Fight for universities: students defend themselves against reform plans!

Fight for universities: students defend themselves against reform plans!

Laimgrubengasse 10, 1060 Wien, Österreich - The current discussions about the future of the Austrian universities reach a critical point. After the publication of protocols of the coalition negotiations between the FPÖ and the ÖVP, alarming concerns arise. Leonhard Hecht, 2nd deputy chairman of the ÖH University of Salzburg, comments concerned about the planned changes in university financing. "The problems start with the financing of the Austrian universities. In the future, even more focus should be on competition and competitive financing elements. However, universities are not companies, but educational institutions whose financial existence must be secured," says Hecht.

A central topic is also the impending ban on gender and the intended difficulty of access for third-country students. Stephanie Wolfgruber, 1st Deputy Chair of the ÖH Uni Salzburg, notes: "It is noteworthy that the conservative and right side of the political discourse often emphasizes that there are more urgent problems than gender, but in the same breath there is no trouble to campaign for gender bans." This could endanger diversity and equal opportunities at universities.

deterioration in co -determination

The changes also affect the students' rights of co -determination. It is planned that decision -making processes are primarily entrusted to the professors, which could significantly restrict the students' say. Cedric Keller, ÖH chairman at the University of Salzburg, explained: "If this future government believes that they can banish the students from the Senate and to demonstrate us to advise voices, then we will not put up with it. The students cannot be silenced." These developments could have far -reaching consequences for the advocacy of the students.

Another critical change affects membership in the ÖH, which is endangered by opt-out opportunities. Keller and Wolfgruber demand: "The students will continue to remain members of the ÖH in the future. This is the only way to ensure a sensible and good representation of interests." Such an opt-out would put the financial independence of the ÖH in danger and could significantly impair their ability to act.

In addition, a study shows that many students suffer from the feeling of not being able to cope with their studies, which is referred to as "imposter syndrome" or high-truck syndrome. The problem is that students are often not convinced of their services and feel like a fraudster. The non-adapted support systems also increase this, as can be seen from the reports in the mirror.

In order to learn more about the challenges and the upcoming changes in university policy, further information can be found at apa.at and SPIEGEL.de