ÖH WU > Aktuelles > STEIL English Summary > STEIL Summary - April 2023
STEIL English Summary

STEIL Summary - April 2023

translated from Katharina Annett Traudtner

      

Story von Maira Spietz
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aktualisiert am 20.04.2023
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S.6

Service & Counseling

Service Center and Department for Educational Policy
The heart of the ÖH WU is the personal counseling for WU students. Our team is here for you Monday through Friday, assistsl you in all your concerns regarding your studies and is looking forward to meeting you on your next campus-visit. Alternatively, you can write an email with your questions to beratung@oeh-wu.at. In case you have serious problems with a professor or you think an exam or a course was unfair, your can always contact our Department for Educational Policy (WUCheck@oeh-wu.at).

Mensa M – benefit for your lunch
Even though we have already been able to reach a price reduction of mensa prices, 6€ for a menu is still way too much! Through the Mensa M we want to support students in need to make mensa-menus more affordable for them. You only need to submit an application in the ÖH WU Service Center and then you get every menu for 1€ less.

Borrow TOEFL study materials
An exchange semester, a master program abroad or working in another country – you will most likely need a proof of language proficiency. To support you with this, we offer study materials for TOEFL. You can borrow the TOEFL-preparation book in our Service Center for up to 4 weeks – free of charge! You only need to deposit 70€, which you get back once you return the book.

ÖH WU x Druckster
You need to print out important documents spontaneously, or don’t want to use your own printer because of high electricity prices? Then you can print them in the ÖH WU-Service Center for free. Just upload your documents to druckster.at and come to us to collect your prints. You can print up to 600 pages for free per semester.

 

Opening times

ÖH WU-Book Exchange
Monday through Friday
10:00 – 13:50
Wednesday
10:00-13:50, 14:00-17:50

Location
TC 3.22

ÖH WU Service Center
Monday, Tueday & Thursday
09:00-16:00
Wednesday
09:00-18:00
Friday
09:00-14:00
beratung@oeh-wu.at
+43 (1) 31336 5400

 

S.10

Events

After April started out very relaxing due to Easter break, now it’ time to pick up the pace again. We have big plans for the next few months – of course, our highlight will be our traditional cocktailstand throughout all of May!

Cocktailstand

Where? Welthandelsplatz 1, 1020 Vienna
When? 2nd May – 2nd June 2023
Exam? Lecture? Summer day? Thursday? No matter, whatever your reason, there's always an occasion to toast! So round up all your fellow students, when ÖH WU opens its cocktailstand for 20 days, from Monday to Friday. Exchange ideas with other students on site or ask one of the ÖH staff members the question that has always interested you. Alternatively, you can open your picnic blanket and enjoy the beautiful Prater with your friends.

ÖH WU-Sugar Feast

Where? Welthandelsplatz 1, Ceremony Hall 1, 1020 Vienna
When? Tuesday, 25th April 2023, 19:00
The Eid al-Fitr, also sometimes called Sugar Feast, is the end of Ramadan. Hence, we invite you to a joint banquet! We are excited to spend a wonderful evening where getting to know different cultures and traditions will be the focus.

ÖH-Elections

Where? Welthandelsplatz 1, Festsaal 2, 1020 Vienna
When? 9th – 11th May 2023
Every other year, you have the opportunity to cast your vote in the ÖH elections. This is your chance to actively decide in which direction WU should move in the next couple semesters.

 

S.12 ff.

We want more quality and fairness in our WU studies!

1 More flexibility through lower attendance requirements

Work experience and engagement in organizations – besides studying - are essential for us WU-students, in order to develop into sought-after actors in the labor market. This requires time. At this point, however, it is the case that courses have extremely high attendance requirements, even though their contents could sometimes be studied way more efficiently on our own. This leaves very little time for extracurricular activities and also for internships, which can be fatal for our chances in the labor market. We are decidedly against this!

2 Everyone of us deserves a quiet study spot

Especially in the pre-exam- and exam-weeks it is evident that the library is overcrowded, again and again, and it takes forever to find a spot to study. Even though our commitment to having priority access to the library for WU students has led to significant improvements already, we still see a lot of potential for improvement to make the WU-library a better study space.

