Education
The Austrian educational system has its roots in the medieval monastic schools that flourished toward the end of the 11th century. The present state education system goes back to the school reforms introduced by Maria Theresa in 1774. In 1869, the Imperial Education Law unified the entire system of compulsory education.
In 1962, Austria's education system was completely reorganized under a comprehensive education law, and compulsory education was extended from eight to nine years. Since 1975, all schools are coeducational and education at state schools is free of charge. Financial support is provided for postsecondary schooling. Primary education lasts for four years. Disabled students either attend special schools or are mainstreamed into regular classrooms. After primary education, pupils may either attend a general secondary school (Hauptschule) or an academic secondary school, which covers two four-year courses of study.
Students may also attend an intermediate or higher vocational school for a period of five years. Those who complete their studies at secondary or higher vocational school are qualified to attend the universities. At the primary level in 1997, 381,927 pupils and 31,251 teachers were registered with 3,703 schools. Student-to-teacher ratio stood at 12 to 1. At the secondary level in the same year, there were 79,806 teachers and 793,485 pupils enrolled.
Austria maintains a vigorous adult education system. Almost all adult education bodies owe their existence to private initiative. The Ministry of Education, under the auspices of the Development Planning for a Cooperative System of Adult Education in Austria, has joined private bodies in setting up projects for enhancing the quality of adult education programs. As of 2002, the adult literacy rate was estimated at 98%.
There are 12 university-level institutions and six fine-art colleges offering 430 subjects and about 600 possible degrees.
In 1997, there were 240,632 students enrolled full time in universities and all higher-level institutions. The teaching staff numbered 26,356. As of 1999, public expenditure on education was estimated at 6.3% of GDP.
Economy
Forestry, cattle raising, and dairying are prevalent throughout the alpine provinces; Vorarlberg has an ancient textile industry. About 3% of the population is employed in mostly small-scale agriculture; the country is nearly self-sufficient in terms of food production. In Upper and Lower Austria and in Burgenland, tillage agriculture predominates: the chief crops are potatoes, sugar beets, fruit, barley, rye, and oats.
Manufacturing is diversified and accounts for over 30% of the gross national product. More than half of the industries are concentrated in the Vienna basin; Linz, Steyr, Graz, Leoben, Innsbruck, and Salzburg are the other chief industrial centers. Many of the country's industries were nationalized after World War II, together with the largest commercial banks. The chief manufactures are machinery, vehicles, iron and steel, communications equipment, chemicals, and paper and wood products. Food processing is also important, and many minerals necessary for industry (graphite, iron, magnesium, copper, zinc, and lignite) are found in Austria. The country also has deposits of crude oil and salt, and is rich in hydroelectric power. In recent years, service industries, including a large banking sector, have become important to Austria's economy, and they now employ some 70% of the nation's workforce. Tourism is also important. The main trading partners are Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and the United States.
Climate
Austria enjoys a temperate Central European climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are hot with cool nights. In Vienna and other low-lying cities temperatures during the day can get uncomfortably hot over July and August. Winters are cold, below freezing in January and February. The ski season in the Alps runs from December to April but the mountains are also popular with hikers and climbers over the summer when the weather is usually warm and bright.
Vienna has a temperate continental climate, with warm, sunny summers and cold winters. The average temperature range in January is between 23°F and 34°F (-4°C to 1°C), while in July temperatures range between 60°F and 76°F (15°C and 25°C). Thunderstorms occur frequently in summer and snowfall is common in winter. Spring, autumn and the beginning of summer are perhaps the best times to travel to Vienna.
List of Universities in AUSTRIA
North America
North America
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