University of Vienna 2025 Development Plan a University of Vienna 2025 Development Plan Upon the Proposal of the Rectorate Following Consent by the Senate of the University of Vienna Unanimously Approved by the University Council of the University of Vienna Content 1. Preamble: University of Vienna – Open to New Ideas. Since 1365. 5 2. Starting Point 7 2.1 Research at the University of Vienna 7 2.2 Study and Teaching at the University of Vienna 14 2.3 Financial Starting Point of the University of Vienna 17 3. Implementation of Core Tasks 29 3.1 Research and Career Development of Young Academics 29 3.1.1 Research 29 3.1.2 Career Development of Young Academics 36 3.2 Study and Teaching 38 3.2.1 Studying at the University of Vienna 38 3.2.2 Studying Today 40 3.2.3 Challenges/Cross-Sectional Topics 45 3.3 International and National Cooperation Projects 49 3.3.1 Mobility Programmes and Internationalisation@home 49 3.3.2 International Cooperation Projects Based on Contracts 50 3.3.3 National Cooperation 51 3.4 Impact of the University on Society – Exchange of Knowledge 54 3.4.1 Knowledge Transfer, Social Commitment, Technology and Innovation Transfer 55 3.4.2 Objectives 55 3.4.3 Academic Communication 57 3.5 Employees 58 3.5.1 The University of Vienna as an Employer 58 3.5.2 The Staff Profile of the University of Vienna 59 3.5.3 Human Resources Planning and Procedures 62 3.6 Infrastructure 65 3.7 Quality Assurance 70 2 4. Key Research Areas of the Faculties and Subject Dedication of Professorships 73 4.1 Faculty of Catholic Theology 73 4.2 Faculty of Protestant Theology 75 4.3 Faculty of Law 77 4.4 Faculty of Business, Economics and Statistics 83 4.5 Faculty of Computer Science 87 4.6 Faculty of Historical and Cultural Studies 90 4.7 Faculty of Philological and Cultural Studies 94 4.8 Faculty of Philosophy and Education 99 4.9 Faculty of Psychology 103 4.10 Faculty of Social Sciences 107 4.11 Faculty of Mathematics 112 4.12 Faculty of Physics 115 4.13 Faculty of Chemistry 118 4.14 Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy 123 4.15 Faculty of Life Sciences 127 4.Z1 Centre for Translation Studies 131 4.Z2 Centre for Sport Science and University Sports 133 4.Z3 Centre for Molecular Biology 135 4.Z4 Centre for Teacher Education 140 5. Degree Programmes at the University of Vienna 145 5.1 Theology 145 5.2 Law 146 5.3 Social Sciences, Business and Economics 146 5.4 Engineering Sciences 146 5.5 Arts and Humanities 147 5.6 Natural Sciences 149 5.7 Interdisciplinary Degree Programmes 150 5.8 Teacher Education and Degree Programmes Related to Teaching 151 5.9 Doctoral Programmes 153 3 4 1. Preamble: University of Vienna – Open to New Ideas. Since 1365. The University of Vienna is a modern and, at implementing the Bologna framework, it will the same time, a long-standing, large institu- increase vertical and horizontal mobility and tion which considers it an obligation to carry enable students to complete specific education out quality-oriented research and research-led pathways. It will continue to develop its loca- teaching. It is an attractive employer in the city, tions in both technical and structural terms and a major economic factor for the urban region consolidate its portfolio of locations. and a driving force for politics and society. The University of Vienna is an attractive institution Due to the autonomy it was granted by the for students and employees and helps shape the 2002 Universities Act, the University of Vienna future in this country and beyond. has been able to undergo many positive de- velopments in the last decade. Autonomy for This Development Plan presents the framework staff-related and investment decisions in the conditions, the general principles of the Univer- implementation of strategic planning has proved sity’s policy measures and the plans coordinated a success. As well as the required financial per- with the faculties and centres regarding the formance, the possibility of controlling the influx future direction of research and teaching. In re- of students while using Austria-wide capacities search, it defines a dynamically developing pro- to achieve standard international student-teach- file, lists the research strengths and emphasises er ratios in all fields of study is also necessary. basic research that is open to application and Capacity-oriented university funding will play the role of the University in the innovation cycle. a key role in improving the University’s ability The University of Vienna supports expansion into to act and therefore further boost international new areas of research and sees interdisciplinar- competitiveness. ity as its particular opportunity to enable it to be an attractive location for the best academics To achieve the objectives in the Development and students. With its teaching activities, it bears Plan, it is necessary to maintain