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THE TIME OF MARIA THERESIA AND JOSEPH II

From the first quarter of the 18th Century the teaching methods of the Jesuit order began to be criticised. In particular the bad state of the secular faculties was attributed to the Jesuits. There developed a view that the purpose of studies was primarily to serve the state and the "body politic". Under Maria Theresia the imperial personal physician Gerard van Swieten became the central figure in university reform. The measures suggested and implemented by him brought about fundamental changes, not only in the Faculty of Medicine but also in the other three Faculties. By introducing the Office of Director of Studies the state ensured its influence on all important matters of university business and study. The Jesuit order was gradually forced out of the University, until in 1773 it was dissolved absolutely. In the sense of the Austrian version of "enlightened absolutism" the clerical character of the University was to be pushed into the background so that it could assume the role of a training establishment for public servants and useful subjects. In 1778 Protestants were admitted to academic degrees, and from 1782 Jews were allowed to proceed to doctorates in Medicine and Law. The special university jurisdiction ended in 1783. Curricula were designed predominantly in accordance with the needs of the state. The Medical Faculty experienced a vital new impetus with the establishment of a number of new Chairs (for example, in Botany and Chemistry), with the largest and most modern medical building programme in the world, the General Hospital, in 1784, as well as opening of a new "Anatomical Theatre" (1784) in the "Theresian Aula Building". The Faculty of Law also benefitted from the establishment of new Chairs, while the Faculties of Theology and Philosophy were comparatively disadvantaged.

Lit.: Waltraud Heindl, Beamte, Staatsdienst und Universitätsreform. Zur Ausbildung der höheren Bürokratie in Österreich, 1740–1848. In: Das achtzehnte Jahrhundert und Österreich 4 (1987) 35-53. ¾ Johann Wrba SJ, Der Orden der Gesellschaft Jesu im Alten Universitätsviertel von Wien. In: Schriftenreihe des Universitätsarchivs, Universität Wien 2 (1985) 47-74.

Gerard van Swieten (1700-1772), 1746. This is an inscription in his own hand in the Matriculation Book of the Rhenish Academic Nation with a portrait affixed. Originally from Leiden, he was personal physician to the Empress Maria Theresia, and brought about considerable reforms in the running of the University (particularly the Faculty of Medicine) by initiating wide-ranging state influence and inspections. He also took part in the construction of the New Aula building (today the Academy of Sciences) in 1755/6. As director of the Royal and Imperial Court Library he took possession of the manuscripts and prints from the Old University Library which had been closed down in 1756. (Original in the Archive of the University of Vienna, Cod. NR 5)

Maria Theresia receiving the Rector of the University of Vienna, 1743 This is a Rector's page from the main matriculation Book of the University of Vienna. The Empress demanded the fullest possible reform of education in Austria. (Original pen drawing in the Archive of the University of Vienna, Cod. M 9)

The "New Aula": the Theresian Great Hall Building with Observatory, 1756 The "Theresian Great Hall Building" - with its Observatory - was donated to the University of Vienna in 1756 by the Empress Maria Theresia. Since 1857 the Austrian Academy of Sciences has occupied this building; the superstructure with the Observatory has not been completely preserved. (Original in the Archive of the University of Vienna, Cod. M 11 fol. 25)