Austrian Center for Talent Promotion and Research
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The Austrian Center for Gifted Education and Research (ÖZBF) was founded in 1999 in Salzburg as an association financed by the BMUKK (Federal Ministry for Education, Art and Culture) and the BMWF (Federal Ministry for Science and Research) .
The ÖZBF has placed the support and promotion of (highly) talented children and young people at the center of its work. Central to this is the development of holistic talent development in Austria. In cooperation with scientists from home and abroad, the national center acts as an interface between research and practice. The guiding values here are, among others, scientific approach, systemic thinking, high quality standards and creativity. The vision of the ÖZBF is a society in which every person is valued in their individuality and promoted according to their learning and development needs, which ensures equal opportunities, autonomy and social belonging to each of its members and in which there is an awareness of the inestimable value of talents.
Focus of work
- Development of strategies and concepts
- Talent research
- Meetings and congresses
- Teacher training and curriculum development
- Contributions to school development
- Networks and Cooperations
- Pilot projects and funding models
- Information and awareness raising
- Publications
Development of strategies and concepts
In cooperation with the BMUKK, a basic decree on the promotion of talented students was drawn up, which was issued to all schools at the beginning of the 2009/10 school year. Furthermore, the ÖZBF has developed a strategy concept for the gifted and gifted promotion in Austria's schools: gifted and talented promotion as an opportunity for the future of our country. A strategy for Austria . An important basis for the discussion and development of strategies for the newly founded task force on talent research and promotion of talented students , which consists of representatives from the BMUKK, the BMWF and the ÖZBF.
Talent research
The main tasks of the ÖZBF include the publication of research results and the development and implementation of research projects. These include evaluations of support measures and projects on psychological and educational diagnostics. The most recent project deals with the topic of teacher professionalization: together with teachers, a practical talent development instrument is to be developed and tested for the promotion of talented children in elementary schools.
Meetings and congresses
Among other things, the ÖZBF holds an international congress on the subject of (gifted) talent every two years. With around 600 participants, it is one of the most important German-speaking conferences in the field of gifted education and gifted research. In addition, smaller conferences and symposia are organized for different target groups; For example, in 2009 the ÖZBF, together with the BMUKK and the BMWF, organized a PH-UNI conference under the motto of the promotion of talented students and talent research as a concern of the universities of teacher education . The aim was to network PHs and universities in the field of research and teaching.
Teacher training and curriculum development
The International Panel of Experts for Gifted Education (iPEGE) , an international working group established by the ÖZBF, has existed since 2007 and consists of talent research experts from Austria, Switzerland and Germany. iPEGE has set itself the task of developing quality standards for teacher training in the field of gifted and gifted development. Specific courses of study are also supported by the expertise of the ÖZBF. Danube University Krems developed the curriculum for the master’s degree in gifted education in cooperation with the ÖZBF .
Contributions to school development
In 2005, comprehensive quality criteria were drawn up for schools with gifted and gifted support. It is about assistance and orientation in the sense of process support for school development. When developing and organizing a gifted and gifted-friendly learning culture, school leaders and teachers can refer to the brochure School development through gifted and gifted support created by the ÖZBF . Recourse to impulses for a talent-friendly learning culture . In addition, the web-based best practice database of the ÖZBF offers help in the search for projects, courses and models for gifted and gifted development that have already been tried and tested. There is also an electronic pool of teaching materials.
Networks and Cooperations
The ÖZBF cooperates with universities and colleges of education across Europe. At the ministerial level there is cooperation with the Ministry of Education in Great Britain and with ministries from Central and Eastern Europe. Further exchange of experience and expertise is made possible through cooperation with organizations such as the Karg Foundation (D) and the German Society for Gifted Children (DGhK) as well as the Sir Karl Popper School in Vienna. In addition, the ÖZBF provides a country delegate for the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children .
Pilot projects and funding models
This includes B. the program for students at the universities , which was initiated in 2000 in cooperation with the universities of Salzburg and Graz . As part of this project, schoolchildren can already take courses at universities while they are still at school, which will later be credited towards their studies. In the meantime, the development of a mentoring program is planned, which is currently being offered as a pilot project for participating students. As part of this project, talented students support the students in their personal and academic development.
Information and awareness raising
The ÖZBF sees an important task in using information (brochures, online) on the subject of talent and promoting talent to dispel prejudices, to prevent misunderstandings and to promote acceptance and understanding of the topic of talent. These are intended to offer parents, teachers and other people seeking advice initial assistance and orientation on the subject of (gifted) talent and the promotion of talented people. The ÖZBF also has a specialist library on the subject of talent. In addition to scientific treatises, it also contains guides and teaching materials.
Publications
These counts news & science. Promotion of the gifted and talent research , the ÖZBF magazine that appears three times a year with a circulation of 6000 copies. Contents are scientific articles by experts in talent research and presentations of international projects and activities. In addition, the magazine offers a platform for nationwide activities such as B. Summer academies .