Fischler Academy Students Visit Austria, Study Education System

A group of Fischler Academy students recently had the opportunity to visit Austria in December 2022, where they learned about the country’s education system.

The Austria trip was part of Fischler International, a program where Fischler Academy students get to go to different countries to see the education system and learn more about the countries themselves. The specific area the students visited was Vienna, the country’s capital where they got to see what the schools were like and learn more about the culture.

The goal of these international trips is to not only learn about the educational systems in those different countries, but for Fischler Academy students to learn different concepts that they could potentially apply to their careers.

“One of the things we thought was impressive is that a lot of kids have independence in Austria and were expected to build things on their own and be the masters of their own destiny,” said Fischler Academy Director Luke Williams.

Williams gave an example of how students as young as fourth grade used handsaws and other equipment to design and build their own pinball machines that you would not see in the United States and were given more independence. He also gave an example of how students as young as 2 years old were even changing their own diapers.

“Teachers were there to help facilitate that process. It wasn’t so much that the teacher is constantly telling them ‘Do this, do that,’ but that they had that freedom, that independence to do so.”

The students also got the chance to see the University of Vienna, where they learned more about its history, the programs it offers, and tour the campus.

“It was great to learn more about this historic university,” Williams said.

Other visits are planned, with a Fall 2021 cohort planning to visit Italy, specifically Rome, to learn about the education system and see what the schools are like in Italy.

Posted 02/19/23