Principles

Independence & grassroots democracy

We believe that all students should have the opportunity to participate in the decisions of their representation on an ongoing basis, even after the election date.

Our aim is to ensure that the decision-making power of the university representation is passed on to as many Fachschaften as possible and thus also to students. We therefore see it as our duty to set up structures that enable a strong grassroots democratic decision-making process.

FsRef. The structure for our grassroots democratic decision-making process is formed by a Fachschaften- und Referatetreffen, in which all Fachschaften and departments of HTU Vienna are invited to participate. The FsRef meets regularly during the lecture period and each Fachschaft has two votes and each department one vote.

Imperative Mandate. We see the imperative mandate as a basic requirement for our grassroots democratic decision-making process. In the course of this, our mandataries undertake to vote in the University Representation in the same way as it was decided at the FsRef. The common good is always our top priority.

Proximity to students and Fachschaften. The FACHSCHAFTSLISTE is made up of student representatives from the individual Fachschaften and departments, as well as students who are and want to be active in the representation. This enables direct contact with the students and the individual Fachschaft, which means that their problems are better understood. Solutions can be developed quickly through short and direct communication channels.

Independence. Our work is geared towards the interests of students at TU Wien and is not subject to any party-political calculations or private economic interests. We strictly reject any financial or content-related influence that would jeopardise this independence.

Transparency. We are in favour of transparent representation. Decision-making processes should be transparent for students so that the interests of the actors involved can be weighed up. Direct communication about current projects, measures and decisions creates a clear picture. This requires precise and comprehensible information that is easily accessible.

Based on Science. We regard scientific findings as the basis for political decision-making. Our work in general politics and, in particular, university politics at TU Wien is based on this.

Space for voluntary work. We believe that voluntary work and the Fachschaft culture it supports are integral parts of TU Wien's identity. The basic prerequisite for this is an environment in which it is fun to get involved on behalf of other students. Students who want to contribute to this network should not be hindered by any obstacles.

Cooperation. Cooperation with various TU organisations - such as the choir, orchestra, TU Robots, Racing Team and the Fachschaften - serves as an interface and enables us to bundle the best expertise and achieve the greatest possible benefit for students.

Openness. We welcome ideas from all directions and are open to constructive collaboration. It is important for us to discuss these ideas widely. We are happy to accept support from people who have the necessary expertise - regardless of whether they are on our list or not. Accordingly, we also see it as essential to cooperate with other lists in order to find the best possible solutions.

Equal opportunities & inclusion

FINTA* promotion. We are actively committed to equality for all genders. In order to achieve this equality, we are committed to promoting FINTA* in the STEM field and in particular at TU Wien. Obstacles that hinder the advancement of FINTA* in their academic careers should be identified and removed.
Definition: FINTA* = women, as well as intersex, non-binary, trans and agender persons, as well as persons of other non-binary gender identities

Anti-discrimination. We explicitly speak out against any form of discrimination. In particular against fascism, sexism, racism, queerphobia, transphobia, anti-Semitism and ableism. We recognise the structural discrimination of students from marginalised groups in society, and in particular at TU Wien, as a far-reaching problem. We see denouncing and combating this discrimination as an essential task of student representation.

Free access to higher education. Everyone should have the opportunity to pursue and develop their individual interests and strengths. Regardless of their socio-economic background, everyone should be able to find their place in society. The existing admission procedures and knock-out examinations do not provide any information about suitability for the degree programme. The admission procedure is particularly difficult for foreign students, as they are often confronted with language and financial barriers. We are committed to evaluating the current admission procedures with regard to their justification, as well as identifying and removing bureaucratic hurdles to study entry.

Accessibility. We are committed to a barrier-free university, whether due to physical or mental impairments. We want to identify and dismantle discriminatory structures of all kinds. We are actively in favour of more inclusion and education among students, lecturers and at the university.

