Official Opening Held for the New Building of the Vienna Education Center

April 29, 2026

The new building of the Vienna Education Center, operating under Turkish Maarif Foundation Austria Representation, was inaugurated at a ceremony attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan.

The official opening of the new building of the Vienna Education Center, operating under Turkish Maarif Foundation Austria Representation, was held in Vienna, the capital of Austria. The ceremony was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan; AK Party Group Deputy Chair Bahadır Yenişehirlioğlu; AK Party Deputy Chair and Head of Foreign Affairs Zafer Sırakaya; Türkiye’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Vienna, Ambassador Mustafa Kibaroğlu; Türkiye’s Ambassador to Vienna, Gürsel Dönmez; President of Turkish Maarif Foundation , Mahmut M. Özdil; Member of the Vienna State Parliament Aslıhan Bozatemur; President of the Union of International Democrats, Kenan Aslan; and many guests.

As part of the opening program, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, together with President of Turkish Maarif Foundation Mahmut M. Özdil, toured the classrooms, dining hall, Turkish Room and library in the new building and received information about the educational activities carried out at the center. The program also included a screening of a film introducing Turkish Maarif Foundation Austria Representation’s Vienna Education Center.

Speaking at the ceremony, President of Turkish Maarif Foundation Mahmut M. Özdil stated that the Foundation has been carrying out educational activities across every continent and in 66 countries for the past 10 years. Noting that Turkish Maarif Foundation reaches more than 75,000 students in over 600 educational institutions, Özdil said, “We are strengthening our position among the top five international education networks in the world day by day.”

Özdil emphasized that, rather than implementing a uniform education model in the countries where it operates, Turkish Maarif Foundation adopts an approach that takes into account the needs of the country and society in which it is present. He noted that the Foundation avoids repeating the same model, system and form of education everywhere in the world, and that its educational activities are shaped in line with local needs.

Drawing attention to the particular importance of the Foundation’s work in Europe, Özdil said, “For example, in Germany, the number of children of Turkish origin at school age is said to be around 1 million. The need is very great, and the potential benefit is very great; therefore, it is necessary to work with great care and diligence.”

Özdil stressed that, through the education center activities carried out in different European countries, the Foundation aims to raise self-confident generations who know who they are, are aware of where and in what world they live, and are conscious of the era in which they live.

Speaking at the opening, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan stated that he had visited Vienna at different times and had the opportunity to meet many people there. Referring to Turkish Maarif Foundation ’s takeover of the new building and the transformation that had taken place, Fidan said, “I was truly proud. Our President showed me around. It has undergone a remarkable transformation, because I also know its former state. Those who knew it before will also know that coming from those modest conditions to this point has truly been a remarkable service.”

Minister Fidan stated that Turkish Maarif Foundation plays a role as a “soft power” and “cultural instrument” in Turkish foreign policy, adding that the Foundation interacts with foreign policy in a wide range of areas.

Pointing out that, in the early years of its establishment, Turkish Maarif Foundation carried out significant work through the strategy of taking over FETÖ schools in friendly countries, Fidan noted that these efforts are continuing. Fidan said, “Especially in some countries where FETÖ had become more deeply rooted and where schools needed to be taken over, there are agreements that we have finalized. Our Maarif Foundation, with great professionalism, skillfully fills in the political framework that we have set out in this regard.”

Fidan also referred to the number of countries, schools and students reached by Turkish Maarif Foundation , stating that these figures are significant and that the number of countries in the world capable of achieving this is quite limited.

Maarif Austria Provides Multi-Dimensional Educational Support to Students in Austria

Operating under Turkish Maarif Foundation Austria Representation, Maarif Austria aims to support the educational processes of children and young people living in Austria on the basis of academic achievement, language development and holistic growth. Through activities planned within the framework of a non-formal education approach, students are offered a learning environment where they can receive after-school academic support, continue developing in different fields, and take part in social and cultural activities.

Turkish Maarif Foundation Austria Representation provides an educational environment with modern infrastructure and versatile usage areas. The building, which consists of 28 classrooms in total, has an educational capacity of approximately 450 people. The center also includes a 300-person conference hall, a library where around 30 people can study at the same time and which has a collection of 3,000 to 3,500 books, a café/canteen area, a dining hall with a capacity of 120 to 150 people, a prayer room, meeting rooms, music rooms and various workshop areas.

Maarif Austria carries out academic support programs for students at primary, lower secondary and upper secondary school levels. Through course and homework support programs, the aim is to help students reinforce what they learn at school and strengthen their academic development. Individual academic support planned according to students’ needs contributes to addressing learning gaps and making learning processes more effective.

The institution also provides educational counseling services for students and parents. Within this scope, information is provided about the Austrian education system, while individual counseling support is offered on matters such as school selection, academic guidance and education planning. Language practice-based activities aim to help students improve their language skills and strengthen their social communication.

In addition to academic support activities, Maarif Austria also organizes various educational programs in the fields of music, performing arts, culture and arts. Instrument training for different age groups, choir activities, theater and folk dance activities, as well as art, science and experiment-based workshop programs for children are carried out. In addition to art courses, the institution supports students’ multi-dimensional development by organizing city and museum visits with cultural content.

In line with its inclusive and qualified education approach, Maarif Austria aims to support students’ active participation in the education system and to provide a learning environment where they can develop their potential to the highest level.