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05. 11. 09. - 16:00

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05. 11. 09. - 16:00

Fischer calls for university solution

By David Rogers

President Heinz Fischer called today (Thurs) for a solution to Austrian universities’ problems in the face of continuing student protests.

Fischer said there must be "serious, significant dialogue without any pre-conditions that will lead to solutions of the problems in our universities and educational policy."

He called on students to accept People’s Party (ÖVP) Science Minister Johannes Hahn’s invitation to talks.

The president added he was convinced after meeting with Hahn that the government wanted to resolve problems as soon as possible. He said its initial measures were welcome and called for more to deal with overcrowding at universities and to limit the inflow of foreign students.

Fischer acknowledged a solution to problems at universities would have to address the question of access to them but stressed that one goal should be to prevent "social barriers" from keeping young people from attending universities.

The president said the student protests had called attention to the situation at Austrian universities. "Young people are articulating, as previous generations did, their need for better study conditions and more funding for universities.

"I assume they are doing so on behalf of a future-oriented educational policy that will be the basis of the vigorous development of our country."

Meanwhile thousands of students demonstrated in the streets of Vienna today, causing massive traffic jams and occasional street closures.

The police and car club ÖAMTC recommended that people use public transport, especially the underground, if possible.

A large group of students was planning to assemble at Vienna University and march to Urban-Loritz-Platz along the Ring, Universitätsstraße and Alser Straße. They were planning to hold a closing assembly at Urban-Loritz-Platz at 6pm.

Meanwhile, a poll by the Linz research institute IMAS of 500 people older than 16 this week showed that 86 per cent of Austrians supported fewer university admissions and the adoption of entrance examinations. Ninety-six per cent said they were aware of student protests.

Forty-one per cent said students were protesting against feared re-imposition of student fees, and 40 per cent cited study conditions as the reason for their protests. Only three per cent cited Austrian society as the reason.

Earlier in the week, Social Democratic (SPÖ) Chancellor Werner Faymann had reiterated his call for restrictions on admissions to Austrian universities.

He said the SPÖ supported the re-imposition of student fees but acknowledged the government was split over the issue and said Austria could not accommodate all foreigners who wanted to study at Austrian universities.

Faymann also announced Austria would spend two per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) on universities up to 2020.

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