Im Juni öffnete die Kuscheltierklinik an der Medizinischen Universität Graz erneut ihre Türen. Zahlreiche Kinder im Alter von drei bis sechs Jahren besuchten die Klinik mit ihren kuschligen Begleiter*innen, um diese von engagierten Studierenden untersuchen und behandeln zu lassen. Im Mittelpunkt der Veranstaltung stand das Ziel, den Kindern auf spielerische Weise die Angst vor Arztbesuchen, medizinischen Untersuchungen und Krankenhausaufenthalten zu nehmen. Gemeinsam mit den Kuscheltier-Docs begleiteten die kleinen Besucher*innen ihre Stofftiere durch den gesamten Behandlungsablauf – von der Anmeldung über das Anamnesegespräch und die Untersuchung bis hin zur Diagnose, Behandlung und dem abschließenden Besuch in der Kuscheltier-Apotheke.
Mit viel Einfühlungsvermögen erklärten die Studierenden medizinische Abläufe altersgerecht und bezogen die Kinder aktiv in jede Station ein. So konnten Verbände angelegt, Röntgenbilder betrachtet, kleine \"Operationen\" durchgeführt und Medikamente für die Kuschelpatient*innen abgeholt werden. Die Kinder übernahmen dabei selbst die Rolle der Begleitpersonen und erlebten den Krankenhausalltag aus einer angstfreien Perspektive. Die Kuscheltierklinik ist längst zu einem Fixpunkt im Veranstaltungskalender der Med Uni Graz geworden und bietet gleichzeitig den Studierenden eine wertvolle Gelegenheit, den einfühlsamen Umgang mit jungen Patient*innen praxisnah zu erlernen. Die erfolgreiche Durchführung war nur durch den großen Einsatz zahlreicher Studierender sowie die Unterstützung der Kooperationspartner*innen Ärztekammer Steiermark, AFÖP, Apothekerkammer, Österreichisches Rotes Kreuz und ÖH Med Graz möglich.
","start":null,"end":null,"author":"Sylvia Gollner","email":"sylvia.gollner@medunigraz.at","keywords":null,"description":null,"topnews":false,"last_modified":"2026-07-01T11:05:27+02:00","language":null},{"id":15955,"url":"https://www.medunigraz.at/news/detail/das-war-die-kuscheltierklinik-2026#sl-content","media":[],"gallery":[],"contact_box":[],"breadcrumb":[{"uid":61,"pid":8139,"title":"News-Storage","is_siteroot":false,"domains":[],"uri":null},{"uid":8139,"pid":0,"title":"Med Uni Graz","is_siteroot":true,"domains":["www.medunigraz.at"],"uri":"https://www.medunigraz.at/"}],"categories":[9,14,284,316],"groups":[],"related_links":[{"id":4022,"datetime":"2026-07-01T11:06:01+02:00","title":"Cuddly Toy Clinic","description":null,"url":"https://www.medunigraz.at/kuscheltierklinik","language":1}],"related_media":[],"header_image":{"url":"https://api-test.medunigraz.at/typo3/media/71941/","original":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/events_news/202607/kuscheltierklinik/teaser-kuscheltierklinik.png","mimetype":"image/png","filename":"teaser-kuscheltierklinik.png","size":12531834},"datetime":"2026-07-01T10:31:46+02:00","title":"That was the Cuddly Toy Clinic 2026","teaser":"Little patients, big impact.","body":"In June, the Cuddly Toy Clinic at the Medical University of Graz opened its doors once again. Numerous children aged between three and six visited the clinic with their cuddly companions to have them examined and treated by dedicated students. The main aim of the event was to help children overcome their fear of visiting the doctor, undergoing medical examinations and staying in hospital in a playful way. Together with the soft toy doctors, the young visitors accompanied their soft toys through the entire treatment process – from registration, through the medical history interview and examination, to the diagnosis, treatment and the final visit to the soft toy pharmacy.
With great empathy, the students explained medical procedures in an age-appropriate way and actively involved the children at every stage. This allowed them to apply dressings, look at X-rays, carry out small ‘operations’ and collect medication for the cuddly toy patients. The children themselves took on the role of carers and experienced everyday hospital life from a fear-free perspective. The Soft Toy Clinic has long since become a fixture in the University of Graz Medical School’s calendar of events, whilst also offering students a valuable opportunity to learn, in a practical setting, how to interact empathetically with young patients. The event’s success was only made possible by the tremendous commitment of numerous student volunteers and the support of our partners: the Styrian Medical Association, AFÖP, the Chamber of Pharmacists, the Austrian Red Cross and ÖH Med Graz.
