Studying while caring for family? It’s possible!"

‘Studying with children or other care obligations’ – What support does FH Vorarlberg offer?

Combining a degree with family can be just as difficult as combining a career with family. Students and employees rely on family-friendly structures to succeed in this. We find it important that we continue developing these structures.

Offering for students with care obligations

  • For students with care obligations (which here can mean children as well as close relatives), heads of programme and administrators offer the best possible, individualised solution where needed.
  • Childcare offering: ‘Zwergengarten Kica’ cross-company childcare facility provided by Kinderbetreuung Vorarlberg gGmbH with prioritised enrolment for children of FH Vorarlberg students.
  • Students and employees have access to points of contact for any questions on combining obligations in the form of the advisory services for diversity and equality.
  • Referral to Soroptimist association (university-independent), which assists needy students with children in financing childcare costs up until three years of age (Offer of Financial Support for Childcare Costs).
  • Students and graduates with children have the option of requesting a special grant for study or internships abroad (for graduates only internships) as part of the Erasmus+ programme. The team at the FH Vorarlberg International Office is happy to inform you individually about this funding and can assist with applications.

Support for everyday study conditions for students with care obligations

  • Attendance requirement only if lecturers explicitly announce it.
  • Expansion and increased use of online learning platforms for class handouts, communication etc.
  • Emergency care obligations count as justified absence from class (work made up alternatively if absence falls short of minimum attendance).
  • Emergency care obligations count as justified absence from examinations.
  • Part-time study on offer.
  • Comprehensive advisory discussions with head of programme before and after taking leave from study.
  • Preferred grouping arrangements.
  • Timetable for first semester already included with acceptance letter in July (subject to change).
  • Easy-to-obtain advice from heads of programme and administrators.
  • Child-friendly facilities (high chairs in cafeteria, nappy change rooms). 

Designation as family-friendly university

Our university has been awarded two distinctions for creating family-friendly structures:

  • ‘Family-friendly university’ by the Federal Ministry for Family and Youth
  • ‘Outstanding family-friendly organisation’ by the State of Vorarlberg
  • 3rd place: National Award ‘Company for families’

Seals of approval

Quality Label Hochschule und Familie

 

 

 

Gütesiegel Familienfreundlicher Betrieb

Contact persons studying with Family Care Responsibilities

Mag. Fabian A. Rebitzer
Head of the research Centre for Social and Economics Sciences, Unit for Diversity and Equal Treatment

+43 5572 792 5307
fabian.rebitzer@fhv.at

Details

Tamara Berger, BA MA
Recruiting and human resources development

+43 5572 792 2133
tamara.berger@fhv.at

Details