At the invitation of the Styrian Chamber of Commerce, a delegation of senior labor and commerce officials from the State of Vermont visited Styria from October 28 to 30, 2024. The focus of the visit, which is a follow-up to the Austria-Vermont cooperation agreement on dual education signed in 2023, was the exchange of information on Austrian apprenticeship programs, the promotion of educational partnerships and the strengthening of economic relations between Vermont and Styria.

After a visit to the Styrian State House, where the delegation met with State Parliament President Manuela Khom and State Parliament Director Wolfgang Weiss, the delegation visited KNAPP AG and Anton Paar, which are known for their innovative approach to apprenticeship training, and exchanged best practices in training and workforce development. The delegation also got a chance to visit the vocational school center in Graz, where Head of Department Gerald Wadl and Director Sylvia Nitsche presented the structure and success of Austrian vocational training.

Other items on the agenda included a meeting at the Styrian Chamber of Commerce with Director Karl-Heinz Dernoscheg as well as a visit to the Talent Center and the Center of Excellence, where the guests from the USA explored Styrian approaches to skills development and internationalization initiatives. At the ICS Internationalization Center/EEE, discussions followed on new initiatives to promote apprenticeship training programs. The visit concluded with a reception hosted by Barbara Eibinger-Miedl, Styrian Minister for Economy, Tourism, Regions, Science and Research, to explore further opportunities for cooperation in bilateral educational and economic relations.

Images (c) LTD & (c) Chamber of Commerce Styria