","start":null,"end":null,"author":"Sylvia Gollner","email":"sylvia.gollner@medunigraz.at","keywords":null,"description":null,"topnews":false,"last_modified":"2026-07-01T11:06:01+02:00","language":1},{"id":15971,"url":null,"media":[],"gallery":[],"contact_box":[],"breadcrumb":[{"uid":11358,"pid":8139,"title":"News-Storage (nur Newsletter)","is_siteroot":false,"domains":[],"uri":null},{"uid":8139,"pid":0,"title":"Med Uni Graz","is_siteroot":true,"domains":["www.medunigraz.at"],"uri":"https://www.medunigraz.at/"}],"categories":[277,293],"groups":[],"related_links":[],"related_media":[],"header_image":null,"datetime":"2026-07-01T10:21:00+02:00","title":"Geld für Forschung: aktuelle Ausschreibungen","teaser":"","body":null,"start":null,"end":null,"author":null,"email":null,"keywords":null,"description":null,"topnews":false,"last_modified":"2026-07-01T13:26:05+02:00","language":null},{"id":15970,"url":null,"media":[],"gallery":[],"contact_box":[],"breadcrumb":[{"uid":11358,"pid":8139,"title":"News-Storage (nur Newsletter)","is_siteroot":false,"domains":[],"uri":null},{"uid":8139,"pid":0,"title":"Med Uni Graz","is_siteroot":true,"domains":["www.medunigraz.at"],"uri":"https://www.medunigraz.at/"}],"categories":[277,278],"groups":[],"related_links":[],"related_media":[],"header_image":null,"datetime":"2026-07-01T10:16:00+02:00","title":"Mitteilungsblatt online ","teaser":"","body":null,"start":null,"end":null,"author":null,"email":null,"keywords":null,"description":null,"topnews":false,"last_modified":"2026-07-01T13:21:30+02:00","language":null},{"id":15969,"url":null,"media":[],"gallery":[],"contact_box":[],"breadcrumb":[{"uid":11358,"pid":8139,"title":"News-Storage (nur Newsletter)","is_siteroot":false,"domains":[],"uri":null},{"uid":8139,"pid":0,"title":"Med Uni Graz","is_siteroot":true,"domains":["www.medunigraz.at"],"uri":"https://www.medunigraz.at/"}],"categories":[277,281],"groups":[],"related_links":[],"related_media":[],"header_image":null,"datetime":"2026-07-01T10:16:00+02:00","title":"EXTRAblatt vom 29.06.2026","teaser":"","body":null,"start":null,"end":null,"author":null,"email":null,"keywords":null,"description":null,"topnews":false,"last_modified":"2026-07-01T13:20:48+02:00","language":null},{"id":15937,"url":"https://www.medunigraz.at/news/detail/gratulation-promotionen-und-sponsionen-am-24062026#sl-content","media":[],"gallery":[],"contact_box":[],"breadcrumb":[{"uid":61,"pid":8139,"title":"News-Storage","is_siteroot":false,"domains":[],"uri":null},{"uid":8139,"pid":0,"title":"Med Uni Graz","is_siteroot":true,"domains":["www.medunigraz.at"],"uri":"https://www.medunigraz.at/"}],"categories":[9,14,266,284,316],"groups":[],"related_links":[{"id":3987,"datetime":"2026-07-02T14:00:00+02:00","title":"Informationen für