The science ministry's university mobility strategy is a reality at universities of applied sciences

The university mobility strategy presented today by Vice-Chancellor and Science Minister Dr Reinhold Mitterlehner was received with great approval in the UAS sector. "Due to their practice- and application-oriented profile in teaching and research, internationalisation and mobility have been important to universities of applied sciences from the very beginning. The fact is that university graduates today must have international competences in almost all fields of activity in order to be able to successfully apply for jobs. Already, 24% of UAS graduates from full-time degree programmes have completed part of their studies abroad. Against this backdrop, the target of 35% by 2025, which Mitterlehner envisaged in his press release today, seems quite realistic from the point of view of the universities of applied sciences if the support measures announced in the strategy are implemented," said the President of the Austrian University of Applied Sciences Conference (FHK), Dr Helmut Holzinger.

In the 2015/16 academic year, 5,202 UAS students completed a stay abroad. This means that universities of applied sciences already account for 41% of all mobile students at universities and universities of applied sciences, with a total share of students of only 13%. Stays abroad that are defined in the curriculum (so-called "Mobility Windows"), a clear internationalisation strategy at all levels of the university and a high quality of cooperation with partner universities abroad are key success factors in the view of the universities of applied sciences. "It is very pleasing that the strategic considerations of the Ministry of Science also include additional financial programmes to promote mobility as a separate line of action. Additional incentives and programmes will be needed to increase the willingness to spend time abroad, especially when it comes to promoting teacher and researcher mobility," Holzinger concluded.