The universities that have run into financial difficulties will receive an additional 150 million euros from the federal government for 2023, from the reserves of the Ministry of Science. Minister Martin Polaschek (ÖVP) announced this on Tuesday. A total of 400 million euros must therefore be available next year for adjustments in the cost of living. That must be decided through an amendment to the federal budget, which will be discussed in the National Council this week.
The universities should “be able to handle this well” next year, according to the Minister of Science. The 1.2 billion euros recently requested by the universities has “not yet been documented to this extent for us”, he said in the Ö1 “Morgenjournal”. Due to the expected price increases of energy, rent and personnel in particular, the universities had requested this extra amount for 2023 and 2024.
Budget for 2024 still open
Eva Blimlinger, science spokeswoman for the green coalition partner of the ÖVP, over the weekend considered 900 million euros or “maybe even a billion” for the two years. Polaschek, on the other hand, recently spoke of an additional demand of 800 million euros for 2023 and 2024. Half of that is now fixed for 2023. What it will look like in 2024 is currently “fully open,” he said. There is a fixed amount of 250 million euros, and in 2023 there will be further talks based on inflation.
Protests at universities continue
Meanwhile, a week after the Vienna University of Technology (TU) on Tuesday, the five Styrian universities took to the streets to protest what they perceived as an insufficient increase in the university budget. Representatives of the rectorates, students and employees want to demand “sufficient money for education and research” at a meeting in Graz.
The University of Graz, the Technical University of Graz, the University of Art and Design Graz, the Medical University of Graz and the Montanuniversität Leoben called for protest. At 12:00 there should be a joint train from the individual facilities in the state capital of Styria to the opera, where the closing meeting is scheduled for 13:00.
TU Vienna is preparing for closure
Due to the increase in the budget or financial framework for the next two years, which is too small from the university’s point of view, numerous institutions have announced or already implemented various savings plans in recent weeks. Among other things, tenders and replacements were stopped, investments were reduced and energy-saving measures were implemented. The Vienna University of Technology is even preparing for closure from mid-December to mid-January, i.e. around the Christmas holidays (December 23 to January 8).
Source: Krone
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