Nursing scholarship: Extension brings relief
Now we need to think about the future - trade union vida demands an end to the fixed-term contract.
Training
With the summer semester 2025, the academic year at the Austrian universities of applied sciences is coming to an end - and for those interested in studying health and nursing, there is reason to rejoice: the nursing scholarship will be extended and increased. The trade union vida expressly welcomes this success, as it serves to secure the livelihood of numerous students. The current reform provides for a time limit until 31 August 2026. The previous budget for this funding measure has been increased from 7 to 20 million euros.
Fixed-term contract must go
"The fact that significantly more budget is now available for the nursing scholarship is an important union negotiation success and a support for all those who dare to take the step into a health profession," emphasizes Gerald Mjka, Chairman of the vida Health Department. "Nevertheless, a drop of bitterness remains: the funding of the three-year FH training is limited in time. This unsettles people and stands in the way of a long-term perspective."
"There are so many disabilities that are not visible and therefore not addressed. We want to change that together."
Counteracting the shortage of skilled workers
"Especially now, when the shortage of nursing staff is becoming more and more noticeable and the pressure among employees is enormous, we need to think about the future instead of temporary measures," says Sylvia Gassner, Chairwoman of the vida Social Services Department. "Clear legal foundations are needed so that the financing of such educational measures is secured in the long term," demands the trade unionist.
Sustainable financing creates clarity
The extension and budget increase of the nursing scholarship is an important step in labour market policy. Today, the University of Applied Sciences is the regular place of training for qualified nurses. The nursing scholarship – with a minimum daily rate of 53.56 euros – is therefore a central instrument for securing skilled workers in the nursing sector, which is plagued by staff shortages. But the applicants lack planning security. The central demand of the trade union vida is therefore: Permanent employment now - and more courage for sustainable financing!
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