The dispute over the budget is spreading: there is resistance from universities all over Austria. Education Minister Martin Polaschek (ÖVP) must answer.
On a low note. A sentence burns brightly. Universities are going mobile. Too high energy and price increases, too little budget. Sabine Seidler, Rector of TU Vienna and President of the University Conference (Uniko), first flipped the switch on the alarm via “Krone”. Education Minister Martin Polaschek (ÖVP) will allocate an additional 500 million by 2024. The universities are pushing for 1.2 billion. Even with this, the necessary investments in research to upgrade Austria as a business location are hardly possible.
Now Rector Seidler followed suit. Your TU is heading for bankruptcy. There are closures from mid-December to mid-January. She took to the streets with thousands of students. And there is also resistance and fighting spirit in other states.
“Then we will also take to the streets”
In Graz next week, the University of Graz, the Technical University, the Medical University, the Art University and the Montanuni Leoben will hold a meeting in the city center under the motto “Unis on the back burner”. Hendrik Lehnert, rector of the University of Salzburg, also finds clear words. “We are combative and will also take to the streets if our demands are not met.” Instead of the promised additional 15 million for 2023/24, 40 million are needed. “We work well with Vienna. But we won’t cut back on what we’ve built.”
A similar image in Innsbruck. Due to inflation and rising wage costs, there will be an additional need of 80 million. Rector Tilmann Märk: “Half of the ministry has committed. We will have to increase the other part due to cutbacks and working from home.”
Minister Polaschek shows little understanding for the request of the universities. “I see no basis and evidence for more budget,” he said on Friday. With the current framework, education and research can be maintained. These debates should not be carried on the backs of the students. As Rector, he had to cut back on resources himself.
Ironically, that was in Graz, where large demonstrations will take place against his policies. It will be interesting to see who has the wider back.
Source: Krone
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