Franz Rauch

Dr. Franz Rauch is an Associate Professor at the Alpen-Adria University of Klagenfurt, affiliated with the Institute for Teaching and School Development. He specializes in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), Action Research, and Science Education. He holds leadership roles as Academic Director of the University Courses Department and Scientific Director of initiatives like the IMST project's Regional Networks.

His career includes over 30 years in education, combining teaching, research, and leadership. Educationally, he trained in pedagogy at the University of Graz, with a Fulbright Scholarship for environmental education research in the U.S. He has held visiting roles at institutions like the University of Northumbria.

Research interests focus on ESD, school development, and collaborative teacher training. He co-founded the Austrian ECOLOG Schools Network, promoting sustainability education. His work emphasizes participatory approaches, institutional change, and transdisciplinary collaboration.

Awarded the Fulbright Scholarship (1997), Rauch contributes to global education through editorial roles in journals like Education Action Research and leadership in organizations like CARN and ESERA. He has directed projects such as PROFILES (FP7) and the international CARN conference in Vienna.

His publications (e.g., on ECOLOG networks and teacher professionalization) highlight ESD implementation, action research methodologies, and systemic educational reform. He advises on policy and curriculum development, bridging theory and practice in sustainability education.