A satisfied look back and an optimistic look ahead. On the occasion of the rotation of the presidency of TU Austria on 1 July, the outgoing president, TU Wien Rector Sabine Seidler, gave a positive summary and TU Graz Rector Harald Kainz outlined his priorities until autumn. Since Jens Schneider will then take over the Rectorate at TU Wien, Horst Bischof at TU Graz and Peter Moser, who succeeds Wilfried Eichlseder, at Montanuniversität Leoben, the executive board of TU Austria will be newly elected afterwards.
Contribution to climate protection and sustainability
The TU Austria executive board continues to focus on the topics of sustainability and climate protection as well as international cooperation with universities of technology and in European networks. “TU Austria’s motto has been ‘Together for Austria’s future’ since the beginning of this alliance. In particular, the issues of sustainability and climate protection are of utmost importance for our future. The three universities of technology included in TU Austria – TU Graz, TU Wien and Montanuniversität Leoben – can make a significant scientific contribution here,” said Harald Kainz.
In addition to the focus on content, there are also a number of TU Austria events on the programme over the summer. At the end of August, the TU Austria Innovation Marathon will once again take place at the European Forum Alpbach, where students from all over the world will work on real problems posed by companies. Those who have a scholarship for the European Forum Alpbach can still register by 14 July. At the same venue, there will be a content session by TU Austria for the 10th time, this time on the topic of “Unification through Green Mobility: Railways & Sustainability”. In addition, the CTS//TUA.summer.school for pre-docs will take place from 4 to 8 September at TU Vienna on the topic “Sustainable Futures”. The TU Austria Summer School Doc+ on the topic “Networks – Backbones for Future Development” from 18 to 22 September at the Montanuniversität Leoben is also aimed at predoctoral researchers.
Contribution to addressing global challenges
The central focus of TU Austria in the past year was on MINT (English: STEM) activities that address teachers and (school) students and promote young scientists. The first university MINKT (English: STEAM) laboratory in Austria was opened in Graz, enabling children and young people to experience science at first hand. A three-day STEM congress was held in Leoben to offer representatives from business and research as well as educators a networking platform in addition to an extensive specialist programme. And in Vienna, an intensive training day was organised for 70 teachers of the new Ministry of Education, Science and Research school experiment “MINT (STEM) Middle Schools” to provide insights into current research and suggestions for their own teaching.
“STEM subjects can make a significant contribution to addressing global challenges. As universities of technology, we have the relevant expertise here, which we are happy to contribute in order to make the best possible use of the overall potential in Austria. We have made a good start, but continuous work will be necessary,” sums up Sabine Seidler, Rector of TU Vienna. These efforts by TU Austria also pay into the Ministry’s action plan for more STEM professionals and confirm that the goals of the University Alliance also serve national interests.
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