Informatik Austria— a non-profit organization bringing together the computer science faculties and departments of Austrian universities offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science, including the Institute of Science and Technology Austria— welcomes the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education’s proposal to introduce the subject Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence in senior classes of academic secondary schools (AHS).

With this initiative, the Ministry addresses key challenges of the 21st century. It sends an important signal: education should empower young people to navigate a digitally shaped world with confidence, critical thinking, and creative agency. The introduction of a dedicated subject, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, with three hours of lessons per week, represents evident progress. With this, computer science is visibly recognized as an independent field of education—an essential step toward placing Austria at the forefront of digital development and sovereignty.

At the same time, it is clear that three weekly lessons can only be a starting point. Digital systems, algorithms, and artificial intelligence already shape nearly all areas of the economy, science, public administration, and everyday life. Computer science is not merely an applied skill, but an independent scientific discipline. In the medium term, this status must also be reflected in the amount of instructional time. The logical next step must be an independent subject, Computer Science, starting at the entry-levels of secondary schools—academically sound, aligned with scientific standards, and embedded as part of general education.

Preparing young people for university studies, highly skilled professions, and responsible participation in a democratic society requires Computer Science as a subject eligible for the final secondary school-leaving examination (Matura), with a scope comparable to other core subjects. Only in this way can genuine continuity with tertiary education be ensured, as well as alignment with a labor market increasingly shaped by software, data, and AI. Computer science is also a key driver of equal opportunity. International studies show that mandatory, continuous computer science education particularly benefits girls and students from non-academic households. As an independent subject, it reduces self-selection, fosters a realistic self-concept, and opens pathways to technical and scientific education and careers for broader segments of society.

The proposed subject structure and number of lessons are a starting point, but not yet the final goal. The logical next step would be a fully fledged, independent subject eligible for the final secondary school-leaving examination, Computer Science—taught continuously from lower secondary education onward, aligned with scientific standards, and permanently established as an indispensable component of general education.

Read the original Press Release

This press release was originally published in German; read the original version at OTS.at.

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