Competence-oriented instruction in vocational education in Austria: An empirical comparison between two instructional approaches

A distinct feature of the Austrian education system is its differentiation of programs in vocational education. Among these programs, the dual education system has a long tradition: Students undergo an apprenticeship in a company while also attending a vocational school in part-time. More than other forms of education, this combination of on-the-job training at the work place and instruction in vocational school requires constant adaptation to economic requirements. Against this background, a new instructional approach, so called areas of learning with a focus on competence were introduced in the vocational school Eisenstadt in the year 2010. The introduction of this approach offered an opportunity for comparing it with a “traditional” subject-oriented approach. Results of the comparison will be presented and discussed in this article.