Denk abstract 2008
The future of scientific numismatics in Austria
1965 the Institute of Ancient Numismatics and Pre-Islamic History of Central Asia was founded as part of the University of Vienna. From this year on one could study Ancient Numismatics in Vienna and solely in Vienna. The only possible graduation was a doctorate.
In the course of reformatory efforts from 1975 on the curricula of the studies were changed in general. Students who then successfully graduated after having finished two periods of their studies were given the title “Magister”. A third period could be finished gaining the doctorate.
At the same time the studies of “Ancient Numismatics” were extended to studies of “Numismatics and the History of Money” along with lectures on National Economics. But those studies had been established just as an “experiment” and were such no proper studies.
In 1995, 2002 and 2005 the reforms brought further changes to the curricula of the studies.
Until 2002 the institute had had a hard time but was still in existence. In the same year the universities were dismissed from the “Public Services”, they were on their own, privatized so-to-say. This meant also a re-organization and many insecurities. Finally, 2007 politics was forced to react with another law concerning the universities.
Prior to that Austrian politics already had established the national frame for the so-called “Bologna-process” initiated in 1999. At that time 29 European nations declared volunteerily to intend a mutual approach of all the different European universitarian systems. 2006 already 46 nations had joined this process. The aim of the declaration of Bologna is the creation of a common European universitarian system until 2010. Students should absolve three steps, each of them to be finished with a certificate: the bachelor-degree, the masters-degree and possibly the PhD.
In the course of introducing the law of 2007 political and universitarian interest again focussed on the Institute of Numismatics and the History of Money.
For a relatively long period of time it had not been clear, if scientific numismatics would survive among the other universitarian studies, but finally, after a lot of endeavour, three possibilities emerged with the autumn term of 2008 and along with the introduction of the new architecture for the curricula of studies:
1.) The old studies that are to be finished successfully by gaining a diploma and the title “Magister” will come to an end. Students may continue but not start their studies within this system.
2.) There will be no “bachelor” in the course of the new numismatic studies, but any bachelor of any other – familiar – course of studies will be able to gain a masters-degree in numismatics.
3.) These other studies offer extended curricula. Those who want to get a numismatic masters-degree have to choose numismatics within this frame of the extended curricula during the first years of their studies.
Considerations about further studies aiming the PhD were not yet made. Those studies would last at least two years and possibly replace habilitation.
At least for the present numismatics on the grounds of University seems to be rescued