The IFA association was established in 1995 as a service center to promote the mobility of skilled workers. Members include all the Austrian Economic Chambers, the Federation of Austrian Industries and the Junior Chamber Austria.

Today, IFA is the leading organization when it comes to international work experience. As a focal point for information and consulting for young people, businesses and educational institutions, IFA organizes work placements abroad, applies for and assigns the necessary funding and ensures the skills acquired abroad are recognized in Austria.

IFA specializes in assisting persons in vocational education and training and provides approximately 700 apprentices, students from vocational schools, trainers and VET experts with the opportunity to complete a work placement abroad.

Our fields of activity

• We organize work placements abroad for apprentices.
• We help interested individuals plan their work placements abroad.
• We help companies and vocational schools to establish and implement exchange programs.
• We support young people and adults from other EU countries who wish to do a work placement in Austria.

Work placements abroad should not be a one-off event, but an integral part of the training and thus make a lasting contribution to the internationalization of vocational training.

Why are work placements abroad so important?

Companies expect their employees to be mobile, flexible and to have international experience. Work placements abroad are the best way to improve your linguistic, professional and intercultural skills. You can count on IFA – Your partner for mobility!

All the work placements organized by IFA are funded from European or national programmes.