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Public Relations Aktuelles Archiv Archiv 2010 Plenary Assembly at the University of Leoben
Public Relations Aktuelles Archiv Archiv 2010 Plenary Assembly at the University of Leoben | Plenary Assembly at the University of Leoben |
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The announced austerity plans of the federal government and its tardiness to find solutions in most urgent matters – in particular the question of sufficient financing – in the current university crisis was at the centre of the plenary assembly at the University of Leoben on Tuesday, October 19th, 2010. The announced austerity plans of the federal government and its tardiness to find solutions in the most urgent matters – in particular the question of sufficient financing – in the current university crisis was at the centre of the plenary assembly at the University of Leoben on Tuesday, October 19th, 2010. The Archduke Johann Auditorium at the University of Leoben was bursting at the seams when Rector Wolfhard Wegscheider in his introductory statement addressed the situation of the Austrian universities should the federal government not change its policies. „Even if the global budgets are secured for the performance agreement period from 2010 until 2012, there will already be a noticeable loss of quality in the current academic year due to deteriorating study conditions, such increasing student numbers with a constant budget. From 2013, just for the necessary maintenance and continuation of services at the university, 300 million euros will be missing on a yearly basis. The actual objective of expansion (student numbers, improved lecture to student ratio, infrastructure and buildings) would require considerable additional financial means”, Wegscheider said. „If the government puts its plan into action to freeze the budget for the next agreement period from 2013 to 2015, and thereby cutting the budget drastically, the university will inevitably have to downsize the university staff as well as close entire study programmes and institutes. We will clearly feel the impact before 2013”, Wegscheider is convinced. The Vice Rector for Finances, Hubert Biedermann, explained the direct effects on the University of Leoben in his statement. „If the austerity plans are really implemented in their suggested form, we will face a financial gap of t 14.8 million euros for the period of 2013 - 2015. This would mean - besides extensive cutbacks in the expansion of the university - a massive threat to jobs“, Biedermann explained. Wilfried Eichlseder, chairman of the Professors’ Association, referred in his speech in particular to the economical effects that the course of the Austrian federal government will have: “Education and research are the essential driving forces behind social and economic development. They form the basis for prosperity, social welfare and peace, and we bear the responsibility for Austria as an attractive business and science location and for the quality education of our students”, Eichlseder said. The chairperson of the Senate, Peter Kirschenhofer, the chairpersons of the Works Committee, Anton Mayer and Jürgen Edlinger, as well as the chairperson of the University Teachers' Association, Thomas Meisel, confirmed further joint actions to remind the federal government of its obligation to sufficient funding and the establishment of adequate study conditions. The chairperson of the Austrian Student Union of the University of Leoben, Lukas Volker, sang the same tune: “Education is an investment in our future. Hence, together with the Student Unions of the University of Innsbruck, the Medical University of Innsbruck and the Vienna University of Economics and Business, we have initiated a referendum. I can only ask everybody to support our cause.” Further information: Erhard Skupa Tel.: +43 3842 402-7220 Mobil: +43 660 14 323 14 E-Mail: erhard.skupa@unileoben.ac.at  The Archduke Johann Auditorium was teeming with students, university staff and professors at the plenary assembly. |