Sozialliberale Studierende election program (PDF Version)
Student union instead of party representation
As socially liberal students, we would like the ÖH to regain its strength as a real students- and NOT as a (local) party representation. If the Aktionsgemeinschaft would like to defend UG amendments that make life difficult for students, then we are not automatically with them! The job of an “union” is to stand up for its members and not just to serve as a kind of fig leaf for people who obviously have other goals.
The ranking of a university will probably be difficult to improve by simply putting more pressure on the students to finish their studies more quickly, but rather by improving the range of courses and streamlining the organizational structure.
Creation of the possibilities needed (acquisition of course places) to get a degree in the minimum period of study
If the government wants to introduce „minimum study requirements“, then it must also make it possible that all the needed courses can be taken during the minimum study period. This is currently NOT the case at AAU Klagenfurt. Courses sometimes take place at the same time on Monday or Tuesday mornings … an impossibility for people who have a job.
Free parking during the course-free time
About 10 years ago, parking in front of the traditional commuter university in Klagenfurt was still free of charge. In the meantime, it no longer seems to be an issue that (working) students from SV and SP are „ripped off“. Nevertheless, we demand that parking fees be suspended, at least on lecture-free days, as the argument of the allegedly chronic lack of parking spaces definitely ceases to exist on these days.
Expansion of the range of courses
Since university education does not just mean „schooling“ to us, we would like to see an expansion of the courses offered at the AAU Klagenfurt! Within the framework of the curricula of the various fields of study, there must again be MORE space for free elective subjects that can be interdisciplinary and should also include more artistic branches. A cooperation with the conservatory or the drama school would be desirable.
Keep the professorship for the Slovenian language
Slovenian is one of the three dominant languages in the Alps-Adriatic region. Apart from the fact that the „Alpen Adria University“ has a claim to the name, it would be indecent against the promises made in 1920, to undermine the professorship for it at the university.
Tuition fee reimbursement (because of COVID-19)
Because of the corona crisis, the federal government must refund the tuition fees for the summer semester of 2020 and the winter semester of 2020/21 to the universities and subsequently also to the students who have paid them. Subsequently also for the summer semester of 2021 etc., if existing measures have to be retained.
Online inspection of exams
Especially if, as it is the case right now, there are hardly any people at the university itself and the exams take place online, it would be desirable for affected students to have the opportunity to have a look at the corrected work online. For reasons of transparency, this must be standardized and made mandatory for ALL online exams.
Centralization of the courses
Anyone studying at AAU Klagenfurt thinks that the courses take place at the central university location at the Universitätsstraße. We oppose any relocation to external locations.
Revitalization of the university district (university street festival)
At other university locations, the “University Quarter” is a place of cultural exchange and an opportunity to get to know people. In Klagenfurt, the impression is obvious that the university district is to be „bled out“. Building regulations are popped in front of the Uniwirt’s nose and the small local suppliers are facing increasing competition from supermarkets at the Villacherstraße. We demand solidarity with the local companies and will organize the „Unistraßenfest“again (in cooperation with the local SMEs).
Lectures should remain lectures
The trend towards converting lectures in the curriculum of most fields of study into seminars irritates us. In our opinion, the difference between FHs and universities should be preserved!
ECTS should have the same value across disciplines
Why a student should receive a different number of ECTS for the same course in one field of study than in the other is incomprehensible to us. Is the time of student in the teacher’s program really worth less than that of one who is doing a Master in media and communication?
Places in mandatory excursions must be guaranteed and affordable
If there have to be MANDATORY excursions in a specific field of study, then a place in this excursion must be guaranteed and AFFORDABLE for every student in this field (yes, we are talking about the history department!)
Student feedback should be heard!
There is a possibility for students to give feedback in (almost) every course. Why is this not taken seriously? We received credible reports of discrimination and practical incompetence on the part of some of the course instructors. Such incidents MUST have consequences.
Better compatibility of study and work / family
In short: weekend block courses, no parking fees and more courses in the evening or some kind of summer university.
Night and weekend lines of the STW
It would be nice if the night lines could make a little detour around the university stop. Negotiations on this topic with the Carinthian Lines should be in the best interests of both sides … but they are not happening yet
“Basic Income” for students
So that students can concentrate on their studies themselves, we demand the abolition of the additional income limit for the self-support scholarship and the promotion of people without a job or parental support, or from low-income families, through a scholarship of € 1000 per month. This can (and should) be linked to the fulfillment of a minimum course achievement (through a standardized number of ECTS).
Participants in the Erasmus program who meet certain conditions could also benefit from this.
No brokerage fees
If the housing market becomes more and more expensive, especially in the big cities where most universities are located, it would be only logical to forego brokerage fees for the settlement of potential academics and to improve the local economy. An apartment at the place of study must not become a luxury! Here we see both the federal government and the individual municipalities have an obligation.
Community housing for students
Another way to better meet the housing needs of students at their place of study would be to give them community housing. Allegedly, many large municipal apartments are empty because there is a trend towards small units on the housing market.
The WG concept would be ideal here. Why not give a 100 m² apartment to four students?
Better communication with „beginners“
The ÖH does offer so-called „Welcome Days“; However, these are something that is simply overlooked by many and where topics are discussed in a very study-specific manner. To improve the situation of people who do not find their way around straight away, we would like an introductory event a little later in the semester, in which general questions about public authorities, events, housing options and subsidies are discussed again.
Tuition fees
For all other students from third countries (who are in possession of a Residence Permit-Student) 726.72 euros per semester is generally required.
Every year thousands of newcomers from different countries start their studies at Austrian universities and technical colleges. It is a long and arduous journey that is made difficult by numerous bureaucratic, financial and social hurdles.
Non-discriminatory universities and colleges
As liberals, non-discriminatory universities and colleges are particularly important to us. We oppose any discrimination based on gender, religion, skin color, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, age, hatespeech, cyber bullying or forms of disregard for the individual.
