The French government set up in 1995 the <i>Observatoire national de la sécurité des établissements scolaires et d'enseignement supérieur</i>, a national agency for safety in schools and higher education, bringing together the public owners of school buildings, representatives of staff and parents...

Science laboratories in schools are expensive to equip and maintain. Specific pedagogical needs, new technology and safety requirements contribute to the costs. In an effort to get the most efficient use of facilities, some countries are rethinking school labs with a move toward more flexible...

Austria proudly claims to be the first country to make training firm work compulsory in secondary commercial schools and secondary colleges for business administration. In its other secondary schools offering vocational training and colleges, training firms may be chosen as an additional programme.

The Austrian Institute for School and Sport Facilities (ÖISS), responsible for providing the country with guidelines, information and consultation in the field of school building, places special emphasis on school grounds. The ÖISS works to raise awareness of the importance of school grounds...