Protests against austerity measures at universities: geniuses without money

Tens of thousands of people protested in Vienna on Thursday against planned cuts to universities. The reason is the university budget for 2028 to 2030, which the government leaders agreed on last Saturday. According to the universities, at least 18 billion euros would be needed for these three years to secure the existing offer.

However, only around 16 billion are planned, about the same as before. Because additional items will also have to be paid for in the future, such as the new Linz digital university IT:U, and the inflation will not be compensated, there will still be a significant minus in real terms.

According to the Austrian Student Union (ÖH), 50,000 people took part in the peaceful demonstration. Under the motto “Red alert – save universities!” Students and university staff moved from the TU at Karlsplatz across the closed ring road to the University of Vienna. A small part then moved on to the Academy of Fine Arts, whose auditorium has been occupied since last week.

In Resselpark in front of the Vienna University of Technology, students had put black bags and blindfolds over the heads of the statues, including Josef Ressel, the inventor of the ship's propeller. Attached is the message: “Those who save on universities and research are entering the future blindly.” Posters read “Make Austria Dumb Again?” or “Tax the rich, not our future”. There was a sign attached to a sling for a child that said: “Would have liked to be a genius, unfortunately it was out of budget.” Another sign warned that the University of Vienna would “soon no longer be in the top 100,” in which it is currently ranked for the second time in a row.

The government points to the need for savings because Austria is stuck in an EU deficit procedure. At the presentation last weekend, she was clearly satisfied. Science Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner (SPÖ) defended the agreement in an ORF interview. The 16 billion is more than originally planned and ensures a stable level. She admitted that this was a minus when adjusted for purchasing power. The current government program still spoke of “securing the university budget”. The universities say that this is a long way away.

The ÖH is calling for improvements, financed through wealth and inheritance taxes and the reduction of climate-damaging subsidies. She believes it is wrong that the EU fiscal rules create scope for defense but not for education. “If courses are canceled, positions are cut and support becomes worse, this directly affects our future,” said Viktoria Kudrna from the ÖH management team.

Brigitte Hütter, President of the University Conference Uniko, speaks of a loss of trust because at least inflation compensation was promised. “Did the Science Minister not intervene or did she not get her way?” asks Hütter. Sebastian Schütze, Rector of the University of Vienna, warns: “We will lose ground internationally.”

Back in May, tens of thousands of people across Austria took to the streets against the university cuts. Research was symbolically buried in front of the Federal Chancellery. Students also protested in front of the University of Vienna on Tuesday last week. The government can still make improvements to the budget until October 31st. But there are no signs of giving in.