Spotlight on the teaching profession: Largest research project on students leaving higher education and the workforce launched
In March 2026, Graz saw the official launch of the most extensive research project in Austria to date on a pressing educational issue with the title "Should I stay or should I go?". The project focuses on the conditions and processes surrounding the decision to leave a teaching degree or career – an issue that, in light of the acute shortage of teachers, presents challenges for both universities and schools. Barbara Weißenbacher, a member of the Plurality and Diversity cluster, is leading the project alongside Corinna Koschmieder from the PH Steiermark.
'The central question that the project addresses is: “How do we keep good teachers in the profession during their studies and in schools?” This is a key issue for the future of education', emphasises project leader Barbara Weißenbacher. Six doctoral projects from different disciplines address this question, shedding light on various stages and influencing factors on the path to becoming a teacher.
The interdisciplinary project has a total budget of €1.12 million, provided by the BMB and the BMFWF. The approach is comprehensive: The project examines the entire career path of prospective teachers – from admission to the study programme, through the course of study, to the initial entry into the profession and the long-term retention or exit from the school service. The focus is on the question of how and why prospective teachers leave the path – whether before the start of their studies, during their studies or after entering the profession. The dropout is not viewed as a single event, but as a multi-layered, multi-phase process in which various factors – from motivation and suitability to institutional framework conditions – play a role.
- Non-enrolment: Why do accepted applicants not start their teacher training?
- Reasons for early dropout: What role do fit, motivation and the study environment play in the first few semesters?
- Interventions: How can targeted support measures for students be developed?
- Perception of stress: Which dysfunctional patterns of experience and behaviour lead to early career exit?
- School leadership: What influence do leadership culture and working conditions have on retention in the profession?
- Career changers: Under what conditions do career changers successfully enter the profession and remain in it long-term?
The project is led by an interdisciplinary consortium involving five Austrian universities and pedagogical universities:
- University of Graz
- University of Klagenfurt
- Johannes Kepler University Linz
- University of Teacher Education Styria
- Private University of Teacher Education Augustinum
Is it the more or less suitable candidates who, after successfully completing the admission process, do not commence their studies; who drop out early or after their first teaching placement; who fail to complete their final dissertations?
Is it the more or less suitable teachers who, having completed their training, do not take up a post in a school; who move from entering the profession to leaving it; who switch careers and decide to leave again?
With "Should I stay or should I go?", Austria is taking an important step towards understanding the causes of the impending shortage of teachers – and thus developing effective strategies for the future of the school system.
Barbara Weißenbacher is particularly pleased that she will be working on a new project with many colleagues she has cooperated with for a long time, as well as many young, motivated people with their own ideas.
Mag. Dr.rer.nat. Barbara Weißenbacher
+43 316 380 - 1708
Institut für Psychologie
nach Vereinbarung
https://psychologie.uni-graz.at/de/dips/team/barbara-weissenbacher/