About the project

In December 2025, the Austrian Federal Ministry for Women, Science and Research convened a national discussion on how university teaching could be more effectively rewarded within academic careers in universities across the country. To support this work, Dr Graham was commissioned to undertake a snapshot review of the current landscape for change in Austria, viewed within the context of wider international developments.

The study drew on confidential interviews with 23 contributors: Austrian academics and leaders from 11 universities, Ministry representatives and international observers of  Austrian higher education. It explored the current role of university teaching in academic career progression, the principal cultural and structural barriers to change, priorities for reform, and the strategies most likely to support change across the Austrian higher education system.

The findings highlighted four features of successful and sustained change:

1. A compelling reason for change, recognised across the department and supported by evidence that reform is necessary.
2. An ambitious and coherent approach to reform, involving curriculum-wide thinking rather than isolated changes to individual courses. 
3. Strong departmental leadership and broad faculty engagement, with the Head of Department playing a crucial role in driving and legitimising change. 
4. Mechanisms to sustain change over time, including an interconnected curriculum, evidence of impact and continued renewal to keep the educational approach at the cutting edge.

The resulting report, Strengthening the reward of university teaching in Austria: a conversation starter, draws together perspectives from across the Austrian higher education community with examples of policy and practice from comparable university systems worldwide. It was designed to inform discussion about the opportunities and priorities for strengthening the reward of university teaching across Austria.