Anpassung der Fördersätze dringend erforderlich!

At a press conference with Federal Minister Heinz Faßmann held on 7 May, the Austrian universities and universities of applied sciences impressively demonstrated that despite the massive COVID19-related challenges, the short-term changeover to Online & Distant Learning has worked out excellently. "It is our highest demand that the students can continue their studies without loss of time and successfully complete them. Unbelievable work has been done here at the individual universities in the last few weeks," MCI Rector Andreas Altmann announced in a press release and combined this with express thanks to all staff members who have made every effort to make this enormous achievement possible.

In cooperation with the Ministry of Science, measures are now being prepared to help bridge COVID19-related financial shortfalls. "We appreciate this tremendously, it helps us in the current special situation. We also recognise and appreciate the efforts of Federal Minister Heinz Faßmann to finally compensate for the real loss in value of the federal subsidy rates for university places that occurred in the past and to provide for annual inflation compensation in the future," adds Rector Altmann: "After all, the real loss in value since the subsidy rates were set in the academic year 1993/94, based on the consumer price index, now amounts to 2,450 euros or 25% (!) and, taking into account the wage index, even more than 35% (!).

MCI Rector Andreas Altmann therefore emphatically supports the Ministry of Science's call for at least a 10% adjustment of the funding rates as part of the federal government's budget planning from 2021 onwards, as well as an ensuing annual value guarantee. "Otherwise, there will be a lack of planning security and financial stability to maintain operations in an orderly manner, guarantee quality and aggressively shape the future. We owe this to our students, employers and research partners, and last but not least to our sponsors and financiers," Rector Altmann concludes his urgent appeal to the federal government.