Criticism of allocation of public federal funds to private university

"If the Higher Education Conference, a joint advisory body of the Ministry of Science in which universities of applied sciences, universities and private universities are represented, makes decisions on the further strategic development of the Austrian higher education area and then allocates 9 million euros in federal funds to a single private university in a non-transparent and uncoordinated action, we must point this out and vehemently oppose it," says FHK President Raimund Ribitsch, who agrees with the position of ÖH and uniko in this regard.

With reference to the goal agreed in the Higher Education Conference to educate up to 60% of students at universities of applied sciences in the future, i.e. to finance more study places at universities of applied sciences, Ribitsch continues: "For months, the universities of applied sciences have been pushing for this expansion target to be realised soon and for the federal funding rates for university of applied sciences study places to be secured in the long term. We are not getting any firm commitments from politicians here, which is making future planning much more difficult. With 9 million euros, around 1,200 new study places could be created at universities of applied sciences (calculated with an average funding rate of 7,500 euros per study place)."
The FHK rejects the withholding of urgently needed public funds on the one hand and the allocation of public funds to a privately financed university that is located outside the federal government's sphere of competence on the other. The FHK calls for a return to the common path and the pursuit of the goals agreed in the Higher Education Conference.