Students protest university cuts during minister’s visit to Klagenfurt

Students staged a protest during Science Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner’s visit to the University of Klagenfurt on Monday, warning of the effects of federal budget cuts, ORF reported.

Dressed in black, they held a vigil and displayed banners as Holzleitner, a member of the Social Democratic Party, went to meet university officials. Austrian universities will receive €16 billion through 2030, €2 billion less than they had requested. The amount Klagenfurt must save will not be known until spring.

University rector Ada Pellert said Klagenfurt was currently planning for a €35 million shortfall from 2028 to 2030. Potential measures include reducing external teaching, leaving some posts vacant or delaying appointments, and not replacing staff after they retire. The university also hopes to secure financial support through new partnerships and alliances.

Holzleitner said the overall university budget would not be increased, but added that more funding would be available for research through a separate research and technology pact over the next three years. She cited drone research in Klagenfurt as one possible beneficiary.

The minister said funding for the university’s planned 22nd Century Center would remain in place. The €91 million project is expected to begin construction in 2027, with teaching due to start in 2029 if work proceeds as planned.