Austria's TU Wien Calls Protest on October 22 Against University Budget Cuts: University Says Real-Terms Cut of Around 10 Percent Will Hit Research and Teaching
TU Wien in Vienna, Austria, published a call on its website on October 21 for a "RED ALERT" protest against university budget cuts on Thursday, October 22, at 3 p.m. in front of its main building. The university said that even if budget figures appear unchanged in nominal terms, inflation, raises under collective bargaining agreements and costs previously funded separately will in future have to be paid from the same pool, amounting in real terms to a cut of around 10 percent to university budgets.
"A 10 per cent cut is not 'stable' funding. It is a real reduction in our resources, and we will not simply accept that," the university said, adding that the cut would affect its research, teaching and infrastructure and, consequently, Austria's position as a centre of innovation and technology. The protest is being held together with the HTU student union, the ÖH national students' union and many members of the university community, under messages including that education is not something to be cut back on and science is not a bargaining chip.
The university asked members of management to support participation as far as work commitments allow, said lecturers may cancel or postpone classes where possible and inform students, and noted that examinations and compulsory course components remain unaffected. (Compiled from TU Wien's official announcement, October 21)
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 维也纳工业大学主楼实景。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons 文件 Technische Universität Wien mainbuilding mainentrance northview.jpg，Peter Haas 摄，CC BY-SA 3.0 AT 授权
