Competition for students from abroad: New idea for “Austria College”

The number of Austrians studying MINT subjects (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology) has been stagnating for years despite excellent conditions and many efforts, says Bruno Buchberger. The professor of computer mathematics founded, among other things, the Hagenberg Software Park.

Now he is working with the Upper Austria Business Location Initiative (IWS) to found an institution called “Austria College” to bring foreign students into the country.

• Read here: How Upper Austria wants to be attractive for foreign skilled workers

“It’s high time to do this. In order to keep up with the top regions, we need these young talents,” says Buchberger. At the leading universities in the USA, Canada and the Netherlands, the proportion of students from abroad is 70 percent. At Austria’s universities, on the other hand, it is usually less than ten percent, which is also due to a lack of a culture of welcome and integration.

Study and live in Upper Austria

The aim is to recruit prospective students from Egypt, Georgia or Ukraine. English-language bachelor’s programs lasting eight semesters are being considered. These are to be carried out together with the existing universities and technical colleges in Upper Austria. Courses such as computer science, computer engineering or data science would be considered.

The first three semesters should take place via distance learning. After a selection process, the best talents would then come to Upper Austria for the last four semesters. Here they will then live and learn together at a college location.

The students should receive scholarships for their stay, the costs would be borne by companies. In return, the young talents could then complete internships in the companies. After graduating, they could continue studying or start working. “We are trying to find partners for this,” says IWS managing director Gottfried Kneifel. He mentions the Chamber of Commerce or the Industrial Association.

Multiple locations possible

The aim of the “Austria College” is to bring several hundred – ideally a thousand – 18 to 25 year olds to Upper Austria every year. Kneifel and Buchberger have several options in mind as a location for the college building: The JKU/IT:U campus, the Hagenberg software park, the tobacco factory or an area next to the Leonding school center could be considered.

• You can read more about the topic here: This is what the new IT:U in Linz should look like

The costs for the “Austria College” – an estimated total of 150 million euros per year – are to be borne by the public sector as well as individual companies and business organizations. According to the concept created by Buchberger, no new law is needed for the facility. The main task would be to recruit and support foreign students: so that they stay in Upper Austria and work here or start their own companies.