and further particular responsibility for the qualification of develop the legally guaranteed autonomy and future generations. Here, however, it does not boost the trustful and efficient cooperation only want to ensure graduates have professional between the different governance bodies and qualifications, it also wants to create curious organisational levels of the University. Addition- young people with critical ability who continue ally, all members of the University need to be to educate themselves. appropriately integrated into the decision-mak- ing process by making use of their expert knowl- Extensive investments are necessary so that edge. The University needs the political and the University can achieve the goals it has set financial framework conditions which allow it itself in the coming years. In the next few years to fulfil its tasks and maintain its attractiveness. the University, in particular in the form of many The starting point is favourable, the University is professorships, tenure track positions and well prepared for another six successful years. other staff-related and infrastructure measures, will be investing in future-oriented disciplines with particular potential for innovation, will be building bridges regarding subjects within or between faculties or continuing to build on the existing research strengths. It will continue to take suitable measures to carry on increasing the share of women professors. By consistently 5 6 2. Starting Point 2.1 Research at the Publications University of Vienna An evaluation of the publications from academ- ics at the University of Vienna between 2009 and The University of Vienna is a strongly research- 2015 reveals a fluctuation in the total number of oriented university of high international visibility, publications from academics of the University of but at the same time in some sub-disciplines Vienna, but with the figure remaining at a high a university with a high number of students level (2009: 8,439, 2015: 8,202). Here, an increase which – compared with other institutions of high can be seen in publications with peer review and international renown – delivers top research in publications which appeared in publication achievements under especially difficult financial media that are indexed in the Web of Science, framework conditions. If we look at the develop- and there was also an increase in the top 25 % of ment of research performance at the University publications in the Web of Science (see Diagram of Vienna in recent years and, as an example, 1). The publications with peer review increased consider the quality and quantity of publications from 3,653 to 4,531 (+24,0 %). Peer review is by academics from the University of Vienna and of major importance in the academic world the receipt of prestigious academic prizes such for assessing the suitability of an academic as ERC grants, a very positive trend can be seen. text for publication and assuring the quality of Also in comparison to other universities, such academic publications. Peer review has now as the LMU Munich, the University of Uppsala become established as a key quality criterion and the University of Zurich, the University of for publications throughout the entire Univer- Vienna – despite a lower funding volume – is sity. An increase in this area, which comprises able to keep pace in publication achievements all publication types, including monographs and in the acquisition of ERC grants. In the area and edited volumes, indicates active quality of third-party funds, which is another indicator awareness. The number of publications which of the performance and competitiveness of its appeared in publication media listed in the Web researchers, the University of Vienna has been of Science increased from 1,924 (2009) to 2,339 able to remain at a high level in recent years but (2015). The indexing in this, the biggest interna- there is still potential for improvement, in par- tional publication database (publisher: Clarivate ticular in application-oriented research projects, Analytics) represents a quality characteristic such as those funded by the Austrian Research based on the criteria that have to be fulfilled by Promotion Agency (FFG), the Christian Doppler the publication media (including peer review). Research Association and by companies. In This increase in quality can be seen even more these areas the University of Vienna, in particular clearly in the top 25 % or Q1 publications that in comparison with the technical and medical were published in the best 25 % (therefore the universities in Austria, is currently underrepre- 1st quartile or Q1 for short) of journals in the sented (see chapter 2.3: Financial Starting Point respective subject area in the Web of Science. of the University of Vienna). Between 2009 and 2015, these increased from 953 to 1,206 (+28,9 %).