About the Education Lab

"Schule im Aufbruch" is an initiative that empowers children to realize their unique potential. We aim to support preschools and schools in preserving and nurturing children’s innate enthusiasm, creativity, and self-efficacy. We see ourselves as a platform for inspiration, encouragement, and networking.

Under the motto “We Live Children’s Rights,” UNICEF supports schools in integrating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into their classrooms and daily school life. To this end, there is the comprehensive “Children’s Rights Schools” program, as well as teaching materials on various topics and key areas. We at UNICEF have also put together special digital “Children’s Rights Boxes” and print materials. In addition, there are materials and courses for people who work with children. Of course, these training programs can also be used to explore children’s rights in greater depth.

The “BID – Strengthening Education Together” initiative, founded in May 2024 by Teresa Torzicky, is a nonprofit initiative that advocates with policymakers and the public for improvements to the Austrian education system. To this end, it brings together individuals who represent the Austrian education system in all its diversity. In a variety of settings, participants discuss, learn, and work on today’s educational challenges in a dialogue-oriented, evidence-based, and consensus-driven manner.

COOL stands for Cooperative Open Learning and is a teacher-led initiative aimed at promoting greater independence and personal responsibility in education. Cooperative Open Learning is an educational approach to teaching and school development—an opportunity for students, teachers, and schools in each community to grow and develop.

Through its activities, the Foundation for Economic Education aims to empower all young people to participate in a mature, critical, independent, responsible, and competent manner in the sustainable development and shaping of the economy and society throughout their lives and in their various roles in the economic world (e.g., as employees, entrepreneurs, citizens, consumers, insured individuals, and taxpayers) to contribute to the sustainable development and shaping of the economy and society in a mature, critical, independent, responsible, and competent manner.

IFTE – Inspire. Support. Act. Develop.
We develop entrepreneurship education programs for children and teens—from kindergarten through high school graduation. Our goal: an educational system that builds confidence, strengthens self-efficacy, and empowers young people to actively shape their own lives—as the foundation for a sustainable society and economy.

The MEGA Education Foundation was established in 2019 by the B&C Private Foundation and the Berndorf Private Foundation. Its goal is to promote and expand educational innovations in the areas of equity of opportunity and financial literacy—both in schools and in extracurricular settings—and to make them available to all educational institutions in Austria. To date, the MEGA Education Foundation has distributed over eight million euros to support innovative educational projects in Austria.

MellowYellow brings the performing arts to schools across Austria. We create spaces where professional artists—with and without disabilities—children, teens, and teachers can get creative together—inclusion happens naturally and on an equal footing.

The MINTality Foundation is committed to helping girls realize their potential in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, and technology—from school through their careers. Our programs provide them with concrete insights into technology and future careers and help them recognize their own strengths. In doing so, we work closely with companies and work to break down gender stereotypes in a sustainable way.

NeBÖ (Austrian Network for Early Childhood Education) is a nonprofit association and umbrella organization dedicated to promoting, connecting, and improving quality in early childhood education settings (daycare centers, playgroups, kindergartens, after-school care, and child care providers). NeBÖ acts as a politically and administratively independent advocacy group for all employees of early childhood education institutions throughout Austria.

The öbv (Österreichischer Bundesverlag) is one of the largest educational providers in Austria. Founded in 1772 by Maria Theresa as a publisher of school textbooks, it combines centuries of tradition and experience with innovation and an active commitment to the future of education. The öbv’s portfolio includes approximately 2,600 titles and more than 52,000 digital resources—ranging from traditional textbooks and digital teaching materials to support resources for teachers and students.

Vienna-based ovos Media GmbH has been designing digital solutions that convey knowledge in a playful way for over 20 years. With the powerful SaaS learning tool ovos play, content can be easily created, managed, and delivered to specific target audiences—in an interactive and motivating way, with clear structures designed to foster lasting engagement and learning success in companies and educational institutions.

“We don’t perform miracles; we guide them.”
The St. Nikolaus Foundation operates approximately 90 preschools and after-school care centers and is a trusted partner of the City of Vienna. Our educational philosophy is based on mindfulness, openness, and a Christian view of humanity. We help children ages 0–10 actively and curiously discover their world—in an environment that values diversity and fosters individual development. Our kindergartens and after-school care centers are learning spaces where children joyfully discover new things and are guided and supported by trained early childhood educators. 

Teach For Austria is a nonprofit organization that has been working to promote greater educational equity in Austria since 2012. Through its Social Leadership Program, Teach For Austria trains dedicated college graduates and career changers as TFA Fellows, who support children and youth in challenging kindergartens and schools on their educational journey.  

The Innovation Foundation for Education (ISB) initiates and supports projects in selected focus areas, while specifically connecting private stakeholders, foundations, and the public sector. Through the ISB Foundation Award for Educational Innovation, it highlights successful practices and recognizes schools and preschools that are breaking new ground. Through the IDEAS Community, it connects innovative schools, promotes peer-to-peer exchange, and supports the dissemination of proven approaches through the IDEAS Observation Program. In this way, the ISB helps ensure that innovative solutions gain visibility within the education system and are implemented in practice.

The Things We Learn is a social enterprise based in Vienna. As a facilitator of social innovation, the team develops programs and networks to promote equal opportunities in the education system. The focus is on supporting schools, organizations, and neighborhoods as they evolve into learning communities and empower children and young people to reach their full potential. Through projects such as Solve for Tomorrow, the Venture Fellowship at the Education Lab, and the “Was steht da? ” network, the initiative combines educational innovation with social engagement, emphasizes co-creation, and fosters sustainable partnerships between educational institutions, civil society, and businesses.

The Vienna Education Server is a nonprofit association funded by the City of Vienna that is dedicated to promoting media literacy among Vienna’s children and youth in kindergartens, schools, and extracurricular settings by leveraging the capabilities of modern information technology.

VISION61 supports people who want to make a difference in the public sector. We believe that great things can come from ideas—if people have the courage to pursue them and have partners by their side who will walk this path with them.

For over 75 years, WIENXTRA has been opening the doors to exciting leisure activities, cultural experiences, and a wide range of educational opportunities for young people in Vienna—all at an affordable price and accessible to everyone. As a dedicated partner in Vienna’s open children’s and youth services, WIENXTRA ensures that every young person has access to education, culture, and recreational activities. Adults, youth workers, and educators also benefit from the extensive continuing education program.