IZ – Association for the Promotion of Diversity, Dialogue and Education

IZ – Verein zur Förderung von Vielfalt, Dialog und Bildung (the Association for the Promotion of Diversity, Dialogue and Education) is an independent Austrian non-profit organisation based in Vienna. Founded in 1987, it works on inclusion, civic engagement and international networking, with a particular focus on the Balkans and the Caucasus. Its three guiding themes — diversity, dialogue and education — are translated into concrete projects, trainings and resources rather than remaining abstract values. The organisation describes itself as an interface between politics and practice. It organises trainings and courses on diversity and intercultural competences, develops educational materials, and runs programmes that connect young people and educators across borders. Its work has historically included international school partnerships, EU youth programmes and volunteer service coordination. IZ operates as a non-profit association (Verein) under Austrian law. It is funded through a mix of public grants, national and international partner organisations, and private support. Its activities are documented in annual reports, and it maintains a board of directors and a team whose work is guided by values of humanity, openness, competence and experience. Over the decades, IZ has been entrusted by Austrian ministries with the administration of international school correspondence, the development of intercultural learning materials, and the national coordination of EU youth programmes such as "Youth for Europe" and the European Voluntary Service. It has facilitated more than 5,000 school partnerships worldwide and continues to run research and networking projects, including the RAY research network on youth work in Europe. Today, IZ remains active in Austria and internationally, offering services, resources and events on diversity, dialogue and education, and advocating for the value of these themes in civil society.

The history of IZ begins on 20 March 1987, when the founding assembly of the association took place. The project received financial support from private companies, a start-up subsidy from the Federal Ministry for Environment, Youth and Family, and considerable private donations from around 30 founding members. The founding board members were Helmut Fennes, Irmgard Fennes, August Gächter, Siegrid Spudich-Sperl and Karl Vogelmann. Among the first areas of activity was the development of teaching materials for intercultural learning in schools and various further education seminars for educators. In 1989, the IZ was commissioned by the Ministry of Education to handle international student correspondence. A year later, the "International School Partnerships" project was launched, and the IZ began brokering and advising on international school partnerships on behalf of the ministry. To date, more than 5,000 school partnerships worldwide have been facilitated. Since 1994, funding for school exchange projects with Central and Eastern Europe has also been administered. In 1994, the IZ was appointed by the Federal Ministry for Environment, Youth and Family as the Austrian national agency for the EU programme "Youth for Europe". In 1996, it was entrusted with the coordination of the EU pilot project "European Voluntary Service". These roles positioned the organisation as a key player in the implementation of EU youth funding in Austria. Over the following decades, the IZ continued to expand its work in diversity, dialogue and education. It developed into a competence centre for international mobility and exchange in the fields of education and youth, working with national and international partner organisations. Its focus regions include the Balkans and the Caucasus, where it supports inclusion, civic engagement and international networking. In recent years, the IZ has been involved in research and advocacy. It participates in the European RAY research network (Research-based analysis of European youth work), which studies the impact of the Corona pandemic on youth work in Europe. The organisation has also publicly commented on EU programme management decisions, such as the merger of the management of "Erasmus+" and the "European Solidarity Corps". Throughout its history, the IZ has remained an independent non-profit association, funded by a mix of public grants, partner organisations and private support, and guided by its mission to promote diversity, dialogue and education.

• Founding assembly of the IZ takes place; founding board members elected.

• IZ commissioned by the Ministry of Education to handle international student correspondence.

• "International School Partnerships" project launched; IZ begins brokering and advising on school partnerships.

• IZ appointed as Austrian national agency for the EU programme "Youth for Europe"; funding for school exchange projects with Central and Eastern Europe administered.

• IZ entrusted with coordination of the EU pilot project "European Voluntary Service".

An independent non-profit and competence centre for international mobility and exchange in education and youth, serving as an interface between politics and practice.

• Trainings and courses on diversity and intercultural competences

  Organised by IZ for educators, youth workers and other professionals.

• Educational materials and resources

  Materials on a variety of topics related to diversity, dialogue and education.

• International school partnerships

  Brokering and advising on partnerships; over 5,000 facilitated worldwide.

• EU youth programme coordination

  National agency for "Youth for Europe" and coordination of "European Voluntary Service".

• RAY research network

  Research-based analysis of European youth work, including impact of Corona pandemic.

1. 1IZ - Vielfalt, Dialog, Bildung (official website homepage)iz.or.at
2. 2Unsere Geschichte beginnt 1987 - IZ - Vielfalt, Dialog, Bildungiz.or.at
3. 3Über uns - IZ - Vielfalt, Dialog, Bildungiz.or.at
4. 4About us - IZ - Vielfalt, Dialog, Bildungiz.or.at
5. 5IZ – Verein zur Förderung von Vielfalt, Dialog und Bildung (Wikidata)wikidata.org