Raimund Ribitsch was unanimously elected as the new President of the FHK at today's General Assembly. Raimund Ribitsch has been Managing Director of Salzburg University of Applied Sciences and a member of the FHK Board since the beginning of 2000. He has been Vice President of the FHK since 2006.

"As the new President of the Austrian University of Applied Sciences Conference, it is important to me to ensure the framework conditions for the continued success of the universities of applied sciences. In the coming year, my goal is to negotiate and finalise the next five-year development and financing plan with the Ministry of Science.

On the one hand, this must include maintaining the current funding rates beyond 2018 and, on the other hand, enable the universities of applied sciences to further expand their programmes. We have already submitted a concrete proposal to the Ministry in this regard.

As an interest group, the FHK has contributed both nationally and at European level to making the universities of applied sciences an integral part of the scientific community. Especially in the regions, the universities of applied sciences are essentially responsible for the transfer of innovation and knowledge to the economy and society. Further strengthening the universities of applied sciences and their core competences of teaching and research is a responsible task that I am very much looking forward to," says Raimund Ribitsch about his new role.

In addition to the election of Raimund Ribitsch as President, Ulrike Prommer, Managing Director of the "IMC FH Krems", was elected Vice President and Andreas Breinbauer, Head of the College of the "FH BFI Vienna", was elected Deputy Secretary of the FHK. All candidates were elected unanimously.

The FHK represents the interests of universities of applied sciences and is committed to improving their financial and legal framework conditions in the areas of teaching and research.

As the umbrella organisation for all 21 Austrian universities of applied sciences, it promotes communication between its members, which are made up of all heads of degree programmes and heads of colleges as well as all managing directors.

Enquiries & contact:
FHK
Kurt Koleznik
kurt.koleznik@fhk-alt.local
Tel.: 0664/4244294