For a socially just education
We advocate for comprehensive support for students in all life situations and specifically strive to expand a system of grants and scholarships adapted to students' realities. Affordable housing, reasonably priced and high-quality food in cafeterias, as well as affordable and easily accessible public transportation tickets are also important to us. Additionally, a social safety net is essential to ensure that students who unexpectedly find themselves in difficult life situations are protected. This includes not only financial support services such as social or hardship funds, which must be widely communicated to students, but also counseling services and networking events to maintain the social fabric.
We are committed to reducing financial barriers in the higher education landscape. Neither the financial situation of students nor their parents' income should determine whether someone begins or succeeds in their studies.
Direct support through the social system
The cost of living for students is also continuously rising. An adequate system of grants to fully cover students' living expenses is therefore becoming increasingly important. Furthermore, a social safety net is essential to ensure the protection of students in emergencies and difficult life situations. We demand the expansion of social and hardship funds, as well as their annual valorization.
No additional costs in studies
Many students have to work alongside their studies to cover their living expenses. Costs incurred in courses (excursions, exercises, labs) represent an additional burden here. Universities should receive additional budget for this—these costs must not be passed on to students.
Financial barriers hinder academic progress. We demand that academic literature and scripts be generally freely and easily accessible. This could be achieved, for example, through an Austria-wide accessible digital library. Furthermore, software required for courses must be freely accessible and free of charge.
No age limits for student discounts
We demand that student discounts (e.g., in public transport) be available to all students, regardless of their age. The average age of students in Austria is 27, and not everyone starts their studies at 18. Current regulations ignore the reality of the very group they are supposed to relieve.
Specifically, we demand that the ÖH proactively enter into negotiations with cultural and transport companies to remove age barriers in their student discounts.
Information campaigns on support services for students
Due to the many support options for students from the federal government, state governments, or municipalities, it is difficult to keep track of which benefits one is entitled to. We therefore demand a simplification of the process for accessing grants, with the disbursing authorities being obligated to inform students about their options, because students should not have to be supplicants.
Expansion of childcare services for students with children
In addition to financial aspects, the framework conditions for students who have other responsibilities alongside their studies, such as a job or caregiving duties, should be made as flexible as possible. Regardless of their life circumstances outside of higher education, everyone should be given the opportunity to complete their studies. To this end, we urgently demand the expansion of childcare services for students with children.
Affordable housing
Studying must not become a financial burden. Therefore, we demand that universities and municipalities jointly develop concepts to create sufficient affordable housing in close proximity to universities. For example, more student dormitories could be built near the university. Another proposal is to build and promote more municipal apartments tailored to students. This housing must meet the specific needs of students and provide long-term financial relief, such as a monthly housing cost subsidy for students.
For flexibility in studies and a broad educational offering
In a dynamic and constantly changing society, the demands on the tertiary education sector are as diverse as the goals of the students themselves. Universities must adequately respond to these challenges with their broad educational offerings and ensure that degree programs have a certain degree of flexibility, allowing students to set individual priorities. This significantly contributes to the quality and success of a degree program.
It is particularly noteworthy that flexibility in studies is essential precisely for those students who, alongside their studies, have other responsibilities, such as a job or caregiving duties. Regardless of their life circumstances outside of higher education, all students should be given the opportunity to successfully complete their studies.
By flexibility, we mean the reduction of prerequisite chains, an appropriate number of freely selectable ECTS in curricula, as well as temporal variability in study organization. This should enable students to adapt their studies to their life realities and interests.
Alternative study models such as part-time degree programs, individual or work-study programs should enable personal education as well as studying alongside employment or caregiving responsibilities.
Reduction of rigid prerequisite chains
Rigid and extensive prerequisite chains severely restrict individual study design. Students who have to work or fulfill family obligations alongside their studies are particularly forced to subordinate their study progress to strict requirements. To accommodate diverse life realities, curricula must therefore be streamlined and made flexible. The timely completion of modules should no longer be tied to unnecessary prerequisites, so that every student can freely choose their own learning pace and content focus.