Absolvent*innen","description":null,"url":"https://www.medunigraz.at/alumniae","language":null}],"related_media":[],"header_image":{"url":"https://api-test.medunigraz.at/typo3/media/70500/","original":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/events_news/_sujets/studium/sponsionen-promotionen-helmut-lunghammer.png","mimetype":"image/png","filename":"sponsionen-promotionen-helmut-lunghammer.png","size":2605107},"datetime":"2026-07-01T09:00:00+02:00","title":"Gratulation: Promotionen und Sponsionen am 24.06.2026","teaser":"Wir gratulieren unseren Absolvent*innen herzlich zum erfolgreichen Abschluss an der Med Uni Graz.","body":"Wir gratulieren unseren Absolvent*innen herzlich zum erfolgreichen Abschluss am 24. Juni 2026 an der Med Uni Graz:
Dr.in med.univ. Hanna Granitzer, Dr.in med.univ. Anna-Maria Ellersdorfer, Dr.in med.univ. Clara Christin Sorger, Dr.in med.univ. Nadja Maria Gottwald, Dr.in med.univ. Lydia Kristina Brodatsch BSc, Dr. med.univ. Georg Lukas Resch, Dr.in med.univ. Sabine Stefanie Pitzl, Dr. med.univ. Philipp Matteo Freigassner, Dr.in med.univ. Johanna Schreibmaier, Dr. med.univ. Peter Schieder, Dr.in med.univ. Janine Granitzer, Dr.in med.univ. Anja Maria Fasching, Dr.in med.univ. Sonja Öhner, Dr.in med.univ. Johanna Franziska Wregg, Dr.in med.univ. Tamara Bauer-Schnaitl, Dr.in med.univ. Johanna Pilz, Dr. med.univ. Stefan Tatar, Dr.in med.univ. Beate Innauer BSc MSc, Dr.in med.univ. Bettina Wachmann
Dr. med.univ. Marco Köllinger, Dr.in med.univ. Ezgi Pütün, Dr.in med.univ. Amelie Spohie Dehm, Dr. med.univ. Thomas Christian Fröschl, Dr. med.univ. Max Eissner, Dr.in med.univ. Kristina Feuchter, Dr.in med.univ. Jasmin Wellenhof-Karner, Dr. med.univ. Konrad Eisenberger, Dr. med.univ. Tillmann Muhs, Dr. med.univ. Luca del Fabro, Dr. med.univ. Christopher Ole Muhs, Dr.in med.univ. Marlene Martinelli, Dr. med.univ. Tobias Remschmidt, Dr.in med.univ. Susanne Starchl, Dr.in med.univ. Julia Slamanig, Dr.in med.univ. Sarah Leibetseder, Dr.in med.univ. Sarah Pfeifenberger, Dr.in med.univ. Vanessa Graz, Dr.in med.univ. Johanna Triebl, Dr.in med.univ. Johanna Sophie Auer, Dr.in med.univ. Annalina Messua Myka, Dr. med.univ. Johannes Zach
Dr. med.univ. Felix Maximilian Reiner, Dr. med.univ. David Gorkiewicz, Dr.in med.univ. Elsy Laura Dongmeza, Dr.in med.univ. Lisa Maria Vock, Dr. med.univ. Georg Wild, Dr. med.univ. Andreas Erlbacher, Dr. med.univ. Hugo Borstner, Dr. med.univ. Anton Katerenchuk, Dr. med.univ. Philipp Reiter, Dr. med.univ. Julian Stadler, Dr.in med.univ. Viktoria Hafner, Dr. med.univ. Jonas Höller, Dr.in med.univ. Irma Rathofer, Dr.in med.univ. Lena Alicia Stumpf, Dr.in med.univ. Arabella Atzlinger, Dr.in med.univ. Nicole Claudia Roßmann, Dr.in med.univ. Marissa Mandorfer, Dr. med.univ. Oliver Markus Hadl, Dr.in med.univ. Theresa Michlmayr
Sophia Kulle BSc MSc, Julia Schönhuber BSc MSc
Dipl.-Ing. Dr. scient.med. Julian Christopher Krappinger BSc, Dr.in med.univ. Dr.in scient.med. Sabine Zenz
Djenana Vejzovic BSc MSc PhD, Rishi Rajesh PhD, Ariadna Lara Gutierrez MSc PhD
Informationen für Absolvent*innen finden Sie hier.
