2023-10-03 20:47:04
Science committee debates quality assurance in teacher training and Austrian universities
Vienna (PK) – In a discussion with the members of the Scientific Committee of the National Council, Science Minister Martin Polaschek said about the legislative proposals still planned for the remaining legislative period that the legal basis of the Institute of Digital Science (IDSA) is still being developed further. Polaschek also sees a need for legal regulation with regard to private universities and teacher training.
The Quality Assurance Council (QSR), which has been taking on tasks of quality assurance in the training of teachers since the implementation of the “New Pedagogical Education” program, looks back on the experiences of a decade in the current activity report, on which it has also presented its own publication in book form. The QSR’s 2022 annual report was unanimously accepted. During the debate on the report, some of AQ Austria’s recent decisions were critically questioned, although its annual report was also unanimously acknowledged.
Polaschek answers MPs’ questions about university issues
A key point in the committee’s discussion with Science Minister Polaschek was the financial situation of the universities and the negotiations on the next performance agreement period 2025-2027. Muna Duzda (SPÖ) pointed out that universities are currently confronted with a budget gap of around half a billion euros due to rising prices. Students are also affected by the price increase, and the latest increase in student funding is far from sufficient. Eva Blimlinger (Greens) pointed out that the Austrian University Conference uniko is assuming a financial requirement of €20 billion for the coming performance agreement period. In her opinion, this is too high, but she considers €15-16 billion to be a realistic estimate.
Polaschek pointed out that he was currently in intensive discussions with the Finance Minister about university financing for the next performance agreement period and was therefore unable to make any statements about specific figures. From his point of view, one cannot speak of a current budget gap, he said in the direction of MP Duda. This is about an estimate of further financing requirements. Inflation is undoubtedly an important issue for universities and students. According to the minister, it will be taken into account in the ongoing budget negotiations.
Eva Maria Holzleitner (SPÖ) discussed the development of the Institute of Digital Sciences Austria (IDSA) in Linz and wanted to know whether a renaming was being considered in order to better express the university character of the institution. The minister said that a renaming was certainly possible, also to prevent confusion with IST Austria. Regarding the construction costs so far, he said that they amount to around five million euros. As far as further development is concerned, the IDSA will continue to develop along a technical focus in the area of digitalization. The cooperation with Ars Electronica was appropriate because IDSA should also work on artistic aspects. But that doesn’t mean that another art university will be built here, Polaschek made clear.
Rudolf Taschner (ÖVP), who asked about new developments in medical research, told the minister that the Clinical Research Groups (KFG) funding program was intended to close the gap between basic research and application-oriented development in non-commercial clinical research. So far, three KFGs have been set up, more are to follow, reported Polaschek. Helmut Brandstätter (NEOS) learned that lectures in English are already standard in medical training.
To Gerhard Deimek (FPÖ), who saw the danger that “Numerus Clausus refugees” could compete for university places with Austrian students, the minister emphasized that there was fundamental clarity about the admission criteria. Which changes are possible will be legally checked. In general, the problem behind the shortage of doctors is not a lack of study places or too few graduates.
Regarding the legislative proposals he is still planning, Polaschek told SPÖ science spokeswoman Andrea Kuntzl that legal clarifications on the IDSA, in the private universities law and in teacher training are still planned.
The Quality Assurance Council for Pedagogical Education looks back on a decade of experience
The Quality Assurance Council (QSR), which has been active since the implementation of the “New Pedagogical Education” in 2013, has proven to be an important link between the universities of teacher education and its department. After the first decade of reformed training of teachers for primary and secondary school, the Council presented a first scientific evaluation of teacher training with the QSR activity report for 2022 (III-1005 d.B.). Polaschek emphasized that the decision to create uniform training standards was fundamentally the right one.
University professor Andreas Schnider, chairman of the Quality Assurance Council for Teacher Training, was available to provide information to the MPs about the report. In addition to the evaluation results and analyzes about the “New Pedagogical Education”, the QSR report 2022 also presents statements on the curricula and the implementation of the monitoring as well as relevant data and facts about the Quality Assurance Council itself. In order to transparently present the results of this decade, the QSR his evaluations and analyzes were summarized in book form and the resulting extensive work was included in the current annual report.
