Making the most of funding for university places is essential for quality, expansion and new forms of education

The Austrian Conference of Universities of Applied Sciences (FHK) views the current FORWIT recommendation as „Successful study in Austria – harnessing potential, promoting equal opportunities, shaping the future“ a clear endorsement of their key demands: funding for university places must be reliably increased, the universities of applied sciences sector must be expanded in a targeted manner, and applied research must be structurally safeguarded. Without value protection, universities of applied sciences lose their real scope for action – at the expense of quality, student support, innovation and academic success.

„The recommendation makes it very clear: Austria must make better use of its existing educational potential. This is precisely where our universities have been making a crucial contribution for decades. They combine a structured approach to study organisation, a practical focus and high relevance to the labour market – thereby enabling students to complete their degree in a way that is predictable, efficient and successful,“ said FHK President Ulrike Prommer.

From the FHK’s perspective, it is particularly significant that the report re-evaluates the organisation of studies at universities of applied sciences (FH/HAW), which is often criticised as being „school-like“. Cohorts, fixed timetables, clear structures and binding framework conditions provide planning certainty. They help students to complete their degrees within the standard period of study, increase graduate numbers and bring much-needed skilled workers into the labour market more quickly.

„What is often criticised as “school-like’ is in fact a key to success: clear guidance, reliable teaching arrangements, good support and a course structure designed to lead to graduation rather than delays. This is not any less academic, but simply better organised,” emphasises FHK Secretary-General Kurt Koleznik.

The report makes it clear that expanding the capacity of universities of applied sciences (FH/HAW) enhances social mobility, relieves pressure on the higher education system and supports future-oriented fields such as STEM, environmental and energy technologies, health and social care. At the same time, it opens up new prospects for educational formats such as „Applied Natural Sciences“, „Liberal Arts“ and lifelong learning. Universities of Applied Sciences (FH/HAW) can develop new programmes in these areas quickly, with quality assurance and in line with labour market needs.

„Our universities are ideally placed to develop new educational formats quickly, in a way that ensures quality and is closely aligned with the labour market. “Applied Sciences’ means not only applied research, but also applied education: closely attuned to the challenges facing society, businesses and the regions,” said Prommer.

The FHK also sees significant potential in internationalisation. International students represent a pool of skilled workers, provided that admission, residence, academic success and the transition into the labour market are better coordinated. This means that higher education policy becomes directly linked to regional development policy.

„The FORWIT report shows that Austria does not have a problem with understanding, but rather a problem with implementation. If we want to realise potential, seize opportunities and strategically develop the higher education sector, universities of applied sciences must be strengthened. They are one of the most effective drivers of academic success, social mobility and competitiveness,“ concluded FHK Secretary-General Koleznik.