Expanded exemption from attendance requirements
In many degree programs, there are high attendance requirements for courses, and falling below the required quotas leads to a negative assessment of the course. This particularly restricts the ability to study for working students, students with caregiving responsibilities, and students with health impairments. We therefore call for the abolition of attendance requirements, as well as the expansion of hybrid teaching, insofar as the course format allows and there are no compelling reasons against it.
For part-time study
A broad educational offering must also include alternative study models that accommodate the diverse life realities of students. Approximately two-thirds of students work alongside their studies.
We call for the development of study models specifically designed for students with work or family obligations, offering tailored learning paths and enabling an optimal combination of theory and practice. We therefore call for a longer exemption from tuition fees and a longer entitlement to grants upon proof of employment—i.e., a genuine part-time study option.
Specifically, we demand for FH students the possibility to split their academic year into two study years and thus apply for part-time study during this period. In principle, a uniform part-time study plan for all academic years should be mandatory in all degree programs, which students can voluntarily choose at the start of each academic year.
For inclusion and openness
We are committed to inclusive, diverse, and barrier-free universities, want to break down and dismantle discriminatory structures, and actively advocate for more diversity among teaching staff and students.
We firmly reject all forms of discrimination. Racist, sexist, queerphobic, ableist, and discriminatory ideologies must have no place at any university. We actively oppose discriminatory actions and statements. Furthermore, in our view, it is necessary to address aspects such as neurodiversity, mental and physical illnesses more extensively and adapt current structures accordingly.
Lived accessibility and inclusion
Students with physical or mental impairments often encounter barriers in their daily studies that prevent them from using all university resources. It is therefore necessary to specifically raise awareness and train teaching staff, university personnel, and students to create an inclusive and barrier-free study environment. It must be guaranteed that affected students face no additional effort, enabling genuine equal opportunity.
Equality and anti-discrimination
Both in our society and at universities, discrimination and disadvantage frequently occur due to social status, gender, nationality, sexuality, religion, age, or racism. This must be consistently prevented. We demand clear measures and contact points that act not only reactively but also preventively.
Promoting gender diversity
Even today, our society often only accepts two genders, and changing one's gender entry is frequently made difficult. Universities must not replicate this mistake and must be a safe, inclusive, and open place for all students. We call on all universities to leave the choice of one's own pronouns and name to the students themselves, to allow free selection in IT systems, and to simplify the reissuance of student ID cards.
For social diversity at universities
We are particularly committed to promoting and supporting FINTA* (women, inter, non-binary, trans, and agender) students, first-generation students (students whose family background does not include academics), students perceived as migrants, and all students from marginalized groups. These groups often face greater difficulties in starting a degree program at all, as well as in progressing and completing their studies at the pace expected by society. Therefore, support and orientation offerings, such as individual counseling, must be available for these students and prospective students. The educational level and country of origin of parents must not be decisive for the educational path of the next generation. We advocate for measures that sustainably reduce gender disparity in teaching and research to better reflect society and the student body.
Queer promotion at universities
Lack of knowledge about queer community topics and discrimination against queer individuals are still pervasive at our universities. Universities must sensitize their members through training or information campaigns on queer community issues. Additionally, every university should establish its own contact point for queer individuals. Easier access to name changes and gender changes must be facilitated at universities. Furthermore, unisex toilets must be made available.
FINTA* support at universities
Patriarchy does not stop at universities and structurally favors cis-men. For this reason, we demand that genuine FINTA* support be implemented at universities. Existing structures must be broken down and replaced by principles of equal opportunity. This includes dedicated support programs for FINTA* individuals, such as “FIT – Fem* in Tech” or scholarships, until true equality is achieved and balanced representation in degree programs, teaching, and at universities in general is reached.
Create gender-neutral toilets
FINTA* students (women, inter, non-binary, trans, and agender individuals) often struggle to find sufficient suitable toilets at universities as well. However, these should not be segregated by gender but rather oriented toward respective usage needs. Therefore, we call on all universities in Austria to continuously expand the availability of gender-neutral toilets at their locations.
Raise awareness for diversity and discrimination issues
Many students still have to endure experiences of discrimination. Therefore, we call on the responsible federal ministry to fund and establish mandatory training on “diversity, inclusion, and equal treatment” for teaching staff and university personnel. Additionally, a nationwide reporting center for all such concerns should be established.