Since 1995, the Central European Exchange Programs for University Studies (CEEPUS) has been supporting the exchange of students and teachers between universities in Central, East and Southeast European countries. Since the current agreement expires at the end of April, the National Council approved in its current one Plenary session unanimously the sequel. That is supposed to Convention Connect Ceepus-IV to the current Ceepus III from May 1, 2025. In addition to Austria, Ceepus member states: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Moldova, Montenegro, Nordmacedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic and Hungary. In the debate, MPs spoke about the importance of science and exchange for business and society as well as the next steps to promote science and research. Federal Minister Eva Maria Holzleitner, who is responsible for the science and research agents with her department, gave an insight into the next planned projects of the federal government in this area.
An application by the Greens to support the democracy movement in Serbia remained in the minority
Holzleitner: Research and science is the foundation for progress, prosperity and social stability
Free research and science are the foundation for progress, prosperity and social stability, said Holzleitner. Defense is therefore an investment in future generations. It must be the common mandate to protect itself from science and research. Ideological interventions in freedom of science, as recently in the United States under the new government of Donald Trump, would not only endanger the work of science, but also the future of the country. The Federal Minister therefore supports the initiative of the French Minister of Science that as an EU, the hand of researching researchers from the United States. The European Union and Austria are a safe port for everyone who wants to work scientifically, emphasized Holzleitner.
The Federal Government will not allow for a isolation in research and science and its declared goal of strengthening international networking, Holzleitner supported the continuation of the “Ceepus success program”.
With its government program, the federal government has set clear goals in research and science. In addition, the increase in the research quota and strengthening the research landscape counts. In addition, she will work for a strong, independent research framework program at the EU level, said the minister. With regard to the living conditions of students, they want to reintroduce student home promotion, set improvements in the training allowance and expand psychosocial student advice. In addition, accents for universities are to be set as attractive employers. Furthermore, there will be “soon” the starting signal for creating the 2040 university strategy, which should be the basis for the perspective of the university location.
FPÖ locates “dramatic” situation at the universities
Manuel Litzke (FPÖ) justified the approval of his faction from the CEEPUS program: the inside and the business location. In view of “exploding” housing costs and lecture halls bursting at the seams, he locates especially for students: inside a “dramatic” situation at the universities. With its government program, the Federal Government had not proven a “flair” for their situation and showed no ambitions for improvements. The MP also misses measures for the better reconciliation of studies and work as well as “rampant left -wing extremism”.
ÖVP: Exchange has great benefits for society, innovation and business
The idea of the then Minister of Science Erhard Bussek to launch the Ceepus program was “brave and future-oriented,” explained Rudolf Taschner (ÖVP). The exchange brings to know foreign educational institutions, the expansion of knowledge and knowledge, the strengthening of personality and great benefits for society.
Already in the Middle Ages, hiking years would have guaranteed any good training, said Daniela Gmeinbauer (ÖVP). The Ceepus program is a commitment to cross-border cooperation in the heart of Europe. It is of an invaluable value, since it strengthens the educational and business location through innovative strength.
SPÖ: Strengthening the economic and technology location
With regard to the continuation of the “successful” Ceepus Convention, Heinrich Himmer (SPÖ) emphasized the importance of cross-border cooperation between universities. This would also increase the innovative strength of the countries. The program had chosen and used a particularly large number of people from Eastern European countries Austria and Vienna as the location of knowledge.
Austria stands for excellence in science, research and innovation and for further development, international exchange is needed, said Petra Tanzler (SPÖ). This strengthens the economic and technology location.
Many in the high house would confuse scientific facts with opinions and not lost anything about science, explained Antonio Della Rossa (SPÖ). It should not be shaken about scientific truths and facts such as the existence of climate change. The challenges of the future could only be mastered with science and cooperation, such as the Ceepus program. This is a commitment to a Europe that grows through education and science and does not drift apart through national selfishness.
Neos: Ceepus is lived European integration
The CEEPUS program is a form of living European integration and will increase the prosperity in the long term, emphasized Veit Dengler (NEOS). With the program, talented, ambitious, educated, young people would come to Austria. This makes the Ceepus program a nice example of the fact that they could be obtained from which Austria wants to come.
Green require support from the Serbian democracy movement
The students in Serbia would bear the democracy movement there and the Serbian government would act against this and the freedom of science, Meri Disoski (Greens). With a motion for a resolution, the Federal Government asked it to support the democracy movement in Serbia. In general, a conviction of the Serbian government’s attacks is needed against protesting and the civilian population. In the event, consequences within and outside the formal EU accession procedure would also have to be prepared in the event that the government should not force corruption and the rule of law. The application remained in the minority.
The exchange is enriching for everyone involved and in addition to the students, the economy and the innovation would benefit from it, explained Elisabeth Götze (Greens) and emphasized the importance of scientific mobility. (Conclusion National Council) PST
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