On November 14, 2023, Austrian Ambassador Petra Schneebauer traveled to Vermont to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on expanding apprenticeship cooperation between Austria and the Green Mountain State. After a tour of Husky Technologies in Milton, VT, Ambassador Schneebauer and Vermont Govenor Phil Scott signed the MoU and committed to further cooperation.

“For the last seven years, my team has focused on the need to grow our workforce and to help fill the good jobs we have available right now,” said Governor Scott. “Any strategy to increase the skill and size of the labor pool should include an emphasis on apprenticeships and on the job training. It's also important for us to learn from friends abroad, like our partners in Austria, how to best serve Vermonters into the future. That's why we're happy sign this MOU, and I appreciate Ambassador Schneebauer for the collaboration.”

“In Austria, we believe that our model of dual education is key to providing businesses with the skilled labor they need. In our experience, workforce development is most effective through high-quality apprenticeship programs,” said Ambassador Schneebauer. “These apprenticeships do not only contribute decisively to the economic development and competitiveness of companies, but they are also an important way to support the surrounding communities. I am delighted that Austria and Vermont have created a framework with this MOU for exchanging know-how and best practices to advance and promote high-quality apprenticeships. This exchange is a win-win—it is in the interest of U.S. businesses and Austrian subsidiaries alike. We are looking forward to this new dialogue and to working and sharing our expertise with our friends from Vermont. Our newly-established apprenticeship cooperation is the next step in our growing relationship with the State of Vermont after the State Partnership Agreement between the Vermont National Guard and the Austrian Armed Forces was signed last year. We are pleased to continue to work together and deepen our relationship on both of these issues.”   

Ambassador Petra Schneebauer during a tour at Husky Technologies in Milton, VT, before the MoU signing ceremony with Governor Phil Scott. © Vermont Department of Labor