Revolution in the education system: Digital student ID comes 2026!

Revolution in the education system: Digital student ID comes 2026!

On June 16, 2025, the National Council with the votes of the ÖVP, SPÖ, NEOS and GREEN passed an important amendment to the University and Education Documentation Act. This reform includes important measures to strengthen freedom of science and digitize universities in Austria. Minister of Science and Research Eva-Maria Holzleitner emphasized the importance of these changes and emphasized the message "Choose Europe for Science" as part of the amendment. However, the FPÖ expressed concerns about effectiveness and security for scientists coming to Austria: inside.

The central points of the novella include temporary relief for the recruitment of scientists: inside from the USA, which apply from July 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026. During this period, universities are made possible to do without tenders, provided the relevant researchers: interior or artists: inside the United States in the past two years. The aim is to promote scientific exchange and international cooperation, especially with regard to the challenges that arose through interventions in freedom of research in the United States.

digitization of universities

Another remarkable element of the novella is the introduction of a digital student ID that will be available from the summer semester 2026. This ID is called up via the ID Austria and the "Evidence" app on smartphones and applies to all courses at public universities, universities of applied sciences and universities of education in Austria. The procedures for online application and approval will be made easier by a gradual digital onboarding implemented from autumn 2025. Applicants: Inside, your data can then provide machine readable, which significantly reduces the bureaucratic effort.

The amendment pursues the goal of reducing the bureaucracy and strengthening the freedom of science. This is in accordance with the extensive efforts of the federal government to promote digitization and promote the performance of universities. Universities have a central role in digital transformation, which has been shaped by connecting to the Internet and the introduction of e-learning formats since the 1990s. This current reform shows that digital progress in university formation remains a significant focus of the university and university government.

reactions and outlook

The reaction to the novella was mostly positive, especially from the government factions and the Greens, which also pointed out the need for a better involvement of the students. The FPÖ called for a more precise examination of the researchers coming after Austria: inside to minimize possible risks. At the same time, the proportion of professorships that can be awarded by the Opportunity Hiring are doubled from 5 to 10 percent, which creates additional scope for universities.

Overall, the novella is an important step for the future of science and university formation in Austria, which not only reacts to the current challenges, but also lays the basics for contemporary and digitized educational landscape. The digital student ID and the improved employment procedures for researchers: Interior from the USA are concrete measures that support the goal of modernizing and internationalizing universities.