The first university of applied sciences degree programme was launched in Austria 25 years ago, laying the foundations for an undisputed success story. To mark the occasion, the Federation of Austrian Industries, the University of Applied Sciences Conference and the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research organised a joint event in Vienna yesterday evening to celebrate "25 Years of Universities of Applied Sciences". All three hosts agreed that the establishment of practice-oriented higher education in Austria has become an undisputed model of success: "The universities of applied sciences provide training that qualifies students for the professional field and is practice-oriented, and have an exemplary student-to-staff ratio and streamlined study organisation, which makes it possible to respond to the needs of students and allows students to plan their studies and thus define the duration of their studies. Thanks to their applied teaching and research, they are attractive and forward-looking partners for companies in particular, especially when it comes to strengthening locations in the regions."

"Universities of Applied Sciences play a key role in securing the next generation of talent, particularly in the scientific and technical fields," said Georg Kapsch, President of the Federation of Austrian Industries. The high and rapid integration of graduates into the labour market, the practical relevance of the courses on offer and the high graduation rates are impressive proof of their importance for domestic industry. "In order to secure the next generation of innovators in the future and to alleviate the shortage of skilled labour in companies, industry is calling for a UAS expansion offensive in the future, especially in the STEM fields," said the IV President. From the industry's point of view, this will require an expansion of federally funded university places by 1,200 places for beginners each year.

"The strengths of the UAS sector are quite obvious - namely in the successful and high-quality realisation of its educational mission. This has been impressively demonstrated over the last 25 years," summarises Science Minister Iris Rauskala. "We are now called upon to continue this successful development and create the framework conditions for it - on the one hand, it is important to utilise the respective strengths of the institutions and find synergies for the benefit of the whole. On the other hand, we are working on a targeted and demand-orientated expansion of UAS places, especially in the STEM fields, to secure Austria as a science and technology location."

"On their 25th anniversary, universities of applied sciences are at a crossroads. Under the current framework conditions - no valorisation of federal funding, no sustainable research funding, no doctoral opportunities for their own staff - a high-quality education for students will no longer be possible in the future. Today, decisive action is needed from all those responsible in order to eliminate the massive underfunding of the university of applied sciences sector. The loss in value of the funding rates introduced in 1994, which have only been adjusted twice, still amounts to more than 30 per cent today. This is no way to maintain quality in the long term!", states Raimund Ribitsch, President of the University of Applied Sciences Conference. Further expansion without a prior increase in funding rates is no longer feasible, especially in the expensive STEM fields. In conclusion, Ribitsch states that focussing solely on STEM degree programmes does not meet the needs of society. Topics such as sustainability, health and social issues have become an integral part of modern society.

Started in 1994 with 693 students on ten degree programmes, the universities of applied sciences can now look back on a remarkable development 25 years later with 53,400 students on over 480 degree programmes. Initially only offering technical and economics degree programmes, the range of subjects offered by universities of applied sciences today extends far beyond these to include health professions, social sciences, natural sciences, safety sciences and design. The universities of applied sciences have established themselves in the Austrian higher education landscape as forward-looking partners for science, business and society.

 

Enquiry note:
Kurt Koleznik
Secretary General
Austrian University of Applied Sciences Conference
Tel.: 0664/4244294