univ.-prof. mag. dr. erich thÖni university representative for international relations - innsbruck

University of InnsbruckUniv.-Prof. Dr. Erich Thöni

UNIV.-PROF. MAG. DR. ERICH THÖNIUniversity Representative for INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS -

InnsbruckASEA-UNINET Coordinator – Innsbruck ASEM Educ Hub AC - Singapore

LEOPOLD FRANZENS UNIVERSITY OF INNSBRUCK (Austria)


‘The University of Innsbruck and Austria’s Education

System - Some flashlights’

Presentation – Erasmus-Mundus ECW

Lot 12 Trento, August 7./8., 2009


Overview

I.I. Some Pre-remarksSome Pre-remarks

II.II. Austria, The Tyrol, InnsbruckAustria, The Tyrol, Innsbruck

III.III. University of Innsbruck – LFUUniversity of Innsbruck – LFU

I.I. Facts and Figures/ Organisation/Special InstitutionsFacts and Figures/ Organisation/Special Institutions

II.II. European and International Co-operationEuropean and International Co-operation

III.III. International and Development Co-operationInternational and Development Co-operation

IV.IV. Austria’s Education SystemAustria’s Education System

V.V. HE in AustriaHE in Austria

VI.VI. Post secondary studies in AustriaPost secondary studies in Austria

VII.VII. Some final remarksSome final remarks


Some Pre-remarks

Global trends: ‚Knowledge society‘ and ‚Information society‘ Education gets global business: globalisation -

internationalisation Shift from hypothesis based to problem based research

Demand on higher education and research is rising faster than supply of resources

Re-orientation of public provision: Although in Europe/EU-EHEA acceptance that education and ‚basic research‘ are public goods, public withdraws from financing Key orientation: Publicly assisted – (more) privately

(market-oriented) run!


Some Pre-remarks

Austria: Several new reforms over last 10 years! 1997: New Study Law, reformed in 2002 (‚Bologna‘) 2002: New Univ. Organisation Law

University organisation/structure after UOG 93 Universities were an institution of the Bund (federal level) The University and internal units were only restrictively allowed to (legal) contracting

(Teilrechtsfähigkeit) The university structure, the resp. units and their nominations as well as the elections were

strictly determined by law resp. through the Ministry. UG 2002: Key-terms: ‚Organisationsautonomie‘, ‚Finanzautonomie‘, Personalautonomie‘

- Changes through UG 02: The Universities are ‚legal public law persons‘ (jursitische Personen des

öffentlichen Rechtes) and are allowed to fully contracting (incl. own resp.) Bund reduces its influence to framework-law setting and controlling

Detailled regulations are substituted by performance contracts (Leistungsvereinbarungen)

Guaranteed Global budgets for 3 years Regulation of only few organisational units (Universitätsrat, Senat,

Rektorat) – the internal structure will be determined by each university The University is the employer of all staff (Dienstgeberin)


Tyrol

ItalySlowenia

Slow

akiaGermany

Czech RepublicS

wit

zerl

and

Hungary

Vienna


Tyrol

ViennaVienna

Bozen

Trento


Images of Innsbruck


University of Innsbruck (LFU) –Facts and Figures

Founded 1669 4 Nobel Laureats Today (end of 2008):

Comprehensive university acc. to Austrian standards (- Medical universities, - Some fields)

22.668 Students (+ 6.000 foreign (3.300 South-Tyrol))

162 Prof., 2.607 Assoc. Profs., Ass.-Profs. and Lecturers

1.241 Admin. Staff Total Staff: 4.040 International relations since its

foundation


University of Innsbruck (LFU) –Organisation

University Board 7 Members Rectorat 5 Members Senate 24 Members Faculties 15 (lost Med Univ) Dptms. (Institutes) 73

Fields of Study 109 + 19 (teacher) Administration 10 units, of it

International Relations Office University Representative for

International Relations Special University Institutions 11 Library:

3,2 mio books, + 2.700 manuscripts/(old) handwritings

7.175 periodicals/+ 33.630 ePeriod

Budget (annual): ~ € 195 mio


University of Innsbruck (LFU) –Organisation - 15 Faculties:

Faculty of Architecture Faculty of Biology Faculty of Catholic Theology Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy Faculty of Civil Engineering Faculty of Economics and Statistics Faculty of Education Faculty of Geo- and Atmospheric

Sciences Faculty of Humanities 1 (Phil.-Hist.Fac.) Faculty of Humanities 2 (Language and

Literature) Faculty of Law Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science

and Physics Faculty of Psychology and Sport Science Innsbruck University School of