During the pre-exam- and exam week, it is absolutely necessary for us WU students to have a quiet place to study. How else can you prepare for the numerous challenges that come with studying? Since, compared to many other universities in Vienna, which have campuses scattered all over the city, our campus is the sole place for our studies. Therefore, we demand a guaranteed spot in the library for WU students.

3 Constant exam levels – works for a good grade, receive a good grade

In order to prepare for the exams, we not only study the actual content of the course, but also solve past exams, take a look at the exam statistics including failure rates and get opinions and tips from fellow students in higher semesters. Thus, under normal circumstances, one can assume the difficulty and the extent of the exam and is able to assess roughly how much time to invest in preparation in order to get an "A". Unfortunately, for several semesters now, we have been experiencing strongly fluctuating exam levels. This is very noticeable in the exam statistics, when the failure rate or the number of A's fluctuates greatly between a few examination dates. 

This situation is not acceptable, because in order to get our studies and ultimately our grade point average - which is often important for employers – to a good level, the conditions for achieving certain grades must be clearly defined a priori. We must be able to achieve the grade we have studied for without having to rely on an exam lottery!

4 Mensa – higher quality, lower prices

The mensa at WU is an important place for daily interactions and exchange. But most importantly, for most of us that spend their everyday life on campus, it is a place to get a warm meal for an affordable price. After several price increases in a short period of time and a noticeable decline in food quality, we had enough. We took the initiative and contacted both the current cafeteria operator and the rectorate: the mensa is a place for all students, where healthy food should not be a question of money. For the short term, we were able to find a remedy in tough negotiations: two fast-acting price reductions and, at the same time, we introduced the Mensa M, a price reduction of 1€ on menus for all those students who are hit hardest by the price increases. In order to better influence the mensa, we have succeeded in becoming part of a working group that regulates the leases for the cafeteria. More regionality and more organic ingredients should be on our plates - at fair and affordable prices. Hence, we consistently demand a healthy menu in the canteen for a maximum price of 5€.

S.16 WU Check

New year – new numbers

Every year, insurance premiums and the associated limits for subsidies change. Find out here and avoid unnecessary repayments or problems with the responsible authorities.

The most important values for 2023

ÖH-fee € 21,20 (incl. liability & accident insurance)

Family allowance: € 165,10 (+ € 58,40 child deduction)

Marginal earnings limit monthly: € 500,91

Tax limits
Income tax:
 max. € 11,693 per year

Wage tax: max. € 11,000 per year

Housing subsidy (Vienna)
Minimum income per month:

for 1 person: € 1.053,64

for 2 persons: € 1.577,02

Study grant:
for students living at the place of study: maximum € 585 per month (reductions or deductions are possible!)
Limit for additional income: € 15,000 (aliquot monthly amount of € 1.250)
Study allowance after self-support: at least 4 years of income of at least € 11,000 per year (for applications until 31.08.2024 transitional provision with at least € 8,580 per year)

Social insurance:
reduced health insurance for students: € 66,79 (income limit: € 15,000)
Self-insurance for marginally employed persons: € 70.72
General self-insurance: € 478,82 (application for reduction possible)

The ÖH WU Department for Social Affairs will help you with any financial and legal problems and questions. Write us your concern or question(s) to soziales@oeh-wu.at or come to our office in person!

S.20 Master “SIMC”

What’s it about?

The program is designed to familiarize participants with the latest management tools and techniques, enabling them to make strategic decisions in a rapidly changing business environment. An important part of the program is working with companies to gain hands-on experience and prepare for real-world challenges.

How do I get in?

Prerequisite for admission to the study program is the acquisition of a relevant bachelor's degree or an equivalent degree from a recognized Austrian or foreign university. 

For a degree to be considered relevant, the following criteria must be met:

·       The entry-level education comprises at least 180 ECTS credits, which corresponds to three years of education.

·       As part of the preliminary studies, examinations must be taken in the field of business amounting to at least 45 ECTS must have been completed.

