by InTrieste
A pilot exchange program that brought Austrian students into classrooms in Friuli Venezia Giulia region has concluded successfully, regional officials said on Tuesday, marking an early step toward the planned launch of Italian-German bilingual schools in the mountainous Carnia area.
The initiative involved five students from HLW Rottenmann, a vocational school in Austria’s Styria region, who completed teaching internships during June at schools in the municipalities of Paluzza and Sappada. The program forms part of a broader cooperation agreement between Friuli Venezia Giulia and Styria aimed at strengthening cross-border educational ties.
According to regional education councilor Alessia Rosolen, the project represents one of the first tangible outcomes of the partnership and supports preparations for the introduction of bilingual Italian-German schools beginning with the 2026-27 academic year.
The bilingual school initiative will be introduced across three comprehensive school districts in Carnia: “J. Linussio – A. Matiz” in Paluzza, “M. Gortani” in Comeglians and “Val Tagliamento” in Ampezzo. Regional authorities have been working to recruit qualified German-speaking educators and establish partnerships with Austrian institutions to support the program.
During their internships, the Austrian students assisted teachers in classroom activities, lesson planning and educational workshops in preschool, primary and lower secondary schools. Officials said their presence gave Italian pupils an opportunity to engage naturally with native German speakers while participating in everyday classroom activities.
The exchange also offered professional experience for the Austrian trainees, who gained firsthand exposure to Italy’s education system while strengthening their pedagogical skills and improving their Italian through daily interaction with teachers, students and local communities.
The program was coordinated by the regional government in collaboration with the municipalities of Paluzza and Sappada, which helped cover meal costs and arrange affordable accommodation for the visiting students.
Regional officials said the successful pilot is expected to serve as the foundation for future educational exchanges between Friuli Venezia Giulia and Styria, reinforcing efforts to expand bilingual education and promote cross-border cooperation in one of Italy’s multilingual border regions.
