Education Meets Skilled Labor Shortage – Indian Students Strengthen Regional Tourism Industry

The renowned Tourismusschule Bad Gleichenberg is one of Austria’s most important training centers for tourism professions. However, like many other vocational schools in the country, it faces a major challenge: a blatant shortage of students. Especially in times of increasing skilled labor shortage, this problem becomes a real test – not only for the school itself but also for the region’s tourism businesses, which urgently need well-trained staff.

To explore new avenues, the school approached ICS with a clear goal: to attract international students for training in Styria. The answer came in the form of particularly intensive and tailored personal consultation by ICS India Project Manager Christina Ulrich, who, based on her excellent market knowledge and international network, quickly identified a suitable recruitment partner in India.

“We see great potential in this collaboration – not only for the tourism school but for the entire region. International education combined with practical experience on-site is a forward-looking approach to actively counter the skilled labor shortage,” emphasizes Christina Ulrich.

What is special about this collaboration is that the prospective Indian students will not only receive high-quality education in Styria but will also be able to work in the region’s tourism businesses simultaneously. This ensures financial security for their education on the one hand, and on the other, provides immediate relief for Styrian businesses desperately seeking employees. A classic win-win model that could serve as an example for other vocational schools and industries.

A milestone for the school: In early November, the recruitment partner from India personally visited the Tourismusschule Bad Gleichenberg. Accompanied closely by ICS, a sustainable cooperation model is to be developed that offers long-term benefits to both sides.

For ICS, this partnership is a prime example of how international strategies can concretely solve regional challenges. Together with the Tourismusschule Bad Gleichenberg, efforts are now underway to establish the model sustainably and possibly even expand it to other countries.