Report of the chair team to the 2nd o. BV meeting in the winter semester 2022/23.
Friday, 25.12.2022
REPORT OF THE CHAIRMANSHIP TEAM FOR THE 2ND ORDINARY MEETING OF THE
ÖH FEDERAL REPRESENTATION IN THE WINTER SEMESTER 2022/23 ON 02.12.22
UNIVERSITY FUNDING
The issue of higher education funding has been on our minds a lot in recent weeks. The
Chair team has supported several HVs in their projects, called for their actions and
participated in it himself. Particularly noteworthy are, on the one hand, the action day of the HTU and
TU Vienna on 07 November, which was supported by numerous other HVs and attended by approx.
9000 people participated – here Keya Baier gave a speech. On the other hand, the
Action day of the university representatives at Graz universities particularly worth mentioning, the
was also supported in large numbers and was attended by about 4000 people, here has
Sara Velic gave a speech. The Chairmanship Team held further meetings on November 10 and 14.
Networking calls were held, each of which Sara Velic invited and moderated, and the protocols
sent out for this purpose. Discussions were also held with the BMBWF, for example on the
On the sidelines of the “20 Years of University Law” conference. This meeting was also used to discuss on site
to carry out an action pointing out the acute situation of the universities and to ask the BMBWF to
to request an explanation of their previous rejection for further funding.
A meeting with BM Polaschek will take place on November 28, with State Secretary Tursky on November 29.
November. The chair team has also sought dialogue with other stakeholders, including
Vice Chancellor Kogler, Eva Blimlinger, uniko and the FHK, among others.
The topic and the demands of the ÖH were accompanied by media and public relations work
and supported.
DEAR FOR STUDENTS
The inflation affects not only the universities, but above all the students themselves, who are
can currently afford to live and study much less than before. Therefore this was also
brought into the above-mentioned discussions. BM Rauch was contacted again to discuss
support services for students, but does not see itself as having the responsibility to do so,
To make adjustments in the supports sent. The BMBWF became the
Study grant contacted, but shows no political will to use it to support further
Open to students.
ÖH BV has strongly promoted the increase of the social fund in order to inform students about the
inform about the range of assistance available and held talks to obtain a further financial boost from
enable the federal government. Support media and public relations work on the topic
the demands of the ÖH for social security for all students.
The student conference on cost-of-living increases is in the planning stage, with meetings held on 18 and 24.
Internal planning calls took place in November. The conference is to be held in any case before the
Winter vacations will take place, the targeted date is December 10. The planning and conception has
so far mainly taken over Sara.
Federal Representation of the Austrian National Union of Students
Austrian Students Union
Taubstummengasse 7-9, 1040 Vienna, www.oeh.ac.at, Tel +43 1 310 88 80-0,
Fax +43 1 310 88 80-36, IBAN AT40 2011 1000 0256 8004, BIC GIBAATWWXXX Page 1 / 5
Report of the chair team to the 2nd o. BV meeting in the winter semester 2022/23.
ÖH CHOICE PREPARATIONS
In preparation for the ÖH election, an ÖH internal team was formed to take care of this task.
cares. It is particularly important for us to involve the AGMs and the StVs at a very early stage.
were already invited to a first meeting in November and in the course of the
planning process should be closely involved. The meeting held on November 24
the whole chairmanship team was present.
Apart from this, measures are still underway to make the ÖH visible and to communicate directly with
students and bring them closer to the ÖH. More coffee stands
have on 04. and November 16 took place, coffee stands are still being planned. At
23 November there was a distribution campaign in front of the Juridicum.
EWAS
Boryana Badinska has been immersed in the topic for the past few weeks. There was a
Get-to-know-you meetings with Brainformance on November 10 and with the Fox Factory on November 22.
Among other things, the project was presented and explained everything that has happened until then. On 18.
November, the first partial delivery was sent to us in the form of the first test version. The next
Milestone is completion of implementation on December 15.
CORONA
The situation around vaccination recommendations has not changed since the last BV meeting.
changed. The BMSGPK was contacted several times to send a joint letter to the
Send students out to urge them to be vaccinated, and to provide vaccination opportunities directly to the
Universities to create. So far, the answer is still pending.
CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABILITY
Since the last meeting, the ÖH has intensively exchanged with UNiNeTZ and at a meeting
on November 10, at which Keya Baier was present, various ways of cooperating
discussed. ÖH will join UNiNeTZ and will focus on the area of governance
together with the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, whereby this content-related task is primarily assigned to the
Unit for Environmental and Climate Policy.
In addition, work was done with the responsible unit on the accompaniment of the COP27 and this
on the one hand to draw attention to the climate policy demands of the Austrian Students’ Union and
on the other hand, to create pressure to help Ahmed Samir Santawy.
Apart from that, the ÖH has networked with the #ErdeBrennt movement. The Department for environment and climate policy and Keya Baier have participated in several planning meetings for the movement
and met with representatives of the movement on 07 November to discuss how the
ÖH can support the movement. On November 16, occupations at three universities have
started, where on November 17 Sara Velic and on the other days some other ÖH
Representatives on site were.
The chair team is in communication with the BMK to advocate for the decisions of the last meeting(s).
and in particular to implement the mandate for the round table decided at the last meeting.
through.
Federal Representation of the Austrian National Union of Students
Austrian Students Union
Taubstummengasse 7-9, 1040 Vienna, www.oeh.ac.at, Tel +43 1 310 88 80-0,
Fax +43 1 310 88 80-36, IBAN AT40 2011 1000 0256 8004, BIC GIBAATWWXXX Page 2 / 5
Report of the chair team to the 2nd o. BV meeting in the winter semester 2022/23.
INTERNATIONAL WORK AND SOLIDARITY
Ahmed Samir Santawy is, unfortunately unchanged, still in Egypt and can not leave the country
leave A joint letter from the ÖH and the CEU to the Egyptian Human Rights Council
and the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in progress, this is being drafted jointly with the BMEIA,
so as not to commit any diplomatic faux pas.
Keya Baier and Boryana Badinska, together with the Department for International
Affairs participated in the 83rd Board Meeting of the European Students’ Union in Prague, which was
took place from 11 – 16 November. The preparations for this started directly after the last BV
session started and were very intense. November 17 will be Global Students’ Day
which has an important historical and political significance, especially in the Czech Republic.
Keya and Boryana are therefore in favor of the student march and festivities that day in
Prague and have shown solidarity with the Czech student union SKRVS.
and networked. On the ground in Austria, this day was used to share the stories of politically
to make persecuted students visible.
In addition, the ÖH continues to actively participate in working groups and task forces of the ESU.
On November 03, Sara was at a meeting of the National Bologna Follow Up Group.
In addition, the previously existing cooperation with the Bund demokratischer
Scientists, which has fallen asleep in the meantime, has started again. It has on 02.
A first call took place in November, and it is planned that a joint seminar will be held in the fall of 2023.
(Autumn Academy) and that the ÖH will participate in the next publication of the BdWi, whose
Topic unfortunately not yet determined, involved. A second call took place on November 24, here was
especially the Autumn Academy was discussed.
UNIVERSITY LAW
On 08. and 09 November the conference “20 years of university law” took place in Graz.
From the chairmanship team Keya Baier and Boryana Badinska were present with some other representatives of the
ÖH BV in the process. In the context of the conference, a photo campaign was held in response to the ÖH BV’s criticism of the UG
On site, we were able to meet with many people from university representatives, universities,
network with the BMBWF and other agencies. During the panels on personnel law and
Organizational Law, the ÖH was actively involved in the discussions, in the panel on the topic of
Right to study, Keya herself was at the podium. The meeting was also held as mentioned above
also used in particular to draw attention to the financial situation of the universities.
With the event in mind, ÖH BV has done some media and public relations work on the topic of
UG, with a particular focus on the elimination of the grace period.
