Austrian universities announce staff reductions after new 2028-2030 budget plan
Universities in Austria say the budget for 2028-2030 will force sizable staff cuts and have called a joint protest with the student association.
A budget covering 2028 to 2030, announced on Saturday, compels Austrian universities to implement notable staff reductions. Uniko president Brigitte Hütter criticized the government for presenting the numbers in a way that benefits its narrative, alleging that earlier years were understated while one outlet period was overstated. Together with the Österreichische HochschülerInnenschaft, the universities have called for a protest on Thursday.
The funding package already includes doctors' salaries and financing for the Interdisciplinary Transformation University (IT:U) Austria in Linz, but inflation and expected wage increases add pressure. Rectors Sebastian Schütze of the University of Vienna and Markus Müller of the Medical University of Vienna warned that the cuts could force the removal of courses, postpone the replacement of research positions, and delay new research buildings, with particular risk to disciplines such as experimental and quantum physics and to the staffing of the Vienna General Hospital.