Affordability. Students should be able to study and participate in university life free from financial worries. Progress in their studies must not be slowed down by gainful employment, without which studying would not be affordable. Financial support must correspond to the student's actual living situation. The planned duration of study at TU Wien deviates significantly from the median duration of study, which leads to considerable financial hurdles for students.

Mental Health. We see the mental health of all students as a valuable asset that must be preserved and cared for. We see the ongoing stigmatisation of mental illness as a major problem and are committed to raising awareness of this issue, expanding low-threshold counselling services and reducing the pressure to perform during studies.

Sustainable & future-orientated

A sustainable and future-orientated university policy means taking responsibility: ecologically, economically, socially and structurally. We are committed to a TU Wien that thinks long-term, conserves resources and creates added value for society through research and teaching.

Ecological sustainability. The earth's resources are finite and we see it as our duty to treat them with care in order to ensure a future for generations to come. We are therefore committed to a culture of repairing, reusing and sharing resources - be it through loan systems, shared infrastructure or sustainable mobility options.

Economic sustainability. We handle the financial resources made available to us responsibly and ensure that the funds used are distributed transparently and fairly. We explicitly support and promote socially valuable projects and initiatives for students.

Social sustainability. The university should not only be a space for education and professional development, but also offer students a balance to everyday university life away from home. In order to make the university an attractive third space, the mental and physical health of students must also be guaranteed.

Structural sustainability. We think beyond our own term of office and plan not just for two years, but for the future. In doing so, we set ourselves the goal of actively living and promoting efficient knowledge transfer and an open communication space. We prioritise the appreciation of all employees.

Research. Scientific work at TU Wien must critically analyse the issues of our time and follow high ethical standards. Research should not only drive technological progress, but also assume social responsibility.

Future-orientated teaching. Future-orientated teaching should not just be the project of motivated teachers, but should become the standard at TU Wien. We are committed to continuously updating teaching content in line with the latest scientific findings. Teaching and learning methods must keep pace with technological progress and actively integrate it. This includes, in particular, a critical examination of artificial intelligence and its meaningful integration into teaching and learning processes.

Future-orientated university. A modern university needs infrastructure that makes learning easier for students and promotes innovation. Learning spaces must be functional and well-equipped, digital offerings must be expanded and technical facilities must be kept up to date.

Fair studies

As representatives of students at TU Wien, we see it as our task to advocate for a fair environment and fair study conditions.

Studyability. We are in favour of a design of studies that enables students to make appropriate progress in their studies. The formal criteria of courses should not make studying more difficult for students, but should promote their learning process and give them sufficient opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge. Adequate course offerings with sufficient places are required to prevent delays in studies.

Fair ECTS. The ECTS of a course must reflect the actual workload. As this is not the case at TU Wien, the median duration of study also deviates significantly from the planned standard period of study. The resulting increased workload leads to considerable psychological pressure and financial problems for many students.

Flexibility. Students who have to work or have caring responsibilities must not be prevented from progressing with their studies because of these obligations. We are therefore in favour of flexibility in terms of time and place during studies in order to ensure that students can combine their studies with other obligations. A degree programme must be designed in such a way that it can be completed by all people, regardless of their individual circumstances.

Quality in Teaching. Teaching at TU Wien must be organised in such a way that all students receive high-quality support and individual feedback. The didactic skills of the teaching staff should make it possible to grasp the subject matter and promote interest in the subject. We are in favour of a continuous and comprehensive evaluation of all courses, on the basis of which we aim to continuously improve teaching. Teaching should constantly adapt to the new challenges of our time (digitalisation, use of AI, current content...).

Doctorate Studies. We are in favour of greater appreciation for doctoral students, as they are the foundation of research and teaching at TU Wien. We therefore stand for a fair doctoral programme in which requirements and goals are uniformly applied across the university and doctoral students are not overburdened.

International mobility. We actively support the promotion of exchange programmes (Erasmus+, etc.). It must be possible for every degree programme to include a stay abroad without any time or financial disadvantages.