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There are enough universities available
“We have to be careful not to weaken ourselves with too many small units,” argued Harald Kainz, president of TU Austria. “If I want to make many pieces of a cake, they all become very narrow.” Also, there is currently no shortage of venues in this field.
Green science spokesperson Eva Blimlinger is also concerned about existing universities: “It is about funding the 22 Austrian universities sufficiently and adequately. Only then should we think about establishing a new university, ”he says. In Upper Austria in particular, the Johannes Kepler University (JKU) and the Upper Austrian University of Applied Sciences, with the Hagenberg campus, provide a wonderful base for expansion towards digitization.
Sabine Seidler, president of the Austrian University Conference, sees it similarly: “As the rector of JKU, I would wonder what I did wrong if they put an extra TU right under my nose.” JKU rector Meinhard Lukas described the project on Thursday as “an exciting idea.”
Linz as a potential location
However, there is still no really specific timetable for the new TU. Talks are currently taking place between Stelzer and the Minister of Education, Heinz Faßmann. The exact location is officially open: “With the help of a founding convention with experts, details such as the location will be decided,” says Stelzer’s office. The JKU will also be closely involved. Linz as a location is therefore obvious.
Linz Mayor Klaus Luger (SPÖ) also sees UT in Linz: “I assume synergy effects with JKU will be used. The most important cooperation partners are also based in Linz ”. Only in 2014 did Linz add a medical school to JKU.
