Application-oriented doctoral programmes strengthen research and innovation - without competing with universities

Just recently, uniko again stated that the right to award doctorates should remain with the universities (see APA of 24 June 2025). FHK President Ulrike Prommer comments: "We are not taking the right to award doctorates away from the universities. Quite the opposite: The universities of applied sciences (UAS) and universities of applied sciences (UAS) are more concerned with independent accreditation options for doctoral programmes that serve to sharpen their profile and develop their application-oriented USP."

The cooperation with the universities works well and should of course continue in this form. In addition, however, the UASs have to fulfil their very own mission of expanding application-oriented research in cooperation with business and industry.

"To do this, we need application-oriented doctoral programmes that we develop further in cooperation with our business and industry partners. This strengthens our position in application-oriented research and development," continued FHK President Ulrike Prommer.

"The introduction of doctoral programmes brings considerable advantages for Austria as a science location. Our UASs are in close scientific cooperation with our neighbouring countries, where doctoral opportunities have long existed at UASs. We will lose our attractiveness as a location if we do not quickly follow suit with the framework conditions. We trust that our Minister of Science, Eva-Maria Holzleitner, will recognise the need to grant UASs an independent accreditation option for doctoral programmes," says FHK Secretary General Kurt Koleznik.