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A. Kanonier:
"Public relations work and presentation of the studies in urban and regional planning at the Vienna University of Technology";
Vortrag: AESOP (Association of European Schools of Planning) Kongress, Wien; 13.07.2005 - 17.07.2005.

The studies in urban and regional planning have been offered as a complete course of study (10 terms) at the Vienna University of Technology at the Faculty of Architecture and Planning for about 30 years. Currently (winter term 2004) there are 420 students enrolled. The study has a special position, as it is the only complete course of study in urban and regional planning in Austria.
Last year the legal basis and therefore the frame work conditions for universities in general and for this subject of study in particular changed significantly. Since 1.1.2004 the Vienna University of Technology has legal capacity and thus its own legal and economic personality, being on its own authority to a great extend. The management has decided to convert all studies offered by the Vienna University of Technology to the baccalaureate-master-system until October 2005. As a result the studies in urban and regional planning, although reworked only in 2002, have to be revised again in a very short period of time, with a special focus on adapting the number and content of the master programs offered.

What´s more, since last year the programs have to deal with a much smaller budget, resulting in reduction in teaching. Much more than before are cost intensive courses being questioned and appointments are dependent on the number of students enrolled in the course. As the studies in urban and regional planning have a rather small number of enlisted students, especially in comparison with other studies, in particular architecture (about 3000 students), special efforts are needed to cope with the challenges to come by simultaneously declining financing. The potential has not been used to the limit so far and developments at private higher education institutions as well as at other Austrian universities, which start offering programmes in urban and regional planning, have only partly lead to reactions. Due to these facts the Vienna University of Technology is now trying to increase presentation of the studies in urban and regional planning and to position itself in the frame work conditions given. Particularly the up to now modest efforts in public relation work shall be increased, focusing on the following issues:
Ø Attracting potential students through events (in schools) and group specific information material
Ø Increased cooperation with institutions and companies, especially within project-oriented courses.
Ø Improved presentation of achievements reached by means of publications and exhibitions
Ø Intensified contact with graduates through the establishment of a newsletter and regular meetings

These activities should contribute to
Ø Secure the continued existence of the studies in urban and regional planning
Ø Improve the status of the studies in the general public
Ø Strengthen extra-university cooperation
Ø Attract a minimum of 70 beginners a year for the baccalaureate and of 50 for the master-program
Ø Enlarge the number of Ph.D. students significantly.