Management School of Political Science and Sociology


University of Innsbruck (LFU) –Special University Institutions

Archive for Arts in Building and Architecture Research Institute „Brenner-Archiv“ Christian-Doppler-Research Labs

Active Implantable Systems, Advanced Hard Coatings, Textile and Fibre Chemistry of Cellulosics

Research Institute for Textile-Chemistry and -Physics

Intern. Language Center Innsbruck (ISI) European languages as well as Languages of

the World (Arabic,, Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, Ivrit)

Research Center STI Semantics as a core pillar of modern

computer engineering University Music Organisations

Choir, Orchestra, Big-Band University Center Obergurgl

Alpine-Research Center, Conventions, Sports 5 Regional Centers

Italy, France, Canada, All-Americas, Russia


University Sports Innsbruck (USI)

Univ.-Sports Infrastructure (inkl. Pulverturm) Total Area 120.000 m2

Open Courts 4 Rasenplätze (USI) 3 Kunstrasenplätze (USI) 9 Tennisplätze (USI) 3 Beachvolleyballplätze (PTurm)

Gyms ca. 4.000 m2

1 Turnhalle 2 Spielhallen 1 Krafttrainingsraum 1 Fitness-Halle 1 Spinninghalle 2 Gymnastikhallen 1 Tanzhalle 1 Budohalle 1 Kletterhalle

Special Sports Infrastructure 1 Hallenbad (+Sprungbecken) 1 Finnenbahn (PTurm) 1 Fitnessparcour 1 Fun-Park (PTurm) 1 Kletterwand 1 Sauna

Participation WT 2006/2007:-3.864 LFU-Staff-6.589 LFU-Students


European and International Relations - LFU

International relations since its foundation

Participation in the EU-LLL-Programme 2007-2013

Partner of many Worldwide, all EU and National supporting programs for R&T and Education

12 Partnership/Special Co-operation Agreements

Co-operation-, Joint-Study- and Student Exchange Agreements with +300 European and extra-European Universities


University of Innsbruck (LFU) –Intern. and Devel. Co-operation

Co-operation North-America (USA, Canada)

Co-operation Australia Co-operation Asia

2 Uninets (ASEA-Uninet (69 members), Eurasia-Pacific-Uninet (105 members))

Central-, East-, South-East-, South-Asia

Co-operation Latin-America Co-operation Africa


17

University of Innsbruck (LFU)


Tyrol

ItalySlowenia

Slow

akiaGermany

Czech RepublicS

wit

zerl

and

Hungary

Vienna


Austria’s Education System

Primary education

Secondary Education Tertiary Education

Year 1-4 Year 5-8/9 Year 9-12/13 Post-secondary

• Primary/ elementary school• special needs school

• Secondary modern school (Hauptschule)• Secondary school of general education (junior level) / Junior high school (Allgemein bildende höhere Schule (Unterstufe)

Secondary school of general education (senior level) / Senior high school (Allgemein bildende höhere Schule (Oberstufe)• Higher secondary school emphasizing mathematics and science (Oberstufen-Realgymnasium) • Secondary vocational colleges (Berufsbildende höhere Schule)• Colleges for the training of teachers and educators (Höhere Anstalten der Lehrer- und Erzieherbildung)

• universities •universities of the arts • private universities• Fachhochschul-Studiengänge and Fachhochschulen (FHS) (Universities of Applied Sciences)• Academie


Austria‘s Education System


HE (Post secondary) in Austria

The Universities Act 2002 as well as the Fachhochschule Studies Act 1993, foresees the possibility for the recognition of examinations of all kinds of post-secondary education institutions (where study programmes of at least six semesters are offered)

§ 1, University Act: The mission of the universities is to serve academic research and teaching, and the advancement, appreciation and teaching of the arts, and thereby to contribute to the personal development of the individual, and to the welfare of society and the environment. Universities are public educational institutions which, in their research and research-based teaching, are directed towards the advancement of knowledge and new approaches to the arts.

§ 3, FH-Act: University of Applied Sciences degree programmes shall be degree programmes on a university level serving a scientifically founded professional education. Their main objectives shall be:

1. ensuring a practice-oriented education on a university level; 2. imparting the ability to solve problems in the respective profession according to the

state of the art and practical requirements; 3. promoting the permeability of the educational system and of the professional

flexibility of the graduates.