","start":"2025-11-21T08:30:00+01:00","end":null,"author":null,"email":null,"keywords":null,"description":null,"topnews":false,"last_modified":"2026-07-02T14:00:00+02:00","language":null},{"id":15939,"url":"https://www.medunigraz.at/news/detail/gratulation-promotionen-und-sponsionen-am-24062026#sl-content","media":[],"gallery":[],"contact_box":[],"breadcrumb":[{"uid":61,"pid":8139,"title":"News-Storage","is_siteroot":false,"domains":[],"uri":null},{"uid":8139,"pid":0,"title":"Med Uni Graz","is_siteroot":true,"domains":["www.medunigraz.at"],"uri":"https://www.medunigraz.at/"}],"categories":[9,14,266,284,316],"groups":[],"related_links":[{"id":3990,"datetime":"2026-07-02T14:00:00+02:00","title":"Informationen für Absolvent*innen","description":null,"url":"https://www.medunigraz.at/alumniae","language":1}],"related_media":[],"header_image":{"url":"https://api-test.medunigraz.at/typo3/media/70500/","original":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/events_news/_sujets/studium/sponsionen-promotionen-helmut-lunghammer.png","mimetype":"image/png","filename":"sponsionen-promotionen-helmut-lunghammer.png","size":2605107},"datetime":"2026-07-01T09:00:00+02:00","title":"Congratulations: PhD and Bachelor’s degree ceremonies on 24 June 2026","teaser":"We would like to offer our warmest congratulations to our graduates on successfully completing their studies at the Medical University of Graz.","body":"We would like to extend our warmest congratulations to our graduates on successfully completing their studies on 24 June 2026 at the Medical University of Graz:
Dr Hanna Granitzer, Dr Anna-Maria Ellersdorfer, Dr Clara Christin Sorger, Dr Nadja Maria Gottwald, Dr med.univ. Lydia Kristina Brodatsch BSc, Dr med.univ. Georg Lukas Resch, Dr med.univ. Sabine Stefanie Pitzl, Dr med.univ. Philipp Matteo Freigassner, Dr Johanna Schreibmaier, Dr Peter Schieder, Dr Janine Granitzer, Dr Anja Maria Fasching, Dr Sonja Öhner, Dr Johanna Franziska Wregg, Dr Tamara Bauer-Schnaitl, Dr Johanna Pilz, Dr Stefan Tatar, Dr Beate Innauer, BSc, MSc, Dr Bettina Wachmann
Dr Marco Köllinger, Dr Ezgi Pütün, Dr Amelie Sophie Dehm, Dr Thomas Christian Fröschl, Dr Max Eissner, Dr Kristina Feuchter, Dr Jasmin Wellenhof-Karner, Dr Konrad Eisenberger, Dr Tillmann Muhs, Dr Luca del Fabro, Dr Christopher Ole Muhs, Dr Marlene Martinelli, Dr Tobias Remschmidt, Dr Susanne Starchl, Dr Julia Slamanig, Dr Sarah Leibetseder, Dr Sarah Pfeifenberger, Dr Vanessa Graz, Dr Johanna Triebl, Dr Johanna Sophie Auer, Dr Annalina Messua Myka, Dr Johannes Zach
Dr Felix Maximilian Reiner, Dr David Gorkiewicz, Dr Elsy Laura Dongmeza, Dr Lisa Maria Vock, Dr Georg Wild, Dr Andreas Erlbacher, Dr Hugo Borstner, Dr Anton Katerenchuk, Dr Philipp Reiter, Dr Julian Stadler, Dr Viktoria Hafner, Dr Jonas Höller, Dr Irma Rathofer, Dr Lena Alicia Stumpf, Dr Arabella Atzlinger, Dr Nicole Claudia Roßmann, Dr Marissa Mandorfer, Dr Oliver Markus Hadl, Dr Theresa Michlmayr
Sophia Kulle BSc MSc, Julia Schönhuber BSc MSc
Dipl.-Ing. Dr. scient. med. Julian Christopher Krappinger BSc, Dr. med. univ. Dr. scient. med. Sabine Zenz
Djenana Vejzovic BSc MSc PhD, Rishi Rajesh PhD, Ariadna Lara Gutierrez MSc PhD
Information for graduates can be found here.
","start":"2025-11-21T08:30:00+01:00","end":null,"author":null,"email":null,"keywords":null,"description":null,"topnews":false,"last_modified":"2026-07-02T14:00:00+02:00","language":1},{"id":15931,"url":"https://www.medunigraz.at/news/detail/innovative-lehrprojekte-akut-und-notfallmedizin-in-der-primaerversorgung#sl-content","media":[],"gallery":[],"contact_box":[],"breadcrumb":[{"uid":61,"pid":8139,"title":"News-Storage","is_siteroot":false,"domains":[],"uri":null},{"uid":8139,"pid":0,"title":"Med Uni Graz","is_siteroot":true,"domains":["www.medunigraz.at"],"uri":"https://www.medunigraz.at/"}],"categories":[9,266,284,285,316],"groups":[],"related_links":[{"id":4009,"datetime":"2026-06-29T10:35:10+02:00","title":"Andreas Prenner","description":null,"url":"https://ris.medunigraz.at/en/persons/andreas-prenner/","language":null},{"id":4007,"datetime":"2026-06-29T10:35:10+02:00","title":"Institut für Allgemeinmedizin und evidenzbasierte Versorgungsforschung","description":null,"url":"https://allgemeinmedizin.medunigraz.at/","language":null}],"related_media":[],"header_image":{"url":"https://api-test.medunigraz.at/typo3/media/71778/","original":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/events_news/202606/Simulationstraining_AdobeStock_INSPIRIA.K.jpg","mimetype":"image/jpeg","filename":"Simulationstraining_AdobeStock_INSPIRIA.K.jpg","size":409104},"datetime":"2026-06-30T07:00:00+02:00","title":"Innovative Lehrprojekte: Akut- und Notfallmedizin in der Primärversorgung","teaser":"Neues Wahlfach setzt auf Rapid-Sequence-Simulationstraining.","body":"Akute Notfälle können in der Primärversorgung jederzeit auftreten – in der Hausarztordination, im Gesundheitszentrum, im Bereitschaftsdienst oder an der Schnittstelle zur präklinischen Versorgung. Um Studierende gezielt darauf vorzubereiten, wurde am Institut für Allgemeinmedizin und evidenzbasierte Versorgungsforschung (IAMEV) der Medizinischen Universität Graz das praxisorientierte Wahlfach „Akut- und Notfallmedizin in der Primärversorgung“ entwickelt. Initiiert wurde das Lehrformat von Bernhard Kowalski und Andreas Prenner. Im Mittelpunkt steht ein innovatives Konzept, das Handlungskompetenz durch wiederholtes, strukturiertes und reflektiertes Handeln stärkt.
