Severin Broucek has been the CEO of Teach For Austria since July 2021. Teach For Austria is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting educational fairness and equal opportunities within the Austrian education system. Before joining Teach For Austria, Broucek held various international management positions at Deutsche Bank, most recently as Head of Corporate Bank Coverage for Central and Eastern Europe. He studied Political Science and Philosophy at the University of Vienna and holds degrees from the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna and Ashridge Business School, where he earned his MBA. During his school and university years, Broucek was actively involved in church youth work and was a passionate basketball player and children's coach. He lives in Vienna with his wife and their two sons.
The Podcast will cover:
• In your view, what are the biggest obstacles in the Austrian education system that prevent equal opportunities?
• How can teachers be specifically empowered to have a greater impact on educational equity?
• What concrete changes do you think should be made in the Austrian school system to better meet the needs of socially disadvantaged students?
• Which innovative approaches from other countries could be implemented in Austria to promote educational equity?
• How can we ensure all students, regardless of background, receive a high-quality education?

Dr. Kurt Scholz served as the Director of Education for the City of Vienna (Bildungsdirektor) from 1991 to 2001, shaping education policy and administration in Austria’s largest school district. Prior to this role, he was a teacher and school principal, later joining the Vienna School Board, where he became known for his commitment to educational reform and equal opportunities. After leaving the public education sector, Scholz held leading positions in various institutions, including the Austrian Railway Board and the Austrian Red Cross, and served as Chair of the University Council at the University of Vienna. He studied German Philology and History at the University of Vienna, earning his doctorate in 1974. Scholz has published widely on education policy and contemporary history. He lives in Vienna and remains active in public discourse on education, culture, and civic engagement.

Dr. Rudolf Scholten served as Director of Education for the City of Vienna from 1992 to 2001, at that time still known as the Vienna School Board (Stadtschulrat). In this role, he was responsible for operational education management, school supervision, and the legal and personnel administration of the Vienna school system. Prior to this position, he worked as a school principal and in the educational administration, where he developed a strong commitment to education reform and equal access to schooling. Dr. Scholten studied at the University of Vienna (field of study not explicitly stated in available sources) and played a key role in modernizing the supervisory structures of Vienna’s education system. Following his tenure, he remained active as a commentator and contributor in the public debate on education policy. He lives in Vienna.