According to the Conference of Adult Education in Austria (KEBÖ), continuing education is "self-determined education on the basis of an organised, free programme beyond initial education". In addition to adults, this definition includes children and young people and encompasses educational activities with different purposes (occupation, hobby, health, etc.). KEBÖ, founded in 1972, is the working platform of the Austrian adult education associations that are recognised in the Adult Education Promotion Act of 1973. The federal associations represented there are autonomous, not-for-profit and carry out continuous and planned educational work throughout Austria.
The statistics are compiled annually by the member associations of KEBÖ in their own sphere of activity; some of the statistics are published within the framework of joint KEBÖ statistics. Primarily events, participation and the number of staff at the associations are presented.