sentences:  The final two years of upper secondary schooling (Year Level 7 & 8) include the teaching of parallel curricula – the Austrian National Curriculum and that of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.Alongside the compulsory Austrian School Leaving Examination (Österreichische Matura) students have the opportunity, in their final year, to participate in and graduate from the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.The MEP is a simulation of the European parliament, aiming to teach students the way political decisions are made and to raise awareness of the European Union and its institutions.