Das Wahlfach basiert auf einem eigens entwickelten Rapid-Sequence-Simulations-Konzept. Häufige und relevante Notfälle werden in kompakten Sequenzen trainiert. Ziel ist es, fachliche Sicherheit, klinische Entscheidungsfähigkeit, Prioritätensetzung, Teamkommunikation und strukturiertes Vorgehen in akuten Situationen zu fördern.
Insgesamt bearbeiten die Studierenden 15 aufeinander aufbauende Simulationsszenarien zu zentralen akuten Versorgungssituationen wie Anaphylaxie, akutem Koronarsyndrom, Reanimation, Krampfanfall sowie Asthma- bzw. COPD-Exazerbation. Die Szenarien werden mehrfach aufgegriffen, wobei der Schwierigkeitsgrad schrittweise steigt: von gut erkennbaren Präsentationen bis hin zu atypischen Verläufen, höherem Entscheidungsdruck und komplexeren Anforderungen.
Dieses didaktische Prinzip unterstützt gezielt Overlearning: Handlungsabläufe werden über das erstmalige sichere Beherrschen hinaus wiederholt geübt, gefestigt und auch unter Stress abrufbar gemacht. Gerade in der Akut- und Notfallmedizin ist dies wertvoll, da in realen Notfallsituationen rasches, strukturiertes und sicheres Handeln entscheidend für die Patient*innensicherheit ist.
Ein weiterer Schwerpunkt liegt auf Crew Resource Management und nicht-technischen Kompetenzen. Kommunikation im Team, klare Rollenverteilung, Entscheidungsfindung unter Druck, Prioritätensetzung und der bewusste Umgang mit Hierarchien werden systematisch in die Simulationen integriert. Studierende, die nicht aktiv in der Behandlungsrolle sind, bleiben durch strukturierte Beobachtungsaufgaben eingebunden.
Das Lehrformat ist multiprofessionell ausgerichtet. Es richtet sich an Studierende der Humanmedizin und Pflegewissenschaft und wird von einem multiprofessionellen Lehrenden-Team getragen. Ärztliche und pflegewissenschaftliche Perspektiven werden so im gemeinsamen Lernen, Trainieren und Reflektieren unmittelbar erfahrbar gemacht.
Die Nachbesprechung erfolgt anhand eines adaptierten Debriefing-Konzepts nach dem TALK-Modell, das Reflexion, Teamlernen und Patient*innensicherheit in den Mittelpunkt stellt. Damit schafft das Wahlfach ein praxisnahes, kompetenzorientiertes und simulationsbasiertes Lehrangebot mit Transferpotenzial – und leistet einen wichtigen Beitrag zur Weiterentwicklung der universitären Lehre an der Medizinischen Universität Graz.
