In retrospect: the first year with the AES exchange programme

What a journey! A little less than a year ago, the students of the first S4 classes at the Akademisches Gymnasium were presented with the opportunity to attend a host school in another EU country and stay with a host family for up to three months. For many of our students, this meant diving into intensive online research of the AES schools’ network: Which location is right for me? Which schools offer the language combinations that I have chosen? And what should I include in my motivational letter?

For their parents, it was equally exciting: Are we prepared to accept an exchange student in our home? Are we ready to let our child go? 

And for our principal, it primarily meant: Work. A lot of work. With impressive commitment, Mrs. Knoflach dove head-first into this task and managed, despite innumerable other obligations, to match 11 students with a host school and family and to offer a place at the AGI to as many students from abroad. This required creativity, empathy and an enormous amount of patience.
At the start of the 2025/26 school year, the first guest students from all over Europe finally arrived at AES Tyrol at the Akademisches Gymnasium location. On the initiative of the coordinators, some Tyrolean host parents took their host children on a hike to the Arzler Alm. There they chatted, laughed, tasted Tyrolean dumplings and Wiener schnitzel, and brought the exchange programme to life. 

We are proud of our (host)children, who have happily embarked on this adventure, and are looking forward to hearing about their experiences!