Klagenfurt students fear cuts under university budget plan

Students at the University of Klagenfurt fear cuts to courses and other services under the federal government’s planned university budget, ORF reported. The university says the funding is insufficient, while its rector has warned of steep savings from 2028.

The government’s agreement allocates 16 billion euros to universities over the three years from 2028. Universities had called for two billion euros more. Klagenfurt’s university estimates it could face an annual shortfall of 10 million euros from 2028, equivalent to 200 jobs, according to Rector Ada Pellert.

The university has grown over the past two decades and now has nearly 14,000 students, its highest number to date, across 57 degree programmes. Sebastian Brunthaler, chair of the Klagenfurt branch of the Austrian Students’ Union, said cuts to the course offering would make the university less attractive. The union wants to maintain the current level of provision, he said, but believes that will not be possible under the ministry’s requirements.

Pellert said she hoped the university’s planned 91-million-euro expansion, due to begin next summer, would not be affected. Planning approval has been granted, but construction approval is still pending. The project has separate funding already allocated, she said, and would not contribute to the federal government’s budget consolidation.

The Austrian Students’ Union and the Austrian Universities Conference have called a demonstration in Vienna for Thursday, with students from Carinthia expected to attend. No protests are currently planned in Klagenfurt, Brunthaler said.