Studying with a child
Angela B. started the Master's degree programme in Business Process Engineering and Management as the mother of a three-month-old son. "I had already studied part-time before and was convinced that I would be able to organise my studies well with a child." Nevertheless, the initial period was very challenging.
It was difficult to study or work on papers after a sleepless night. You always have to motivate yourself a lot.
A lot of support came from her family during this time. "My partner and his family were very supportive and always took great care of the little one. Thanks to the summer house in Burgenland, I was always able to visit my little one from time to time," she explains.
A great team
A lot has changed for young dad Harald Laschober compared to the last few semesters. He is studying for a bachelor's degree in physiotherapy and became the father of a little boy at the beginning of July. "My son took his time until we finished the last exams." The last period before the birth was not only exciting for him and his wife, he says.
My whole year was really excited and everyone was very happy and congratulated me when my son arrived.
He finds it easy to combine studying, learning and spending time with his family. "When I'm at the UAS, it's almost as if I'm away from home for work like I used to be. When I'm studying at home, I occasionally have to take more breaks than when I was studying without a child. My wife is very supportive in this respect." I am happy that our son is so uncomplicated, that my wife and I are such a well-rehearsed team and that we already have such a good daily rhythm with our junior. After his studies, he wants to start his own business as a physiotherapist.
Studying and exams with a baby bump
It's hard to say who was more nervous during the last exams. Student Silvia Gassner, who was working towards good grades, or her lecturers, who were afraid of an unplanned "home birth" in the lecture theatre so close to the due date.
"My lecturers and fellow students were more worried than I was," she smiles, "but I was lucky. I did very well until the end and was able to finish the semester on a positive note." She started the third semester of her part-time Bachelor's degree programme in Information, Media & Communication as normal. "It's going well because my husband can just come with me on Saturdays. His family lives in Eisenstadt." She talks about her life on her blog. She regularly uses the parent-child room at Campus Eisenstadt.
Power woman with a job, studies and three children
Julia Lichtenberger has a lot of experience when it comes to studying with children. Her children are seven, five and two years old. The mum is studying for a Master's degree in International Business Relations and previously completed a Bachelor's degree of the same name at the Burgenland University of Applied Sciences. "I've always wanted to study," she says. But first she gained a lot of work experience. She even ran a restaurant herself for three years before joining ORF Burgenland in the current affairs department. She is now working there again - alongside her studies and children. She usually studies at night when the children are asleep. Until midnight or longer. "Sunday remains a family day."
Everything has gone really well so far, she says.
Nothing is impossible. The last few years have been a great time for me. Challenging, but very interesting.
She is proud of the fact that her children have been intensively involved in education from the very beginning.
"When I'm studying during the day, my older daughter does her homework next to me and the little ones decorate my documents. When my husband was also preparing for his master craftsman's examination, we all learnt together." Lifelong learning is important to the family, even the little ones realise this.
The excursions were always a highlight of her studies. She travelled to Brussels without children, "it was a great experience to do something on my own again. Coming home was then all the nicer." She took her daughter with her to the summer university in Brno. "We both really enjoyed it. The lecturer and my colleagues were very nice."
But of course, not everything is always easy. "Once I drove straight from the hospital to the exam. My middle child had pseudocroup. I had spent the whole night in hospital with him. When my husband came to relieve me in the morning, I drove straight to the UAS." If sometimes things don't quite work out, the degree programme is understanding. "I can then make up for missed lessons or join another group. That works very well." However, having a private network is extremely important, says the student. "The conditions should be right for everyone - especially for the children."
universityandfamily: many ideas implemented
"For us, family friendliness means creating a good balance between work, studies, family and leisure time for both our employees and our students," says Georg Pehm, Managing Director of UAS Burgenland. For this reason, Burgenland University of Applied Sciences underwent the University and Family Audit organised by the Federal Ministry for Families and Youth in 2015 and was awarded the (basic) certificate by Federal Minister Sophie Karmasin. The measures from which students in particular benefit include
- Part-time study programmes at the weekend
- Organisation of (family-friendly) internships
- Establishment of a parent-child room at both study centres
- Highchairs for children in the cafeteria
- No tuition fees
"We are delighted that our students are taking up our lifelong learning programme so well," says Pehm. The university is happy to provide support wherever possible. For example, the parent-child rooms at both study centres were equipped with fridges at the start of the semester.
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Studying with family
