First school exchange between Austria and Israel a success

A school exchange programme to encourage intercultural learning and raise awareness of Jewish life and antisemitism took place between Austria and Israel for the first time last week.

The Israeli school group arrived in Austria on Sunday, 21 June. Twenty-three pupils from schools in Jerusalem took part in a five-day exchange programme with their partner schools in Vienna. The programme involved Year 10 and Year 11 pupils from the high schools GRG13 Wenzgasse and GRG23 Alterlaa in Vienna, and from the Israeli Leyada School and Sieff Marks School in Jerusalem. It gave the young people an insight into everyday life, politics and society in the home countries of their exchange partners, encouraging them to exchange personal experiences and discuss cultural and social differences and similarities.

The aim of the project is to bring social diversity to life for the participants and to deepen their understanding of Austrian-Israeli relations in the past, present and future. The programme included a visit to the Shoah Wall of Names memorial, workshops on antisemitism, racism and discrimination, and a visit to the Austrian Parliament.

Haubner: “The fight against antisemitism is a duty for every generation”

This exchange is of special significance for Austria and Israel for historical reasons. The crimes of the Nazis and the Holocaust are a dark chapter in Austrian history, creating a lasting legacy of responsibility.

Peter Haubner, Second President of the National Council and Chair of the National Fund's Board of Trustees, issued a plea for the defence of democratic values: 'Antisemitism is not just a problem of the past; it is a bitter reality in the present day. This makes it all the more important to take a firm stand against it and adopt a clear stance.” 'Never again' is not just a platitude, but a mandate for every generation and every democracy." Haubner believes that young people, in particular, learn to break down prejudices, develop understanding, and take responsibility for living together respectfully through their personal encounters.

In his welcoming remarks, Member of the National Council Andreas Minnich (ÖVP) also emphasised the importance of direct exchange: “personal encounters change the way we see one another. When people talk to each other, they no longer see “the others”; they see individuals – people with names, stories, interests, questions and hopes. That is exactly what makes this school exchange so valuable.”

The National Fund’s Managing Board stated: "This first school exchange demonstrates just how important personal encounters between young people are. Engaging together with history, Jewish life today, and current social issues fosters understanding, opens up new perspectives, and strengthens dialogue against antisemitism. It is particularly heartening to see how quickly personal connections and friendships can develop across national borders.”

Successful pilot phase lays the foundation to continue to the programme

Following the National Council resolution of 24 November 2023, the National Fund was tasked with supporting international exchange programmes that promote intercultural understanding and raise awareness of antisemitism. Based on this, the Austria–Israel school exchange programme was designed and implemented by the National Fund in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Education and in collaboration with the OeAD (Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation).

The 2025/26 school year will serve as a pilot phase. Following the successful completion of the first exchange and a positive evaluation, the programme will continue and be extended.