Last autumn was marked by budget cuts. University funding fell €2 billion short of what would have been needed to maintain universities at their current level. As the Austrian Students’ Union (ÖH), we have always stood for academic freedom, a broad range of research and fully funded education. We upheld these demands during the budget negotiations and afterwards. For us, one thing is clear: Cutting funding for our universities, students and staff is the wrong approach. The negative consequences will be felt for a long time to come.

We are now seeing firsthand what cuts to higher education really mean. Nevertheless, it is important to hold the Vienna Science Ball this year. We must champion universities and science and celebrate their importance to society as a whole, ensuring that investment in these areas remains a priority. At this year’s ball, let us once again show that education and research must be accessible to everyone – and let us raise a glass to that together!

Viktoria Kudrna is from Vienna. She is pursuing a master’s degree in Spatial Planning at TU Wien and studying Geography at the University of Vienna. She currently serves as Chair of the Austrian Students’ Union (ÖH), alongside fellow leadership team members Selina Wienerroither and Umut Ovat.