More Study Places in Healthcare
10 More Study Places for Physiotherapy and Another 50 for the Continuing Education Programme Preclinical Treatment and Care at the St. Pölten UAS
The healthcare sector is understaffed. In order to address this shortage, the Lower Austrian healthcare and social fund (NÖGUS) has increased the resources for UAS-sector study programmes for the non-physician health professions in Lower Austria. 40 million euros in addition funding are invested in training capacities. The St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences has also been able to increase its study places. The number of study places in the bachelor degree programme Physiotherapy of the St. Pölten UAS has been raised from 55 to 65, and the continuing education programme Preclinical Treatment and Care in the bachelor degree programme Healthcare and NursingPLUS (the former can be completed in addition to the bachelor degree programme) has available 100 places now.
Moreover, the continuing education programme is now open to students of the second study location Bildungscampus Mostviertel in Mauer (in case they start in the winter semester) as well as students of the campus in St. Pölten. The objective is to meet the increasing demand for qualified professionals and to further improve patient care in Lower Austria.
Great Challenges for the Healthcare Sector
“We are facing major challenges in the Lower Austrian healthcare sector. Practically all areas of the healthcare system will need more staff in future. A study commissioned by the NÖGUS has explored the expected demand, and we are doing our best to develop new capacities through the provision of additional study places”, explains Christoph Luisser, NÖGUS Chairperson and member of the Lower Austrian parliament.
“We are very happy about these additional study places because it also confirms our excellent and high-quality work here at the St. Pölten UAS. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all members of the Department of Health Sciences whose work and commitment contribute decisively to the improvement of patient and healthcare in Lower Austria”, says Barbara Wondrasch, Head of the St. Pölten UAS’ Department of Health Sciences.
Reinforced Study Location
“We congratulate the department on the top-up of its study places. This important expansion of the educational offers through the increase of study places is not only valuable for meeting the future demand in the healthcare sector, but also gives a boost to our study locations in both St. Pölten and Mauer”, say UAS CEOs Johann Haag und Hannes Raffaseder.
Further information on the range of study programmes and continuing education programmes in the Department of Health Sciences of the St. Pölten UAS can be found here.