The Austrian University of Applied Sciences Conference (FHK) is generally pleased that the new FH development and financing plan has been finalised. "At last, the universities of applied sciences once again have planning security for the coming years," says FHK President Raimund Ribitsch. "It is to the credit of Federal Minister Faßmann that the federal government is committed to the expansion of universities of applied sciences and wants to strengthen the UAS sector as a high-quality and innovative higher education sector."

The FHK considers the expansion of the sector through additional study places to be the first important measure. From the 2020/2021 academic year until the 2022/2023 academic year, a total of 1,000 additional places for beginners are to be added to the existing places. The government itself is aware that there is already a shortage of well-trained graduates in certain areas. However, the constant change in the world of work and the changing needs of business and industry must also be taken into account, Ribitsch added. In this sense, an even stronger quantitative expansion is necessary in order to meet the medium-term demand for graduates and to achieve the federal government's goal of 30 per cent of students studying at universities of applied sciences.

The universities of applied sciences do not receive a global budget, but rather funding per study place. In order to maintain the high quality of education, it is necessary to increase these funding rates in line with the loss of purchasing power. The FHK considers this measure to be unavoidable in the current legislative period.
The sector is pleased about the planned strengthening of young academics at universities of applied sciences through the promotion of doctoral programmes with universities, colleges and research institutions. This opens up important career prospects for employees at universities of applied sciences.
Ribitsch concludes: "The measures planned by the government represent a first step towards the future for the FH sector. We must now continue to pursue this approach and, above all, work together to achieve an increase in funding rates.

Enquiry note:
Kurt Koleznik,
Secretary General FHK;
Tel.: 0664/42 44 294