Chancellor must put his foot down

Austria's universities of applied sciences are reacting with unusually harsh criticism to the federal government's months of inactivity on important issues of higher education policy: "When the new federal government was sworn in in December last year, just over 200 days ago, Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz asked that the government be judged by its actions. We would like to do this, but in the area of universities of applied sciences there is a lack of any action against which we could measure politics," says FHK President Raimund Ribitsch, venting the massive annoyance of the Austrian universities of applied sciences. The actions of the Ministry of Science vis-à-vis the Ministry of Finance, which is apparently blocking the process, can only be described as "completely haphazard and powerless".

The background to the anger: For months, the Conference of Universities of Applied Sciences (FHK) has been clearly and repeatedly drawing attention to the fact that the current development and funding plan for universities of applied sciences expires at the end of the 2017/18 academic year - the day after tomorrow - and that no new planning document has been presented to date. This means that not only is the future funding completely unclear, but the Minister of Science is also failing to take urgently needed and important strategic decisions for the higher education sector as a whole. FHK President Ribitsch: "This has not happened in the last 20 years. This is no way to deal with partners. We expect the Federal Chancellor to take swift corrective action and rectify these shortcomings! The unproductive tug-of-war with the Ministry of Finance must be ended immediately."

From the point of view of the universities of applied sciences, the new development and financing plan must be presented immediately and must include the following points:

Valorisierung of study place funding (last minor adjustment in 2016)

With rising inflation rates, it is practically impossible to attract or retain the necessary staff without valorisation of funding rates. The result is an exodus of highly qualified scientific staff abroad.

Ausbau of the FH sector through additional study places

Every year, over 50,000 applicants have to be turned away because there are not enough places for them. In addition, the economy is desperately looking for graduates.

Sicherstellung research funding

Securing sustainable research funding for universities of applied sciences has been overdue for years and is repeatedly postponed to the next development and funding plan.

In his clear words, FHK President Ribitsch refers to a corresponding unanimous board resolution passed by the FHK Conference last Friday: "For too long, we have tried to achieve a result constructively and behind the scenes - unfortunately without success. We are therefore unanimous in our committees that we can no longer accept this and that we must point out this grievance to the public. The future of young people and Austria as a centre of business and science is at stake." In contrast, the first 200 days of this federal government were characterised by "a record of empty words" on the issue of university of applied sciences policy, Ribitsch concluded.