On 29 May 2026, members of the Senate met in the Arnold Schmidt Room for a full-day Senate retreat. This marked the launch of the development projects. Wolfgang Gerlich and Lena Schwaiger-Stickler skilfully chaired the retreat.
The preceding discussions at the get-together in April 2026 had set in motion positive developments regarding the key topics mentioned.
The four key topics were addressed in rotating groups:
- Communication with the faculties
- Information flows
- Digitalisation of processes
- Positioning; enhancing attractiveness
The following objectives were agreed for the 2026/27 academic year:
- Focus on communication:
List nomination officers on the Senate website
More active use of existing bodies (particularly faculty councils, and also study committees) by Senate members
- Focus on information flows:
Establish an information channel from the Senate Chair’s team to Senate members
Strengthen communication between the Senate and ‘our’ University Council members
Further strengthen communication between the Senate as a whole and the SKC
- Focus on digitalisation:
Digital communication between the SVT and PGS
Regular mailings to Senate members (following meetings)
Regular mailings to the entire TU (once per semester)
DigiWOK project – digital workflow for committee appointments
- Focus on positioning:
TU AUSTRIA
Conference of Senate Chairs, networking of Senate offices
Austrian Alliance of Sustainable Universities
Collaborations: CAT, Higher Education Strategy 2040
European: EULIST
- Focus on enhancing attractiveness
What makes Senate work attractive, and what does not?
Consequence: Increasing attractiveness
Austrian Alliance of Sustainable Universities
Collaborations: CAT, Higher Education Strategy 2040
European: EULIST
- Focus on Enhancing Attractiveness
What makes Senate work attractive and what does not?
Consequence: Increasing attractiveness
We are delighted with the results and will provide an update on the next steps we will be taking together in autumn 2026.