Under the motto “Navigating Future Universities”, the University for Continuing Education Krems hosted the first University Dialogue Krems on September 5, 2024. On board the MS Vienna, experts from German-speaking countries presented forward-looking theses on governance in higher education. Interesting discussions with a high-profile audience shed light on the topic from a variety of perspectives.

With the Center for Higher Education Governance and Transformation and the only professorship for higher education research in Austria, held by Attila Pausits, the University for Continuing Education Krems has the ideal framework conditions for establishing the new forum to think ahead on issues of higher education development. “With the 'University Dialogue Krems', we as a university are making a contribution to further expanding the societal effectiveness and performance of universities and the academic system,” says Friedrich Faulhammer, Rector of the University for Continuing Education Krems. On a cruise along the Danube, renowned experts from the higher education and innovation sector were offered an inspiring setting to discuss issues of governance and transformation that go beyond day-to-day operations.

Perspectives from high-ranking experts

Particular attention was paid to a multi-perspective approach that took into account the findings of university and science management as well as those of philosophy, psychology and sociology and the practical experience of people in leading positions at universities. The wide range of invited experts on the podium and in the audience led to exciting insights. Prof. Maria-Sibylla Lotter, Ruhr University Bochum, and Irina Nalis, Vienna University of Technology, formulated theses on academic discussion culture and the necessity of governance for transformations.

Em. Prof. Antonio Loprieno of the University of Basel and Visiting Professor of Egyptology at the University of Bonn, Sybille A.M. Reichert, an expert in policy, strategy and organizational development at universities and former member of the Austrian Science Council, and Friedrich Faulhammer, Rector of the University for Continuing Education Krems, spoke about dealing with knowledge in the digital space, the relationship of networks to institutions and the benefits of a strategic framework compared to a rigid strategy.

In the session “The Governance of Transformation”, Prof. Peter-André Alt, President of the German Rectors' Conference until 2023, Prof. Monika Jungbauer-Gans, German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies, Prof. Ottfried Jarren, University of Zurich, and Prof. Michael Hölscher, German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer, gave speeches. Their theses revolved around governance outside of times of crisis, value-based governance, the pressure of digitalization towards new organizational structures and profile building in new public governance.

Renowned participants from the academic system

The composition of the audience reflected the diversity of the higher education sector very well. The Austrian participants included Prof. Veronika Sexl, Rector of the University of Innsbruck, Prof. Sabine Seidler, former Rector of TU Wien and President of the Austrian University Conference until 2023, Werner Wutscher, Chairman of the University Council of the University of Klagenfurt, and Thomas König, Managing Director of the FORWIT Council. The Universities of Vienna and Graz, the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna and the Medical Universities of Vienna and Graz were also represented, to name but a few. The universities of applied sciences and teacher training colleges were also represented at a high level, as were the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research, the Institute for Advanced Studies, the Federation of Austrian Industries and the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA). The international perspective was brought in by representatives from the European University Association, the University of Kassel, the Braunschweig University of Applied Sciences and Arts and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), among others. Thomas Estermann, who has been working for the European University Association (EUA) in Brussels since 2007 and is Head of the Governance, Funding and Higher Education Policy Department, put forward concrete ideas for discussion on how competence development for decision-makers, such as university councillors, could be designed.

Theses and further perspectives

The focus on theses led to concise statements and opened up the space for a lively exchange of ideas at the forum organized by the Rectorate of the University for Continuing Education Krems, the Department for University Research and the DLE Communication and Science Editorial Department. Prof. Viktoria Weber, Vice-Rector for Research and Sustainable Development at the University for Continuing Education Krems, welcomed the participants and introduced the topic of universities and their governance. Mari Lang, ORF, and Prof. Attila Pausits, Head of the Department for Higher Education Research at the University for Continuing Education Krems, led through the day.

Prof. Peter Parycek, Vice Rector for Educational Affairs/Academic Continuing Education and Digital Transformation (CDO) at the University for Continuing Education Krems, made connections to the integration of technology, including artificial intelligence. Prof. Ruth Mateus-Berr, University of Applied Arts Vienna, approached the topic of control in her artistic intervention “Crtl”. The first volume of the new “Kremser Thesen” series was also presented, which is available both in book form (Passagen Verlag) and as an open access publication. The blog on unigovernance.eu also offers space for a reflective, in-depth examination of university governance topics.