- More focus on financial literacy in new lower secondary school curricula
- Over 100,000 students reached with lectures in the past 20 years
(Vienna) The start of the new school year brings some innovations in the Austrian curricula. From now on, financial and economic education will take up more space in the lessons of students in the fifth to eighth grade in secondary schools. With its "börse4beginners" teaching material, the Vienna Stock Exchange has been providing suitable documents on stock exchange and capital market subjects since the last school year. They include a learning booklet and a game and are available in both printed and digital format. The different ways of investing money, how markets work and which services and products of listed companies can be found in everyday life are covered.
"Sound and broadly accessible financial education has always been a major concern of the Vienna Stock Exchange – it is the basis for a self-determined financial future. The increased implementation of financial and economic topics in the curricula of lower secondary schools is a first important step in the right direction. We are pleased that we can make a significant contribution to this with our materials and training offers," says stock exchange CEO Christoph Boschan. "Financial education pays off and is the best investor protection."
20 years of school lectures: Reaching over 100,000 students
While the increased teaching of financial knowledge is new to lower secondary school curricula, one initiative has already proven to be a cornerstone in Austrian financial education: For 20 years, the “Österreichiches Gesellschafts- und Wirtschaftsmuseum” and the Vienna Stock Exchange have been imparting basic knowledge about the stock exchange and the financial market with the school workshops "The Austrian Capital Market". In about 6,500 workshop units, more than 100,000 students have been reached with this educational offer since then.
"Our joint school information project provides important impulses and informs young people about basic terms and contexts in the field of capital markets. The workshop format, which is characterised by interactive elements, is very well received by the participants and is well assessed and demanded by the educators," says Harald Lindenhofer, Director of the Österreichiches Gesellschafts- und Wirtschaftsmuseum.
Wiener Börse Akademie: Great financial inquisitiveness
As the results of the "Aktienbarometer" Survey 2023 (only available in German) show, the need for financial education among the Austrian population remains high: every fourth person already owns securities, and another million Austrians are interested in investing in them. Nevertheless, a lack of financial knowledge is still the main reason for many to refrain from investing in securities, as the study also confirms. The increasing demand for financial knowledge is also noticeable at the “Wiener Börse Akademie”. By the end of the year, well over 1,000 seminar participants will have taken advantage of the Academy's offer in 2023. The introductory seminar "Das 1x1 der Wertpapiere", which explains the tasks of the capital market as well as basic knowledge about investing in securities, is particularly popular.
The offer of the Wiener Börse Akademie – a cooperation between WIFI Vienna and the Vienna Stock Exchange – is also aimed at advanced traders and will be continuously expanded. New additions to the programme from 2024 will include seminars on Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Growth Investing and the Private Investor course. In addition, the traditional summer academy at Hubertussee in Mariazell will be expanded and supplemented by a seminar specifically geared to equities. The updated offer of the Wiener Börse Akademie is online as of 4 September.
Press photo teaching material "börse4beginners" & more stock exchange motifs for download
About Wiener Börse AG
As the main provider of market infrastructure in the region, Wiener Börse AG is the gate to global markets. Operating the stock exchanges in Vienna and Prague, the group offers state-of-the-art systems, information and IT services. Listed companies receive maximum liquidity and investors benefit from fast and cost-effective trading by the market leader. Wiener Börse AG also collects and distributes stock market data and calculates the most important indices of the region. Because of this unique know-how the national stock exchanges in Budapest, Ljubljana and Zagreb trust its IT services. Additionally, the group holds stakes in energy exchanges and clearing houses.
Exclusion of Liability
This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and forecasts that are based on assumptions current made at the time of publication of this press release. We do not assume any liability for these forward-looking statements materializing. Furthermore, we would like to explicitly point out that this press release cannot serve as a basis for investment decisions and may not be construed as a solicitation to buy or a recommendation to invest by Wiener Börse AG. No liability is assumed for the information given in this press release.
