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ACCELERAS
Programmes · Career accelerator

Pioneers Academy

Six months of practical training, personal coaching and in-demand skills for qualified professionals — especially migrants, refugees and EU nationals — who want to start or restart their career in Austria.

How to apply See the 24-week curriculum
Duration
6 months
Starts
Jan & July
Format
Hybrid
Languages
DE · EN
Fee
€600
Pilot result
50%+ hired
Who it’s for

Qualified, motivated — and ready for the Austrian job market.

Migrants and refugees with completed higher education or vocational training
People with a migration background seeking career growth
Professionals with academic or professional qualifications entering or re-entering work
EU nationals with the right to work in Austria who want to advance

Eligibility

  • Aged 18 to 35
  • Unemployed for more than three months, or working at most 10 hours a week (geringfügig)
  • Legal right to work in Austria
  • A university degree or vocational certification
  • At least B1 German or B2 English
  • Motivated to start or advance your career in Austria
How it works

Three phases, one goal: the right job for you.

Month 1
Clearing

Introduction to the job market, career planning and goal setting, application documents and interview skills.

Months 2–5
Skills development

Digital, soft and professional skills — from data literacy and AI to leadership, negotiation and project management.

Month 6
Empowerment & placement

Job search strategies, mock interviews with industry experts, introductions to employers and 1:1 coaching.

Workshops & trainings 1:1 coaching Networking events Mentorship Mock interviews Employer introductions Job placement assistance
24-week curriculum

Built on the skills employers need now.

Guided by the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs report and reviewed after every cycle.

In person Online
Month 1

Career foundations

W1 Introduction to the programme
W2 Identifying professional strengths & goals
W3 Crafting your CV & cover letter
W4 Interview skills workshop
Month 2

Digital literacy & technology

W5 Data literacy & analysis
W6 Digital marketing & social media
W7 Basic coding & automation
W8 Cybersecurity awareness
Month 3

Soft skills & emotional intelligence

W9 Emotional intelligence at work
W10 Creativity & innovation
W11 Leadership & teamwork
W12 Adaptability & resilience
Month 4

Advanced professional development

W13 Complex problem solving & critical thinking
W14 Negotiation & conflict resolution
W15 Analytical thinking & innovation
W16 Ethical decision-making in business
Month 5

Specialised skills & networking

W17 AI & machine learning basics
W18 Advanced Excel & data visualisation
W19 Project management tools & techniques
W20 Building professional networks
Month 6

Job readiness

W21 Job market insights & application strategy
W22 Mock interviews with industry experts
W23 Cultural aspects of working in Austria
W24 Presentation & public speaking
Apply

Rolling applications — no deadline.

  1. 1
    Send your application
    Email your CV and a personal statement to pioneers@acceleras.io with the subject “Pioneers Academy – First and Last Name – Application”.
  2. 2
    Assessment
    Shortlisted candidates join an online or in-person assessment with group tasks and a personal interview.
  3. 3
    Start your journey
    Once accepted, you begin with an introductory workshop in January or July.
Participation fee
€600
One-time fee for the full six months. Payment plans are available, and people receiving government assistance or single mothers may qualify for a waiver.
You can also cover the fee through small assignments — research, translation, proofreading, data entry or learning-material design — and gain practical experience.
pioneers@acceleras.io

Questions

What if I find a job during the programme?

Keep joining workshops and coaching when your schedule allows, or leave without any penalty.

Is it online or in person?

Both. Many workshops run online, and in-person sessions in Vienna help you build stronger connections.

Which language is it in?

German and English. Some workshops run in one language only, so you need a good level in at least one.

For employers

Hire skilled, diverse talent — or sponsor the academy with funding or in-kind support such as workshops, study visits and job shadowing.

Partner with us

For mentors and trainers

Volunteer your experience. You receive a certificate of recognition and priority access to our fully funded professional development.

Join as a mentor
Micro-Learning Seminars

Short on-site seminars for work and everyday life.

Length
2–4 days
Fee
€220–€400 per person
Group size
Runs from 8 participants
You receive
Certificate of participation

Work-based seminars

Projektmanagement in Non-Profit-Organisationen Income and expenditure accounting Design Thinking — innovative processes Green business models Digital business models & transformation Microsoft 365 Copilot — Praxisworkshop AI for marketing and content creation Coaching and mentoring for team leaders

Everyday learning seminars

Digital skills for everyday life English for everyday life Financial literacy and smart budgeting German for confident use of online services Time and self-management Creative thinking and innovative ideas Social resilience and emotional intelligence Convincing with factual arguments

Pre-register by email; a pre-payment reserves your place, and we confirm once eight participants have joined. Ask about guaranteed dates for selected seminars. After your first seminar, you get access to free seminars from our EU-funded projects.

All 16 seminars training@acceleras.io