The course has been set, now action must follow immediately.

The Austrian universities of applied sciences have taken note of the turquoise-green government programme with great approval. FHK President Raimund Ribitsch: "Many of the measures that the universities of applied sciences addressed in the run-up to the formation of the government have been included in the programme. We are therefore particularly positive about the recent appointment of Heinz Faßmann as Minister responsible for Science and Research, who declared this year to be the "Year of Universities of Applied Sciences" during his last term of office. We look forward to working with the minister to implement the measures in the government programme without delay, as this is urgently needed to maintain the quality of study conditions," Ribitsch continued.

The most important measures envisaged in the government programme from the point of view of the universities of applied sciences:

- Increase in funding rates - for the necessary investments in digitalisation, internationalisation and innovation:

The increase in funding rates is a prerequisite for guaranteeing the continued functioning of the sector. Otherwise, the high-quality education that universities of applied sciences offer their students will be jeopardised. The universities of applied sciences therefore need an immediate increase in the funding of study places by 10 per cent. Without this increase, the expansion of the universities of applied sciences that business and industry are rightly demanding cannot be guaranteed at the required level of quality. This must be followed by a continuous increase in further steps, as called for by the Conference of Provincial Governors in its resolution of 8 November 2019.

- Creation of an environment for the further development of applied research through transparent competition for UAS providers

This measure is of great importance for the universities of applied sciences, as they need planning security in research in order to be able to offer their researchers career prospects and to be able to meet the continuing demand from industry for the research services of the universities of applied sciences. To this end, the universities of applied sciences require continuous research funding of at least 20 million euros per year, which is competition-orientated and exclusively open to applications from universities of applied sciences subject to clear performance requirements. It is pleasing that this measure in the government programme is the first time that a long-standing demand of the universities of applied sciences has been included in the government programme.

FHK President Ribitsch states: "These points, which are the most important from the point of view of the universities of applied sciences, must now be implemented immediately. We congratulate the new federal government on their inauguration today and wish them all the best for the start of their work!"