Students' co-determination rights are of central importance for universities of applied sciences

There is currently one priority for the 21 Austrian universities of applied sciences and that is to do everything in their power to enable students to graduate within the prescribed period of study despite the COVID-19 situation. "No student should suffer a disadvantage as a result of the crisis. Studies are continuing and this has been our top priority since the beginning of the crisis," said FHK President Raimund Ribitsch in a press release issued by the ÖH today.

For the universities of applied sciences, students come first. In its statement, the FHK has therefore explicitly spoken out in favour of giving students a greater say. In its statement, the FHK emphasises that crisis-related changes to teaching and examination modalities (conversion to online) should be decided jointly with the students in the collegial bodies of the universities of applied sciences. This has been standard practice in the sector since the beginning of the crisis.

"The universities of applied sciences see themselves as partners and mentors to their students. In times of crisis, we have found excellent solutions together with the students to keep the degree programmes running. This has required enormous effort and reorganisation on both sides. It is therefore all the more gratifying that we were ultimately able to overcome the many challenges together. Especially in times of crisis, we should not artificially construct enemy stereotypes, but rather see the good cooperation with the students as a positive "drive" and continue to work together successfully," Ribitsch concluded.