IRAN
The situation in Iran continues to worsen and is viewed with great concern by the Chairmanship team.
seen Directly after the last meeting, contact was made with the BMBWF and Eva Blimlinger
included to get the tuition waiver off the ground. A proposal for a
possible texting was delivered by us. Also with the BMEIA we are on 14 November in the
Entered into conversation to explore other support options such as a Students at Risk
Discuss and demand program. For this purpose, information on existing
programs are collected and are to be sent to the BMEIA, a next meeting date is
in planning. In addition, the chairmanship team has advocated the implementation of such a program
used at the European level.
Federal Representation of the Austrian National Union of Students
Austrian Students Union
Taubstummengasse 7-9, 1040 Vienna, www.oeh.ac.at, Tel +43 1 310 88 80-0,
Fax +43 1 310 88 80-36, IBAN AT40 2011 1000 0256 8004, BIC GIBAATWWXXX Page 3 / 5
Report of the chair team to the 2nd o. BV meeting in the winter semester 2022/23.
At the ESU Board Meeting, Keya introduced a resolution on Iran for the ÖH,
which was adopted unanimously. The board meeting was also used to make a solidarity video
of the ESU for students in Iran, in which the ÖH participated.
SEXUALIZED VIOLENCE AT UNIVERSITIES
On November 10, a meeting was held with IGSF, where Keya Baier and Sara Velic were present.
were. At this meeting, it was discussed which contents of the conducted survey should be included in the
press conference and how it should basically proceed. The preparation of the
Press conference has been running since then, but is mainly carried by the press team. A second
Preparatory meeting with IGSF took place on November 22. The press conference will be held on 25.
November be. The chair team has also already started to share the results with the
Unit for Feminist Politics to interpret together. It is also intended to go beyond the scope of the
press conference, derivations and demands will be drawn from the survey, for which the
ÖH BV should then engage in its further work, supported by the data from the survey.
PERSONNEL
Boryana has been getting to know the ÖH staff over the past few weeks. She has also been at the
Works Council presented during the Works Council Jour Fix on November 08. There was under
Among other things, we talked about what communication with Boryana should look like. It was
meanwhile fixed and published the advertisement for a new position in the accounting department. This
is also managed by an external company. On November 24, we had a company Christmas dinner with all employees.
MEDIA AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
The ÖH is very well covered in the media in the weeks since the last BV meeting. Just the
University funding, but also the financial situation of the students themselves have great
Media interest experienced. The survey on sexualized violence was also covered in many media
taken up. Particularly intense was the discussion about the #erdebrennt movement and its support
reported by the ÖH.
OTHER DATES
TOPICS Calls on 02.11. and 07.11.2022
Preparation of the upcoming ESU Board Meeting with the National Unions from Germany,
Luxembourg, Belgium, Italy, France, Cyprus, Portugal, Malta, Spain and Switzerland.
Keya Baier and representatives of the Department of International Affairs were present. The
Board meeting documents, amendments, and other BM content were the subject of the
Calls.
Light of Hope on 09.11.2022
Commemoration of the November Pogroms, organized by the IKG and the JÖH. Keya Baier
was present with other ÖH representatives.
Federal Representation of the Austrian National Union of Students
Austrian Students Union
Taubstummengasse 7-9, 1040 Vienna, www.oeh.ac.at, Tel +43 1 310 88 80-0,
Fax +43 1 310 88 80-36, IBAN AT40 2011 1000 0256 8004, BIC GIBAATWWXXX Page 4 / 5
Report of the chair team to the 2nd o. BV meeting in the winter semester 2022/23.
Students at Risk meeting on 11/15. and 22.11.2022
Discussions by Keya Baier on the experience with the existing Students at Risk.
program in Germany and the Students at Risk program currently under development in the
Switzerland with the respective responsible persons from fzs and VSS.
Rally on the situation in Iran on 17.11.2022
Together with numerous people, Sara Velic and other representatives of the ÖH BV were present at the
Rally on the situation in Iran, this was organized by Rosa Austria.
Federal Representation of the Austrian National Union of Students
Austrian Students Union
Taubstummengasse 7-9, 1040 Vienna, www.oeh.ac.at, Tel +43 1 310 88 80-0,
Fax +43 1 310 88 80-36, IBAN AT40 2011 1000 0256 8004, BIC GIBAATWWXXX Page 5 / 5
