More education than ever before at Burgenland University of Applied Sciences

Eisenstadt/Pinkafeld, 26 December 2025 - Despite a generally difficult situation, comparatively high inflation and tight public budgets, the University of Applied Sciences Burgenland feels very positive at the end of the year. The latest figures speak in favour of further sustainable success for the largest educational institution in the state:

• More education than ever before: the university currently offers 32 Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes at its two study centres in Eisenstadt and Pinkafeld. - More than ever before.
• With 3,002 regular students, the university has managed to surpass the 3,000 mark for the first time. Nobody would have dreamed of this when it started 32 years ago.
• There are currently more than 7,000 regular and non-degree students studying in four departments - Energy & Environment, Health & Social Affairs, Information Technology and Business, as well as numerous Master's programmes in continuing academic education.
• Most recently, more than 3,600 people applied for a place at the university for the current academic year. - This is also more than ever before. Due to the limited number of study places, only one in three could be accepted.
• In the winter semester 2025/26, the university recorded more than 16,500 graduates for the first time. - This means "more than ever before".

Pehm: "The success story continues."

"We are continuing our success story unabated," emphasises Managing Director Georg Pehm. More degree programmes and more students are not just bare figures. "These successes mean more opportunities for individuals, more vigour for business and industry and more expertise in the social and health sectors."

Graduates from the universities are in high demand on the labour market thanks to their academically sound studies and the practical and application-oriented training they provide. "Anyone with a degree from our university is sure to get good job offers," says Pehm. "Those who are already working will have new career and promotion opportunities."

Schauer-Frank: "Artificial intelligence has come to stay"

The new Rector of the university, Bettina Schauer-Frank, points out the particular challenges that have arisen this year with the widespread introduction of artificial intelligence at universities. "Of course, it hasn't become any easier to see what scientific work is our own work and what are the results of ChatGPT and the like," says Schauer-Frank: "This makes it all the more important to convey values such as scientific integrity, to set an example and to work with students to shape a good approach to AI."

The university has opted for an approach that "neither demonises AI nor overestimates it as a miracle," explains the Rector.

For the coming year, Schauer-Frank expects additional impetus to further strengthen the quality of the degree programmes, expand international networking and anchor sustainability even more firmly in all degree programmes.

2026 brings another "highlight" - a new campus in Pinkafeld

In fact, the new year starts with the prospect of another highlight - the opening of the new campus in Pinkafeld. The state of Burgenland is investing over 70.0 million euros in the building, which will provide the university with 10,700 m² of new lecture theatres, seminar rooms, laboratories, skills labs and a modern library.

Tense financial situation at universities

The pressure to economise in public budgets is also putting financial pressure on universities throughout Austria. "The central demand is and remains that the universities are at least compensated for the additional expenses they incur due to inflation, high energy costs or rising rental, operating and material costs," says Pehm, who, as Vice President of the Austrian University of Applied Sciences Conference, is fighting with the UAS sector for fair funding at federal level.

Sustainable, sufficient funding for universities is therefore a top priority when it comes to finalising the UAS development and funding plan 2026/27-2028/29 in the new year. "Every euro that flows into universities produces highly qualified specialists, innovation and dynamism. This is exactly what Austria needs to emerge from the crisis."

University dialogue 2040: shaping the future

The higher education sector has high hopes for the "Higher Education Dialogue 2040", which will also pick up speed in the new year. Burgenland University of Applied Sciences is represented in this process by its Managing Director. "Thinking, talking, shaping" is the motto. The high-calibre dialogue within the entire tertiary sector and politics should lead to results that strengthen the universities.

For example, the expansion of autonomy by shifting the accreditation of degree programmes directly to the universities, a bold reduction in bureaucracy and a quality-assured doctoral programme at the universities would be key topics. "Everything that succeeds here will help to continue the extraordinary success story."