","start":"2026-06-30T07:15:00+02:00","end":null,"author":null,"email":null,"keywords":null,"description":null,"topnews":false,"last_modified":"2026-06-29T10:36:06+02:00","language":null},{"id":15940,"url":"https://www.medunigraz.at/news/detail/innovative-lehrprojekte-akut-und-notfallmedizin-in-der-primaerversorgung#sl-content","media":[],"gallery":[],"contact_box":[],"breadcrumb":[{"uid":61,"pid":8139,"title":"News-Storage","is_siteroot":false,"domains":[],"uri":null},{"uid":8139,"pid":0,"title":"Med Uni Graz","is_siteroot":true,"domains":["www.medunigraz.at"],"uri":"https://www.medunigraz.at/"}],"categories":[9,266,284,285,316],"groups":[],"related_links":[{"id":4010,"datetime":"2026-06-29T10:36:06+02:00","title":"Andreas Prenner","description":null,"url":"https://ris.medunigraz.at/en/persons/andreas-prenner/","language":1},{"id":4008,"datetime":"2026-06-29T10:36:06+02:00","title":"Institut für Allgemeinmedizin und evidenzbasierte Versorgungsforschung","description":null,"url":"https://allgemeinmedizin.medunigraz.at/","language":1}],"related_media":[],"header_image":{"url":"https://api-test.medunigraz.at/typo3/media/71778/","original":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/events_news/202606/Simulationstraining_AdobeStock_INSPIRIA.K.jpg","mimetype":"image/jpeg","filename":"Simulationstraining_AdobeStock_INSPIRIA.K.jpg","size":409104},"datetime":"2026-06-30T07:00:00+02:00","title":"Innovative teaching projects: Acute and emergency medicine in primary care","teaser":"New elective module focuses on rapid-sequence simulation training.","body":"Acute emergencies can occur at any time in primary care – in a GP’s surgery, at a health centre, on on-call duty or at the interface with pre-hospital care. To prepare students specifically for these situations, the Institute of General Medicine and Evidence-based Care Research (IAMEV) at the Medical University of Graz has developed the practice-oriented elective module ‘Acute and Emergency Medicine in Primary Care’. The teaching format was initiated by Bernhard Kowalski and Andreas Prenner. At its heart is an innovative concept that strengthens practical competence through repeated, structured and reflective action.
The elective is based on a specially developed rapid-sequence simulation concept. Common and relevant emergencies are practised in compact sequences. The aim is to promote professional confidence, clinical decision-making skills, prioritisation, team communication and a structured approach in acute situations.
In total, students work through 15 sequential simulation scenarios covering key acute care situations such as anaphylaxis, acute coronary syndrome, resuscitation, seizures, and asthma or COPD exacerbations. The scenarios are revisited several times, with the level of difficulty increasing gradually: from clearly recognisable presentations to atypical courses of the condition, greater pressure to make decisions and more complex requirements.
This teaching principle specifically promotes overlearning: procedures are repeatedly practised beyond the initial stage of confident mastery, consolidated and made accessible even under stress. This is particularly valuable in acute and emergency medicine, as in real-life emergency situations, rapid, structured and confident action is crucial for patient safety.
Another key focus is on crew resource management and non-technical skills. Team communication, clear role allocation, decision-making under pressure, prioritisation and the conscious handling of hierarchies are systematically integrated into the simulations. Students who are not actively in the treatment role remain involved through structured observation tasks.
The teaching format is multi-professional in nature. It is aimed at students of medicine and nursing and is delivered by a multi-professional team of tutors. This allows medical and nursing perspectives to be directly experienced through shared learning, training and reflection.
The debriefing is based on an adapted debriefing concept following the TALK model, which focuses on reflection, team learning and patient safety. The elective module thus provides a practice-oriented, competence-based and simulation-based teaching programme with transfer potential – and makes an important contribution to the further development of university teaching at the Medical University of Graz.
