Teacher training at WU is based on the "Viennese tradition" developed by Prof. Krasensky and Prof. Schneider. This school of thought postulates that within business education, particular emphasis must be given to the students' development of pedagogical content knowledge in order to optimize both the teachers' professionalism and the polyvalence of the graduates' qualifications. 

Students can also opt for a specialization (SBWL) in Business Education as part of the bachelor's program in Business Administration. The introduction of teacher training standards has contributed to the formulation of professional objectives to combine theory, empirical data, and research results with practical experience and to increased performance responsibility in academic teacher training.

Business Education subjects in the bachelor's program Business Administration

A specialization (SBWL) in Business Education is available in the bachelor's program in Business Administration. Like all SWBLs, the program consists of 5 courses, each worth 2 credit hours and 4 ECTS credits. The curriculum is oriented towards the occupational profile of a management trainer.

The introduction of a single-phase master program for business education is further evidence of the innovative developments that WU is known for. Many German-speaking business education master programs have been structured in two phases.

The master program in Business Education at WU consists of 51 credit hours and 150 ECTS credits and takes 5 semesters to complete. Graduates receive the academic title Master of Science (WU).

The program is one semester longer than the WU's other master's programs because of the teaching internship phase required in the 5th semester. The curriculum is based on the recommendations of the German Sektion Berufs- und Wirtschaftspädagogik (BWP), an association of business education professionals.

All students in the master program are required to take an exam on subjects relevant to the program (business administration, accounting, information systems) at the beginning of their first semester. Students may only continue with the program after successfully passing this exam and receiving a positive assessment in one behavioral sciences course.

Business education research at WU is characterized by a wide selection of topics and schools of thought. 

The Institute has participated in numerous international research cooperations focusing on education issues, especially with Eastern European countries (Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russian Federation), including the EU-TEMPUS project entitled "Introducing Entrepreneurship Education in the Russian Federation" in cooperation with the University of Paderborn and several Russian universities.

The single-phase structure of the master's program requires close contacts to numerous teachers and partner schools. In addition to these, the Vienna Institute has many other areas of cooperation. The authorship or co-authorship of school textbooks has always been an excellent method for supporting teaching practice directly. At the institute faculty members contribute to school textbooks or publish special information packages on topics like entrepreneurship or the EU eastern expansion. Continuing education programs for teachers are also part of the Institute's standard program.