In the debate on the report, Martina Künsberg Sarre (NEOS) saw the need to pay greater attention to the acquisition of skills during training. Problems would also continue to arise when making a career change. She also questioned the usefulness of shortening the teacher training course, which is currently being considered. Petra Tanzler (SPÖ) saw a need for action in determining competencies and qualifications as well as the budget autonomy of the universities of teacher education. Petra Oberrauner (SPÖ) found from the report that there are still deficits in the inclusion of MINT subjects in the mission statement of universities. Eva Blimlinger (Greens) continued to see little success in efforts to get girls and young women interested in MINT subjects. From their point of view, anti-Semitism and antigypsyism are social problems that prospective teachers must be prepared for. In her view, the induction phase when starting a career plays a central role in the study architecture. For Gertraud Salzmann (ÖVP), the coherence between training at universities and school practice continues to pose challenges that must be overcome. Gerhard Deimek (FPÖ) questioned what he saw as an increasing trend towards academization of the teaching profession. In view of the shortage of teachers, the focus must be on “sensible training”. Helmut Brandstätter missed efforts to relieve educators of the excessive bureaucratic burden.
Schnider emphasized that the QSR is not actually discussing a shortening of the teacher training course, but rather considers a change in the study architecture to be sensible. It should be possible to start working after six semesters and then acquire a master’s degree in another four semesters while working. In the direction of MP Deimek As far as the various skills for professional life are concerned, the goal must be to focus on these in those phases of study in which the knowledge acquired can be quickly put into practice. This is the only way sustainability can be achieved. In principle, the decision was made to closely link theory and practice with teacher training. From his point of view, it has been shown that it works very well overall.
On the subject of career changers, Federal Minister Polaschek referred to the establishment of a clearing house in his department in order to be able to help in individual cases. The question of whether the current service law is a hindrance will be examined. As far as the budgets of the universities of teacher education are concerned, he was not asked to change the existing system, which seems to be working well. He also sees no reason to differentiate between primary and secondary education in terms of training requirements.
AQ Austria sees itself as a guarantee of quality in the Austrian higher education sector
Managing Director Jürgen Petersen was invited to provide information on the 2022 activity report of the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria. According to him, the current annual report 2022 (III-1026 d.B.) Insight into the wide range of services offered by AQ Austria. AQ Austria takes on tasks in external quality assurance for the higher education sector in Austria. The aim of this is, in addition to the institution’s internal quality assurance, to ensure the quality of the courses offered and of teaching and research and thus also to secure the recognition of the university location. This is in the interests of students and future employers, but above all in the interests of society. Petersen noted that external quality assurance must undergo constant development in order to keep pace with changes in the higher education sector. In 2022, the agency was particularly in the public eye due to its decisions on the Sigmund Freud Private University Vienna (SFU), he noted.
The events surrounding the medical studies at SFU gave rise to critical comments from MPs. Eva Blimlinger (Greens) and Andrea Kuntzl (SPÖ) pointed out that the QSR’s decision had led to uncertainty for students as to whether they would be able to continue and complete their studies. Blimlinger noted that the problems were exacerbated by formal errors made by the quality assurance agency, which ultimately led to the Federal Administrative Court upholding a complaint by the SFU against AQ Austria’s decision. Kuntzl concluded from the report that the QSR sees a need for legal action in private universities and the accreditation of foreign study programs. She also saw a possible conflict of interest in the fact that, according to her report, AQ Austria not only carries out audits of universities, but also advises them. In connection with the decisions on the SFU, Rudolf Taschner (ÖVP) saw a lack of willingness on the part of the QSR to critically question its own work. Martina Künsberg Sarre also spoke of “regrettable events” surrounding the SFU. She asked whether there was any thought of transferring parts of the QSR’s tasks back to the Ministry of Science.
Petersen emphasized that AQ Austria continues to stand by its decisions regarding medical studies at SFU, but of course accepts the BVG’s ruling. He said that here they had “ventured far beyond” in terms of quality assurance. The AQ Austria decision regarding the identified deficiencies in the course was also not overturned. Rather, the court determined that further reports must be taken into account and a new examination must be carried out to determine whether the requirements for renewed accreditation are met. The accreditation process is therefore continuing. However, he understands from the court ruling that AQ Austria still needs to work further on the quality of its decisions. It is now important to “support the SFU well”. As far as the reporting of foreign study programs is concerned, Petersen explained that he would like a legal basis to be able to intervene in certain cases to ensure quality. As far as the consultations are concerned, it is about help with internal quality assurance. There is also a clear separation between advice and audits. AQ Austria operates according to the principle that it never carries out consultations and audits at an institution at the same time.
Science Minister Polaschek saw the events surrounding the SFU as confirming that there was still a need for action in the Quality Assurance Act and the Private Universities Act. Of course, conflicts of interest must be avoided. There are no plans to take AQ Austria’s tasks back into the department. (Conclusion of the Scientific Committee) sox
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