Erhard Busek is inextricably linked to the OeAD’s programmes and activities in Central and Eastern Europe. As an ardent European he saw the political upheavals in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe in 1989 as an opportunity to promote dialogue, partnership and cooperation in the medium and long term. For him cooperation at higher education level and the exchange of knowledge were a guarantee for a united, peaceful coexistence. Numerous funding programmes in science were initiated on his initiative. The OeAD set up a separate office for exchange programmes with Central and Eastern Europe (BAMO) and some of the programmes that were initiated at that time, such as CEEPUS, the bilateral “Aktionen” with the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Sommerkollegs, are still very active today. Erhard Busek was also significantly involved in the creation of the Franz Werfel Scholarship, for the naming of which he is solely responsible: in the founding act of the programme where a name had to be found for it there is a pencil note on the side: Werfel would be best.
In 1992, as Minister of Science, Busek symbolically saw off the first few Erasmus students for a stay abroad at another European higher education institution at the train station Westbahnhof. The photo of it is a milestone in the OeAD’s history. Since then countless Austrians have set out to continue their education abroad and to experience – a peaceful – Europe. This year we celebrate 30 years of Erasmus in Austria: unfortunately without the man who helped to start the programme in Austria. Busek held a Jean Monnet Chair ad personam since 2008, which was managed by the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, and later on by the University of Graz. This is a key Erasmus programme. Within this framework he propagated the societal, legal, political and social value of the European Union to thousands of students in Austria, Eastern Europe, South-Eastern Europe and the USA – and did not shy away from any critical debate and always endeavoured to capture the perspective of the younger generations. For this we will miss him very much.
In 2013 the biggest networking conference in the OeAD’s history, the three-day networking conference between Austria and the countries of the Danube region, entitled Neighbours.HigherEducation.Cooperation took place to strengthen cooperation in higher education in the region – also thanks to Busek’s support renowned personalities and more than 360 interested persons from the entire Danube region could be invited. His network was huge and he shared it.
The OeAD was also pleased to win Dr. Busek as a lecturer or guest speaker on multiple occasions. His comprehensive expertise – which always also included cautionary words – was spot-on and thought-provoking. At the closing event of the international school network “ABC Network” in Krakow he gave a lecture to schools from Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Italy and Austria that had worked together on the topic of “creativity”. The title – how could it be otherwise –was “Central Europe – a concept of hope”.
With Dr. Erhard Busek the OeAD loses a pioneer and companion of much that we at the OeAD do to this day.
Our deepest sympathy goes to his family.
He will be missed.
OeAD