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FH Council
Managing Body of the FH Council
Liechtensteinstrasse 22A, A-1090
Vienna, Austria
Fax: ++43/1/319 50 34-30
Email: office@fhr.ac.at
Website: www.fhr.ac.at
Accreditation Process:
The FH Council is an authority that is responsible for the external quality assurance (accreditation and evaluation) in the Austrian FH sector for fields in engineering and engineering sciences. Since the amendment to the Fachhochschule Studies Act Fachhochschul-Studiengesetz, FHStG) of 1 May 2002 has been passed, there have been three different types of degree programmes in the Austrian FH sector:
- FH Bachelor's degree programmes (6 semesters);
- FH Master's degree programmes (2-4 semesters);
- FH diploma degree programmes (8-10 semesters).
Technology, engineering sciences (Technik, Ingenieurwissenschaften) degrees are offered in:
- Mechanical engineering, vehicle technology (Maschinenbau, Fahrzeugtechnik)
- Electricity and energy (Elektrizität und Energie)
- Electronics, Kommunikationssyst., automation (Elektronik, Kommunikationssyst., Automation)
- Process engineering and chemistry (Verfahrenstechnik und Chemie)
- Computer science, software (Informatik, Software)
- Architecture, civil engineering (Architektur, Bauingenieurwesen)
- Processing trades and mining industry (Verarbeitende Gewerbe und Bergbau)
- Technology - other ones (Technik - Sonstige)
The FH Council consists of 16 members; half of them are required to have the relevant post-doctoral lecturing qualification (Habilitation) and the other half are required to prove that they have worked in the fields relevant for FH degree programmes for several years.
The members of the FH Council are appointed by the Federal Minister for Education, Science and Culture; four members are appointed on the basis of suggestions of the advisory board for economic and social issues. The term of office is three years, and members can be re-appointed once for a consecutive term. Pursuant to a constitutional provision, the members of the FH Council are not bound by any instructions when performing their responsibilities (cf. section 7 of the Fachhochschule Studies Act (Fachhochschul-Studiengesetz, FHStG) as amended).
In the process of conforming to the European educational system, a reorganisation has been underway since 2004 to transform the 4-year FH diploma programmes into FH Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes. Through the reorganisation, it is now possible to acquire a first academic degree after completion of a 3-year bachelor's degree programme. Graduates and other qualified academics can acquire a specialization by continuing studies in 2-year Master's degree programme. Engineers must be registered as "Ziviltechniker" or "Ingenieurkonsulent" in order to practice.
