The cat is out of the bag, and with it the detailed plans for a new version of the University Act. While the Independent Student Lists of Austria (FLÖ) see some good approaches, unfortunately the negative aspects that need to be criticized predominate.
First, changes to the competencies of the Senates stand out: under the University Act 2002, the Rectorate was responsible for establishing and discontinuing degree programs, for the fundamental substantive orientation of teaching based on the development plan, and for the financial viability of all degree programs. However, the design of degree programs lay solely with the Senate and its subject-specific collegial bodies. With the new regulation, the Rectorate now also receives a “directive competence” for curricula and thus even more far-reaching intervention rights than before. “The present paragraph further curtails the rights of university members and instead places them in the hands of the Rectorates. This not only makes universities less democratic, but also opens up more influence for the government over the study landscape,” says Desmond Grossmann, former deputy chair of the ÖH.
Equally problematic is the planned “streamlining” of a possible re-election of the Rector. Previously, this simplified procedure was possible if both the University Council and the Senate voted with a ⅔ majority for another term of office. Now the Senate, as the democratically elected representation of university members, is to be removed from this step. This would make it possible in the future for Rectors to continue leading the university for another four years without support within the university and without a public call for applications. Instead, legitimacy would come solely from the University Council, whose members are almost half appointed by the government. This would once again expose universities to direct political influence. This change does not live up to the claim of self-organized and free universities.
Besonders negative Auswirkungen auf den Studienalltag haben die angedachten Änderungen im Studienrecht. In den letzten Wochen hat sich die öffentliche Debatte dabei insbesondere um die Einführung einer Mindeststudienleistung gedreht. Im Entwurf sind 24 ECTS innerhalb von zwei Studienjahren vorgesehen – sonst droht die Exmatrikulation. Während dies für Studierende, die sich Vollzeit auf ein einziges, sinnvoll gestaltetes Studium konzentrieren können, tatsächlich wie eine vergleichsweise niedrige Zahl erscheint, gilt das so leider nicht für andere große Teile der österreichischen Studierendenlandschaft: “Berufstätige, Eltern und andere Studierende mit Betreuungspflichten, sowie Personen mit psychischen Problemen müssen in Zukunft fürchten, bei zu wenig Fortschritt ihr Studium die nächsten 10 Jahre lang nicht mehr studieren zu dürfen.”, so Desmond Grossmann. Zusätzlich stellt das Vorhaben eine Einschränkung von Lernfreiheit sowie ein Verlust der Flexibilität im Studium dar. Ebenfalls befürchtet die FLÖ durch die Einführung einer Mindeststudienleistung eine Beschränkung von Mehrfachstudien durch die Hintertür, da die 24 ECTS pro Studium erbracht werden müssen – was bei mehreren Studien schnell unmöglich wird und eine Gefahr für die Inter- und Transdisziplinarität im tertiären Bildungsbereich bedeutet.
Additional harshness arises from the fact that negative grades and late-corrected exams do not count toward study activity. The end of the semester can thus quickly become a torment when the transcript does not arrive on time and the sword of Damocles of exmatriculation hangs overhead. The fact that, beyond quality and structure, even the mere possibility of sufficient study progress varies greatly between individual degree programs is shown by the special evaluation of studyability in the 2019 Student Social Survey. At least the amendment contains an approach here to better standardize the workload per ECTS credit. The consequence Exclusion from studies serves solely to clean up statistics and takes no account of the real-life circumstances of those affected.
In summary, many of the planned changes cast a poor light on the intentions of the turquoise-green government coalition. In the coming weeks, the Independent Student Lists Austria (FLÖ) will continue to report on various aspects of the amendment on their social media channels. FLÖ will advocate for improvements in study law at all levels.