ABOUT AAECA
Education grows when people connect.
The Austrian-American Educational Cooperation Association (AAECA) is a unique platform where academic ambition, international collaboration, and personal transformation come together. We connect students, teachers, researchers, and educational institutions who believe that learning becomes more powerful when different cultures, methods, and ideas meet.
Our purpose is simple but impactful:
to create meaningful academic experiences between Austria and the United States — experiences that broaden perspectives, strengthen professional skills, and open doors to global opportunities.
Through partnerships with universities, school systems, and educational institutions across both countries, we help learners and educators move beyond the familiar and step into international environments that challenge, inspire, and motivate.
For students, AAECA offers access to Vienna — one of the world’s most livable and culturally rich cities — along with programs that deepen academic understanding and encourage global awareness.
For teachers and educational professionals, we provide professional development, innovative teaching perspectives, and networks that support long-term growth in an increasingly internationalized field.
AAECA is more than an educational bridge.
It is a gateway to global thinking, cultural understanding, and personal discovery.
MISSION & VISION
Our Mission – Strengthening Education Through International Collaboration
AAECA’s mission is to enhance education by connecting institutions and learners across borders. We focus on meaningful collaboration between Austria and the United States through:
- High-quality teacher training that introduces innovative, research-based methods
- Curriculum development inspired by global best practices
- Study abroad opportunities that help students grow academically and personally
- Multilingual and multicultural learning environments that prepare learners for a global world
- Exchange of expertise, ideas, and teaching philosophies across institutions
Our mission is driven by one belief:
education becomes stronger when we learn from each other.
Our Vision – A Global Education Community
We envision a future where educational systems do not exist in isolation, but in cooperation — where teachers, students, and institutions use international opportunities to improve learning, build cultural understanding, and develop skills that matter in today’s interconnected world. Our long-term vision includes:
- Creating lifelong global educational networks
- Encouraging diversity and intercultural competence in classrooms
- Supporting innovative projects and research across borders
- Making international learning accessible, enriching, and impactful for all participants
Our Vision is driven by:
the aim to prepare the next generation of globally minded learners, educators, and leaders — individuals who understand the world not just academically, but personally.
Where learning becomes growth — and every journey finds its direction.
One guiding belief shapes both our mission and our vision.
We believe that every student deserves a learning experience that is clear, supportive, and transformative — no matter where they come from. Our work is driven by the vision of creating an academic environment where confidence grows, opportunities expand, and international students feel truly seen, guided, and empowered to reach their full potential.
Guidance & Support
We design learning environments that foster curiosity, critical thinking, and long-term academic success. Our programs empower students to grow beyond expectations and develop skills that truly matter.
Academic Excellence
Every student deserves someone who believes in them. With personalized guidance and a supportive culture, we help learners navigate their journey with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
Community & Collaboration
Strong academic communities are built on connection. We cultivate a collaborative atmosphere where students learn from each other, share experiences, and grow together — both academically and personally.
Growth & Opportunity
Education is a catalyst for transformation. We open pathways to new opportunities, helping students recognize their strengths and unlock their full potential — locally and globally.
THE HISTORY
A Vision that grew into a movement – The story of AAECA begins not with an institution, but with two people who shared a belief in the power of international learning
1990 – A Fulbright Scholar Arrives in Vienna
In 1990, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Alfred S. Posamentier, a distinguished professor from the City University of New York, came to Vienna as a Fulbright Visiting Professor.
What he found was a school system rooted in strong tradition, yet full of potential for modern innovation.
During his time in Austria, he met HR Prof. Hans Matzenauer, then President of the Vienna City School Board. What started as a conversation about teacher training and educational reform quickly transformed into a shared vision:
Could Austria and the United States collaborate to make education stronger, more innovative, and more globally connected?
A New Partnership Forms
The idea grew rapidly.
Both leaders saw the same opportunity:
- Austria could benefit from the United States’ dynamic approach to teaching and research.
- The United States could learn from Austria’s structured, culturally rich educational framework.
Their early collaboration sparked professional exchanges, study visits, and the foundation for a new bilateral relationship built on trust, curiosity, and academic ambition.
1992 – The AAECA Is Born
In 1992, the Austrian-American Educational Cooperation Association was officially established as a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing educational cooperation between the two nations.
From its earliest days, AAECA focused on areas where joint expertise could make a real impact:
- teacher training
- shared curriculum projects
- professional development
- multilingual and multicultural learning
- exchange experiences for educators and students
Over the decades, this partnership evolved into a vibrant network of institutions, educators, and learners who continue to drive forward the founding vision:
Education is strongest when it is shared.
A Journey From 1992 to Today
A Journey From 1992 to Today — And Why It Still Shapes The Future
When AAECA was founded in 1992, the world of education looked very different.
International collaboration was rare, cross-cultural experiences were limited, and global teacher training was something only a handful of institutions explored. What began with one Fulbright professor and one visionary school president in Vienna quickly turned into a movement that transformed opportunities for countless students, teachers, and institutions.
1992–2000: Laying the Foundation
AAECA began by building the first bridges between Austrian and American institutions.
Teacher exchanges, curriculum dialogue, and early collaborations set the groundwork for long-term partnerships rooted in mutual respect and academic curiosity.
2000–2010: Expanding Reach & Relevance
As education became more global, AAECA grew with it.
Programs broadened, more institutions joined, and the association developed a reputation for bringing together people who were passionate about building better learning environments — on both sides of the Atlantic.
2010–2020: Strengthening Global Perspectives
This decade deepened our focus on cultural understanding, multilingualism, and inclusive teaching.
AAECA evolved from a bilateral program into a transnational network, offering experiences that shaped not only professional skills but also personal identity and global awareness.
2020–Today: A New Era of International Education
In a world that changes faster than ever, AAECA continues to connect learners, educators, and institutions who want more than standard education —
they want context, culture, collaboration, and a perspective that goes beyond borders.
Today, the association stands as a dynamic platform for:
- Study abroad opportunities in Vienna
- Teacher training grounded in research and global practice
- Transnational networking between institutions
- Curriculum innovation driven by shared expertise
- Programs that prepare a new generation of globally minded learnersteacher training
Over the decades, this partnership evolved into a vibrant network of institutions, educators, and learners who continue to drive forward the founding vision:
Education is strongest when it is shared.
Why it all matters
Education is no longer local. It is global by nature — shaped by cultures, languages, perspectives, and the exchange of ideas across continents.
AAECA exists because learning becomes richer, deeper, and more meaningful when people cross borders to understand the world together.
From 1992 to today, one idea has remained unchanged:
Education grows when people connect.
And that is why AAECA continues to build bridges —
for students, for teachers, for institutions, and for a future that will always depend on collaboration, curiosity, and the courage to learn from one another.
The Faces Behind the Exchange
AAECA is built by people who believe in the power of shared learning. Our team includes professors, program directors, teachers, researchers, and international coordinators — all committed to creating meaningful opportunities for students and educators in Austria and the United States.
Dr. Arthur Mettinger
Board of Directors
Dr. Alfred Posamentier
Board of Directors
Dr.in Roberta Maierhofer
Board of Directors
Dr.in Evelyn Süss-Stepancik
Board of Directors