·       In addition, English language skills are required at a very advanced level - but if you have already completed your bachelor at WU, you do not need to submit a language certificate.

·       Furthermore, the admission process consists of a written essay, a “non-live interview” and participation in a group discussion. 

Testimonial

“The SIMC Master's program at WU Vienna was an unbelievably enriching experience for me. The program offered me the opportunity to not only acquire theoretical knowledge, but also to gain practical experience through internships and projects with companies. The faculty is extremely knowledgeable and dedicated, and I found the class discussions very stimulating. The SIMC program has helped me improve my skills in strategic thinking and business management and prepared me for a career in consulting."

S.28

OCTOBER 30, 2022: THE LAST PAYDAY FOR WOMEN IN AUSTRIA
By Emilie Lundsgaard Jensen, exchange student at WU, Fall 2022

The headline sounds fictional and although it may surprise many Austrian men and women, it is indeed an accurate statement. The Austrian gender pay gap was 17.1% in 2022—making it one of the highest in Europe. When compared to Scandinavian countries, it seems what mattered for pay equality was how Scandinavian women were pulled into the labor market through social reforms, childcare infrastructure, and the regulation of part-time work arrangements. Austria has historically incentivized parttime work to increase the employment rate for women, with the downside effects being fewer promotion opportunities, lower salaries, and a less prestigious status within society for women in part-time jobs. Compared to Austria, part-time work has been deliberately restricted by Danish policies in combination with strong unions who disapproved of part-time work, which positively impacted Danish women’s connection to the labor market. By traditionally relying on the male breadwinner model, Austria is also challenged by a lack of sufficient childcare options and facilities. This partly explains the high rate of Austrian mothers in part-time work, which has negative spill-over effects on the gender pay gap but also on the gender pension gap, which in Austria is 41%. Austria and Scandinavia may differ concerning history, welfare state models, and political priorities, but what we have in common is a gender pay gap and a gender pension gap that stops us from reaching the full economic output of our workforce. As business students, we are often told that when there is an economic incentive, the famous “business case” argument, organizations are more likely to buy in on the suggested change. Not only can we make women less dependent on welfare payments and thus support the “business case” argument, we can also serve as role models for other countries, who have yet to experience the benefits of a labor market that is characterized by greater equality, equity, and inclusion.

S.34

Outgoing

Every month, an outgoing student from WU tells us about their crazy experiences in a foreign country, the differences to WU and why you should do a semester abroad in this city of all places.

Alexander Rieger, University of Aberdeen

Why the University of Aberdeen?

I have known for a long time that I would like to spend a semester abroad in the UK. Since the partner university for WU’s bachelor of business law is in Aberdeen, it was obvious I would want to spend my semester abroad there. The university is architecturally distinguished by both the classic old university buildings, as the UK is known for, as well as very modern ones, such as the library. Through the numerous welcome events at the beginning and various student societies, the university tries to make sure that you can meet new people from all corners of the world quickly and make new friends and acquaintances.

Comparison

The semester begins in mid-January and ends in mid-May, with a one-month spring break. In general, the courses here are more relaxed than what you are used to at WU, because in some courses you only have to write two essays instead of exams. And you also get more ECTS per course. Since you have to take fewer courses because of this, the hours you spend in the lecture halls are limited and you can use the rest of the time for traveling or joining student societies. At these societies, there really is something for everyone, whether you already know the activities or want to try something new. The advantage, especially with the sports societies, is that the memberships are often cheaper than, for example, USI courses are in Austria. So I joined the Highland Faffers, who organize various socials as well as hikes in the Highlands, and so through rowing I was able to discover a cool new sport for me.

A typical day on campus

Since my classes were always in the afternoon, I usually went to the library in the morning and prepared for my classes. Afterwards, I had lunch together with my colleagues in the cafeteria. After, the obligatory coffee was not to be missed, which we got at the Kilau Café on campus. Well caffeinated, I then went to the lectures. After that, I usually had rowing practice twice a week. And, in classic British fashion, a visit to the pub in the evening with friends was a must.

Story von Maira Spietz
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aktualisiert am 20.04.2023
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Teilen via