional seminars on agriculture, environment, nature, and gardening are offered in cooperation with the teacher training universities in the federal states.
The annual training plan is published twice a year and can be downloaded from the website. Key topics include business management, diagnostics and counselling, regional development, climate, and green pedagogy.
Centre for Green Care
In recent years, the university has developed into a centre for Green Care. A fixed part of its activities is the horticultural therapy workshop, the university course in horticultural therapy in cooperation with Danube University Krems, as well as additional training seminars in this field held at the university.