The universities of applied sciences have once again reacted negatively to the new version of the FH development and financing plan presented today by Science Minister Martin Polaschek at a press conference. Some of the points raised by HBM Polaschek once again give cause for serious concern in the UAS sector.

• 350 new study places?

For example, 350 additional study places in the field of digitalisation and sustainability have been announced to tackle the shortage of skilled workers. The FHK suspects that the 350 study places are not new study places, but that existing study places are to be taken away from the universities of applied sciences and then redistributed.

• Special funds totalling 14 million euros?

The special funds totalling an additional 14 million euros only appear positive at first glance. This is because the 14 million will be financed with existing funding lines, such as the "funding of the cooperative doctoral programmes doc.funds.connect". As a result, this is also not fresh money, but rather the utilisation of funds from already successfully running funding programmes.

• 4.5% Subsidy rate increase from 1 October 2024

There was no change here compared to the previous draft. The universities of applied sciences once again point out that the announced increases in funding rates from 1 October 2024 amounting to 4.5% will firstly come too late in view of the current inflation trend and secondly will be far from sufficient. From 1 January 2024, an adjustment of at least 20% is necessary so that the UAS training programmes can continue to exist in the usual quality.

• Lack of communication with the universities of applied sciences

"In all the comments received on the first draft from the universities of applied sciences, the federal states, the social partners, the ÖH and many other affected institutions, there were calls for the expertise of the universities of applied sciences to be incorporated into the new version of the UAS development and funding plan. Discussions or the requested round table did not take place. As a result, a new document was published, which the affected parties themselves did not get to see in advance. The result is now available and we reject it once again. Unfortunately, the opportunity to achieve further development together with the universities of applied sciences on an equal footing was not realised," said FHK President Ulrike Prommer in an initial reaction.