Thousands protest in Vienna over education budget cuts

Around 50,000 people took to the streets of Austria’s capital on Thursday to protest cuts to education spending.

The demonstration in Vienna was announced earlier by its organizer, the Austrian National Union of Students (OH), in a press release.

"The federal government has announced a budget of €16 billion ($17.9 billion) for universities for the years 2028 through 2030. However, according to estimates by the Conference of Universities, at least €18 billion would be necessary just to offset the costs of inflation," it said.

The demonstration began at 3 pm (1300GMT) in front of the main building of the Vienna University of Technology under the slogan “Red Alert – #SaveTheUniversities!”

According to the Austrian National Union of Students, the rally was attended not only by students and staff from Vienna’s universities but also by members of the academic community from other federal states.

In addition, the Public Service Union had organized transportation for university staff and doctors from university towns.

The goal of the demonstration was to show resistance, OH Chairperson Viktoria Kudrna told local media before the event began.

She said there is still hope the government will raise the budget.

Within the federal government, however, the amount is considered final following an agreement reached by top government officials on Saturday.

The Austrian National Union of Students warns that the cuts could reduce the range of academic programs, weaken student support services and worsen employment conditions.

Students are already noticing the effects, Kudrna added. At the Vienna University of Technology, for example, library hours have been reduced, and as early as mid-June, Jens Schneider, the university’s rector, had imposed a precautionary freeze on new job postings.

The protests are officially supported by the university administrations, for example by granting students and staff time off to participate in the demonstrations.