","start":"2026-06-30T07:15:00+02:00","end":null,"author":null,"email":null,"keywords":null,"description":null,"topnews":false,"last_modified":"2026-06-29T10:36:15+02:00","language":1},{"id":15953,"url":"https://www.medunigraz.at/news/detail/universitaetsbudget-reformvorschlaege-der-oesterreichischen-universitaetenkonferenz#sl-content","media":[],"gallery":[],"contact_box":[],"breadcrumb":[{"uid":61,"pid":8139,"title":"News-Storage","is_siteroot":false,"domains":[],"uri":null},{"uid":8139,"pid":0,"title":"Med Uni Graz","is_siteroot":true,"domains":["www.medunigraz.at"],"uri":"https://www.medunigraz.at/"}],"categories":[9,14,267,291],"groups":[],"related_links":[{"id":4018,"datetime":"2026-07-01T08:31:54+02:00","title":"Press release: Reform paper by uniko (in German)","description":null,"url":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/themen-pr/pdf/PRESSEUNTERLAGE_uniko_-_PK_22.6.2026_-_Reformpapier_uniko.pdf","language":1},{"id":4016,"datetime":"2026-07-01T08:31:54+02:00","title":"Press release: Impact of the budget cuts (in German)","description":null,"url":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/themen-pr/pdf/PRESSEUNTERLAGE_uniko_-_PK_22.6.2026_-_Auswirkung_Einsparungen.pdf","language":1},{"id":4017,"datetime":"2026-07-01T08:31:54+02:00","title":"Press release: Factsheet (in German)","description":null,"url":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/themen-pr/pdf/PRESSEUNTERLAGE_uniko_-_PK_22.6.2026_-_Fact_Sheet_zur_Entwicklung_des_Universit%C3%A4tsbudgets_-_Stand_2026-06-19.pdf","language":1},{"id":4019,"datetime":"2026-07-01T08:31:54+02:00","title":"Press release: Already established collaborations (in German)","description":null,"url":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/themen-pr/pdf/PRESSEUNTERLAGE_uniko_-_PK_22.6.2026_-_Etablierte_Kooperationen_und_Effizienzma%C3%9Fnahmen.pdf","language":1},{"id":4020,"datetime":"2026-07-01T08:31:54+02:00","title":"Uniko","description":null,"url":"https://uniko.ac.at/","language":1}],"related_media":[],"header_image":{"url":"https://api-test.medunigraz.at/typo3/media/71555/","original":"https://www.medunigraz.at/frontend/user_upload/images/slider-hp/UnisRetten-carousel.png","mimetype":"image/png","filename":"UnisRetten-carousel.png","size":86830},"datetime":"2026-06-29T09:11:39+02:00","title":"University budget: Reform proposals from the Austrian Universities’ Conference","teaser":"Uniko is presenting its proposals for reform as part of the debate on the university budget.","body":"Austria has 77 higher education institutions across four different sectors. This is the result of deliberate (or a lack of) political steering. The fact that this differentiation – recently often referred to in discussions as ‘fragmentation’ or ‘uncontrolled growth’ – has come about has repeatedly been criticised by uniko, but has never been within the universities’ own sphere of influence. The fact that this fragmentation does not stem from the public university sector is demonstrated by the fact that the 22 universities account for 80 per cent of students, whilst the remaining 55 institutions account for only 20 per cent.
Looking back over the last 30 years, the massive growth did not occur within the university system either, but rather through the establishment of universities of applied sciences, the conversion of teacher training colleges into higher education institutions, and the authorisation to establish private universities – of which at least six are not privately funded but are instead funded by the federal states.
University graduates – particularly, though not exclusively, early-career researchers – form the backbone and the ‘supply system’ for the research output of non-university research institutions, as well as for key societal institutions such as schools, the healthcare system and the judiciary. Knowledge transfer and science communication are increasingly important tasks, as it is through these means that universities contribute insights to key societal discourses. Universities shape Austria as a country of art and culture; they have a major influence on the image of our country and, in particular, on that of their respective locations. Factors such as innovative strength and cultural standards are significantly shaped by universities.
University achievements in research and teaching form the basis for innovation. This capacity is one of the most important factors influencing the choice of location for international corporations. University (basic) research lays the groundwork for innovation. Inventions and other research findings often serve as the seeds for new businesses. Collaboration between businesses and universities leads to genuine innovations that are relevant not only to the business itself, but to the entire sector and thus to society as a whole. The number of patents is evidence of the universities’ innovative strength: Almost three-quarters (74 per cent) of academic patent applications between 2000 and 2025 were filed by universities (non-university institutions account for 23.4 per cent, and universities of applied sciences for 2.5 per cent of patent applications). Similarly, around three-quarters of scientific publications come from universities (three per cent are attributable to universities of applied sciences).
Austria’s research output is based on cooperation: 67 per cent of all publications result from international collaboration – significantly above the EU-27 average of 43 per cent. This openness enhances visibility, accelerates the exchange of knowledge and boosts competitiveness in European funding programmes. Patent-related indicators and strong co-authorship between academia and industry show that technical research is deeply embedded in industry and feeds into inventions and technological development, which is particularly relevant for engineering sciences. This close link between industrial companies and domestic research institutions is also evident in the fact that 8.8 per cent of Austrian publications are produced in collaboration with corporate partners (EU: 3.9 per cent, global: 2.6 per cent).
