Austria acts: New action plan for endangered US scientists!

Austria acts: New action plan for endangered US scientists!

On April 17, 2025, Austria will present a new action plan to support US students and scientists. This is done against the background of growing international concern about academic freedom in the United States, which has come under pressure through the measures of the Trump administration. According to Kleine Zeitung plans to develop the Austrian government, especially for threatened students and academics in cooperation with domestic universities.

The Minister of Science, Elisabeth Holzleitner, also announced a novella for the University Organization Act (UG), which is to be presented for an assessment in the coming week. A central component of the plan is the expansion of the "Opportunity Hiring", in which up to ten percent of professorships can be awarded without tender in the future. This is limited to researchers who work in the United States.

support programs for endangered academics

Holzleitner also presented existing programs of the Science Fund FWF and the Academy of Sciences (ÖAW). These include:

• "Esprit": For researchers at the beginning of their career
• "Astra": For advanced postdocs
• "Academy Fellowships": For high -ranking researchers
• "Berta Karlik-Fellowships": especially for women

Although there are no additional funds for these programs, a new scholarship program called "Students at Risk" was launched. About 50 endangered students, not only from the United States, should receive monthly scholars of 1,200 euros to enable the switch to an Austrian university.

Holzleitner emphasizes that Austria offers a safe environment with good framework conditions for scientists and students compared to the USA. Information about the new measures will be passed on via a special sub -page of the "Euraxess" platform and through participating universities. At the same time, it is expected that the universities must also take into account necessary savings measures.

academic freedom in an international context

academic freedom, a fundamental element of university education and research, includes freedom and responsibilities for universities, teaching staff and students. Historically, the term has its roots in the ancient Platonic Academy and has developed over the centuries. The influence of sovereigns, religious dogmas and later state interventions has repeatedly questioned academic freedom. Today it is essential that universities can act independently, a fact that is becoming increasingly important due to the existing challenges in countries like the USA.

Current data from the Academic Freedom Index show alarming trends. Compared to ten years ago, 34 countries, including the United States, experienced a significant decline in academic freedom. Only eight countries were able to make progress during this period. The evaluation of the index takes into account various factors to research and teach freedom, institutional autonomy and the integrity of the campus.

In a global context, the situation in Austria is seen as an example of a country that strives to promote academic freedoms and at the same time support endangered academics in difficult times. This illustrates the important step that Austria takes to not only offer a safe space, but also international scientists and students.