VSStÖ – Socialist Students in Austria VSStÖ is a movement of engaged students who fight for better standards in higher education. We seek the advancement of social equality and democracy in universities and society in general. It is our goal that studying can be affordable – regardless of origin or socio-economic background. We, as socialist students in Austria, claim our voice for equality for foreign students, because we firmly believe that education must be accessible for all!

ÖH – your representationÖH, the Austrian Students’ Union, is the legal representation of all students in Austria. From 14th of May to 16th of May all students are called to vote for their direct representatives. VSStÖ is running for elections and standing up to fight for students with low finan-cial means, a group which, unfortunately, is often invisible and lacking representation. Furthermore, we see it as important and extremely essential to not simply say “No“ but to actively engage in debates and negotiations. Doing so in a constructive and pro-ductive manner, we strive to present concrete concepts, beneficial to all. Taking active steps as we have been doing on a day-to-day basis. With our consultancy and our broad range of service offered, especially concerning social matters, we seek to support students in their everyday life!

Use your voice!All regular students are entitled to vote in the elections for the Austrian Students’ Union – so too are the foreign students! Use your right to vote and make your choice from 14th to 16th of May 2013!

From 14th to 16th of May 2013: Student representatives’ elections – vote VSStÖ!

From 14th to 16th of May 2013: Student representatives’ elections

Fair conditions in higher education!

english

» Double tuition fees for foreign students must be abolished now! As a first step, the group of people exempt from tuition fees must be extended.

» Students from Non-EU countries must be entitled to run for student representative elections.

» Multi-lingual information at universities must be provided.» Shorter proceedings for admission must become the standard.» An easing of the requirements for residence permit.» An increase of the employment permission from 10 to 20

hours is essential.» And an all-enveloping expansion of the red-white-red card

must be achieved.

Fair conditions inhigher education!We demand equality for foreign students.

Foreign students often face tremendous difficulties during their studies in Austria being confronted with myriad financial and bu-reaucratic barriers as part of their everyday life in Austria. This is especially true when it comes to the new set of regulations concern-ing double amount of tuition fees, numerous students from Non-EU countries can be left feeling startled. At the same time though, there is limited access to the domestic labour market, with options to work solely 10 hours a week at the beginning of one’s stud-ies. Even in these case students from Non-EU countries are often turned down, due to severe bureaucratic obstacles. The excessive costs that come with studies and living combined with the aus-tere employment ban have a sever negative impact on the financial situation of foreign students. Many students live beneath poverty level, and in many cases this is a prime reason for abandoning their studies. Foreign students are an essential and equal part of our community and should not be left alone or without representation!

University bureaucracy is also a huge barrier for most students: long and distressing procedures for the admission process, strict regu-lations concerning the grant of a residence permit and a diffuse system of application are only some of the problems that foreign students face.

We as Socialist Students in Austria fight for equity of foreign stu-dents, because there is no room for discrimination at university! This is what we stand up for in the ÖH!

Our demands:

From 14th to 16th of May 2013: Student representatives’ elections