The announcement by the Minister of Science to provide universities with an additional 150 million Euro from ministerial reserves for 2023 is an important step on the way to solving our financial problem, but we cannot yet give the all-clear.

To date, you have all shown that you are willing to exploit our possibilities and contribute to saving energy and thus costs.

Restriction of operations Sat 17 Dec 2022 - Sun 8 Jan 2023

The Rectorate has decided to implement an operational restriction during the above-mentioned period. Shutting down our university operations including closing buildings during this period will save the TUW more than one million euros in energy, cleaning and security costs. In implementation, this means limited operation and access to TUW as otherwise only on Sundays and holidays and the application of level 2 of the crisis plans developed in the faculties regarding the shutdown of equipment.

Work or time off regulation

Employees who use up vacation/compensatory time or work in home office during the entire period of operational restriction will be credited with 2 vacation days. If neither vacation nor compensatory time is consumed and someone cannot work in the home office due to the job, supervisors must check whether alternative tasks are possible. If this is also not feasible, the working time should be used for the internal online training, opens an external URL in a new window offered by our personnel development department.

Employees whose presence is indispensable for the maintenance of the infrastructure (administration, spatial resources, equipment, etc.) or the research operations of TU Wien during the operational restriction and who have to perform their work on site are exempt from the aforementioned regulations and also receive two additional vacation days.

Detailed information and FAQ: https://www.tuwien.at/en/intern/personalwesen/fb-arbeitsrecht/restriction-of-operations-faqs-for-employees (for employees)

Study and teaching

Courses and exams are to be converted to online formats during 12/19 - 12/22. Exceptions for the use of project rooms and for courses that cannot be substituted online are possible upon approval by the Vice Rector Academic Affairs. To receive approval, the form on the website must be completed no later than 12/01/2022.

Research operations

Research operations are to be limited to home offices as much as possible. In addition, the energy conservation action plans developed in the faculties are to be extended to level 2.

We ask you to support this drastic measure!

Many thanks and best regards,
The Rectorate