University of Vienna University of Graz University of Innsbruck Total: 21 Universities and

Academies Vienna Medical University Graz Medical University University of Salzburg Vienna University of Technology Graz University of Technology Leoben University Mining and Metallurgy University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration University of Linz University of Klagenfurt University of Applied Arts in Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna University Mozarteum Salzburg University of Music and Drama Graz University of Art and Industrial Design in Linz Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna Danube University in Krems



FH-Sector: In 1990 the Austrian Federal Government decided to set up the FH sector. Course providing bodies: 20; FH degree programmes: 240 Places at FH degree programmes for first year students: 11.027 Places at

FH degree programmes: 31.937 95% of the 240 offered FH degree programmes are organized within the

tiered system: ▪ FH-Bachelor degree programmes:166▪ FH-Master degree programmes: 62

Not all FH institutions are already organised as Fachhochschulen. Out of a total of 20 course-providing bodies twelve are organised as FHs

Besides: Private Universities: 12 (2008) University Colleges of Education (Pädagogische Hochschulen): 17 +

University Colleges of Philosophy and Theology (Philosophisch-Theologische Hochschulen) operated by the Roman Catholic Church: 3

Academies for Midwifery: 4 Clinical Technical Academies: 50 Military Academies (2), Diplomatic Academy (1), Conservatories (13)


Post secondary studies in Austria

Overall Structure of University Level Higher EducationThere are currently two different systems of degree programmes in Austria: an older system without reference to the Bologna process and a newer one with reference to it.

Under the auspices of the older system of diploma degree programmes (Diplomstudien), the first degree awarded is the diploma degree (Diplomgrad)

A diploma degree (Diplomgrad) is awarded by Austrian universities after a course of study consisting of 240 to 360 ECTS credits

Full degree titles are gender specific designations: Magister for men; Magistra for women.

In the fields of engineering, the degree titles are Diplom-Ingenieur/in.


Post secondary studies in Austria

The new system: Undergraduate and graduate studies.

Upon completion of an undergraduate programme (Bachelorstudium at universities; Fachhochschul-Bachelorstudiengang; Studiengang at university colleges of education; 180 ECTS credits), a bachelor’s degree (designation: „Bachelor of/in ...“ ) is awarded. Upon completion of a graduate programme (Masterstudium at universities comprising 120 ECTS credits or, respectively, FH-Masterstudiengang comprising 60 to 120 ECTS credits), a master’s degree (designation: „Master of/in ...“ ) is awarded. In the fields of engineering, the designation of the master’s degree can also be „Diplom-Ingenieur/in“.

Recipients of these diploma degrees from the old system or a master’s degrees from the new system are entitled to enrol in doctoral degree programmes (Doktoratsstudium) at universities. A doctoral degree (Doktorgrad with the designation Doktor/in“) is awarded after a course of study consisting of 120 ECTS credits; the academic title of “Doctor of Philosophy”, abbreviated as “PhD,” is awarded after a research intensive course of study consisting of 180 to 240 ECTS credits.


Some final remarks

EU-orientation in Austria: ERA (‚Lisbon‘) and EHEA (‚Bologna‘) With it Austria is also approaching Anglo-Saxon structures and operations, but

completely different starting point Dimension of finances (up to 2005 – 90 to 95% federal funding) No ‚market-oriented Tuition fee‘ (700 € versus 4700 € on average e.g USA; amounts

to about 10% of budget in A and 20% in USA!!) Open access/admission policy versus entrance exams

Performance contracting is still an ‚experiment‘ within federal funding!

Trade-off in ‚Bologna‘: ‚academic quality‘ and ‚employability of graduates‘ Various interpretations:

▪ Competences of ‚employability‘? Attached to Bachelors or Masters or even both levels?

▪ 2 different views: ‚Academic competences‘ (for Masters) and ‚employability competences‘ (for Bachelors) vs. ‚integrated view‘ (for both levels, with different degrees of specialisation)

Compromise necessary between more long-term perspective of universities and shorter term of business and labor market


Some final remarks

There is still no clear definition for tertiary education and its quality!! Several concepts are around

▪ some too consumer oriented▪ some too institution and its aims oriented▪ some too input oriented▪ none yet approved to be enough ‘outcome oriented’

There is still no answer on ‘access to universities’ in Austria given!

There is still a challenge for institutional positioning in EUROPE and the World!

There is still a strong debate on QA given! Therefore do not confuse ‘measured quality’ or ‘quality assured’ with

‘excellence’, and QA should be always reflected alongside:

▪ “How good is good?”


Images of Tyrol


Univ.-Prof. Dr. Erich ThöniUniversity Representative for Int. RelationsUniversity of InnsbruckUniversitätsstraße 15A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria

E-Mail: [email protected]

univ.-prof. mag. dr. erich thÖni university representative for international relations - innsbruck

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