However, according to WIFO¹, universities’ funding – with average annual expenditure per student of EUR 14,358 – places them in the lower to middle range among the countries compared: Switzerland spends EUR 31,074 per student annually, the UK EUR 25,144, and Denmark and the Netherlands EUR 19,000. However, when looking at individual universities, the differences are even greater: Expenditure at the University of Vienna (comprehensive university) is around 22 per cent lower than at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 31 per cent lower than at the University of Helsinki, 57 per cent lower than at the University of Copenhagen and as much as 122 per cent lower than at the University of Zurich. The differences are even greater for technical universities than for comprehensive universities: ETH Zurich and Imperial College London spend three times as much per student as the Vienna University of Technology, whilst the Technical University of Munich has 28% more funding.
In order to catch up with these innovation leaders, it has been the declared aim of successive federal governments since 2007 to allocate 2% of GDP to investment in tertiary education and research (EEK). According to the current strategy reports for 2027–2030 and 2028–2031, as well as the budget reports for 2027 and 2028, expenditure on science and research is now set to be reduced for the first time from 1.41% in 2025 to 1.19% by 2031. This runs counter to previous objectives, undermines long-term successful developments and also contradicts the latest recommendation from the National Audit Office: The Court recommended that the Federal Ministry for Women, Science and Research continue to implement measures to bring student-staff ratios in higher education into line with those of the leading OECD countries, in order to further improve the quality of higher education and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4 of the 2030 Agenda.
In any case, uniko considers several structural reforms to be essential in order to strengthen the research system and make it fit for the future; the same applies to corresponding reforms at the universities themselves – and is always happy to engage in an open-ended yet goal-oriented dialogue with policymakers and all stakeholders.
uniko is committed to shaping a differentiated research system in which different sectors and stakeholders assume clearly distinct roles, and a blurring of roles is avoided. Meaningful forms of cooperation must be developed between the individual components and, where appropriate, requirements for cooperation must also be established. To date, higher education and research policy has relied on competition and rivalry in its governance and performance indicators. If greater cooperation is now to be achieved, this must be supported by appropriate framework conditions. Establishing a framework for cooperation and setting up appropriate forums for dialogue is a task for science policy that we are very keen to support, but which we cannot shape on our own. Even with suitable framework conditions, efficiency gains through cooperation do not materialise in the short term. International comparisons show that initial investment is required for effective models to emerge. The budgetary cut now planned strikes at the very heart of the university system and undermines its role within the innovation system.
The proposals put forward by uniko – which are by no means new – are:
Framework conditions for successful study:
Capacity management is required to ensure good utilisation of all degree programmes. This should not restrict students’ freedom of choice, but rather direct student flows towards available capacity. This could be achieved through coordinated admission procedures, i.e. standardised entry requirements and joint subject-specific admission processes.
Introductory phases spanning universities and degree programmes, organised by subject area – for example, STEM, humanities and social sciences – should support a focused choice of study, prevent early drop-outs and contribute to a better distribution of students according to their individual strengths. Should students not continue their studies after this introductory phase, they may receive a certificate as a micro-credential (provided they achieve a minimum number of ECTS credits, to be defined). In addition, a cross-sector orientation phase featuring a joint course portfolio from universities and universities of applied sciences, to be undertaken before the start of studies, is intended to support undecided students in their final choice of programme and sector. This opens up opportunities for mobility between the sectors whilst at the same time highlighting the different profiles of universities and universities of applied sciences, thereby strengthening the differentiation between the sectors.
Establishment of thematic or regional cooperation networks modelled on TU Austria, which present a unified front to the outside world and may potentially appear as a single institution in rankings. The identity of the individual institutions is preserved, whilst visibility and international positioning are strengthened. Research-intensive non-university institutions must also be included here. A coordinated approach to appointments, infrastructure and degree programmes (see also NAWI Graz) to make the best possible use of the funds allocated.
Areas will be identified in which highly specialised expertise is shared. Following the example of ACOmarket GmbH, a UNIservices GmbH could also be established to provide shared services.
To this end, policymakers must also create a framework that enables universities to cooperate more easily and share resources (e.g. VAT billing, state aid legislation, etc.).
Examples of in-depth collaboration:
Universities as innovation laboratories
Harnessing the potential of universities as technological pioneers and early adopters. Enabling innovative solutions to boost efficiency:
Reducing bureaucracy and creating the right conditions for synergies
uniko has long been calling for the creation of appropriate framework conditions to harness synergies and improve efficiency in the university sector. The political authorities must create the necessary conditions for this. This will unlock considerable potential for savings. These areas include, amongst others:
Source: Austrian Universities Conference, 22 June 2026
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