Brussels, Brussels Region, Belgium
Stefan Zotti is an EU official, currently working in the European Commission's DG Education & Culture. He holds a doctoral degree in Catholic Theology from the University of Vienna and a master degree in European Studies from the Danube University Krems. He started his professional career as assistant to an Austrian Member of the European Parliament. In 2007 he became political adviser to the Minister for Science and Research on national and European research and innovation policy and acting Head of cabinet in 2009. In 2010 Dr Zotti joined the cabinet of Mr Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Regional Policy. One of the main tasks he dealt with was establishing stronger ties between regional development and (national/regional) research and innovation strategies the context of the European Cohesion policy’s reform. From 2016 until 2018 he acted as Director of the Austrian Agency for International Cooperation in Education and Research (OeAD GmbH). Until December 2018 he was also Vice-president of the European Academic Cooperation Association and served since 2017 as first CEO of the new “Innovationsstiftung Bildung”. From March 2019 to August 2020 he was a Senior Consultant in the renowned public affairs agency Jurka P.S.A. (Berlin – Paris – Vienna) dealing for its international clients with European affairs issues. In September 2020 he rejoined the European Commission, working in the field of education policy,with a particular focus on investment policies in education trainaing, civic and sustainability education. Stefan Zotti is part-time lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences Burgenland on European Regional policy since 2012 and author of several books and academic articles on European policy as well as questions of applied ethics.
Supporting the head of unit in the management and coordination of unit B.1 "Higher Education" in DG EAC, with a particular focus on the Erasmus+ programme and the European Student Card Initiative.
Team lead and policy coordination on Cultural Heritage in DG Education, Youth, Sport & Culture (EAC), Unit D.1 "Cultural Policy".
Heading the Jean Monnet team and the Green/Investment team in DG Education, Youth, Sport & Culture (EAC), Unit A.1 "Strategy and Investment". Coordinator of the annual European Education Summit. Main projects: Jean Monnet for Schools, Education for Climate Coalition, Learning Lab on Quality Education and Training, European Education Summit.
Recent lectures on: 'European Regional policy', 'Regions in the EU', 'MFF and EU budget'. Tutor of more than 20 master thesis.
Public Affairs Management; lobbying for international clients (industry, financial services et al.) on the European level.
Establishment of the new Foundation for Innovation in Education (€ 50 m) to fund innovative projects in the Austrian education system with a focus on digital education and teacher training.
Leading the public agency for internationalisation of the Austrian education system which also serves as National Agency for Erasmus+ (250 employees; annual budget of € 60 m). Main achievements: design and negotitation of new cooperation programmes with various countries (mainly Middle East, i.a. Iran, Oman, but also Indonesia), estabishment of the new 'Study in Austria' communication campaign; support of national implementation of the Bologna system in the Austrian higher education sector. Establishment of the new office for the implementation of the National Qualification Framework in Austria.
Responsible for financial and personell issues. Strategy development: 'OeAD 2016-2021'. Acting Head of Unit "International Mobility and Cooperation" in 2015.