FHV Vorarlberg University
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Social space conference

Risk of poverty in a land of prosperity

Cutting costs without a plan vs constructive social planning

Information

Friday, 16 January 2026
02:00 - 05:30 PM  
FHV, Building A, Aula

 
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What can you expect

With the upcoming Social Space Conference, we are bringing the issue of the risk of poverty and the increasingly limited access to social participation into the focus of social practice and research. Alongside informative lectures, selected student contributions on the topic “Poverty in Austria”, as well as innovative approaches to constructive social planning, will be presented and discussed.
 

 

Programme

 

02:00 PM Welcome
Carmen Hofer-Temmel and Oliver Mössinger
  A Definition - Poverty in Austria
"Is there really poverty in Austria at all? In such a wealthy country?"
Keynote I

"Poverty - what picture does it paint in Vorarlberg?"
Benjamin Peter
Keynote II

"One doesn?t talk about money ?"
Simone Strehle-Hechenberger
Keynote III

"Poverty is worsening and becoming more entrenched."
Christian Beiser
 

"Questions and comments from the audience"
 

Presentation of Student Work
Bachelor students (Community Development course) will present an exemplary poster project and invite attendees to view the exhibition and join the discussion.
03:45 PM

Break
 

Community development poster exhibition
Bachelor students (Community Development course) will present their poster projects.
04:10 PM Exhibition "Poverty has a face"
Katharina Fink explains the background of the exhibition and invites visitors to explore it in more depth.
 

 

Discussion round "Everyone deserves a perspective"
Frank Andres, Stefanie Maria-Luise Geri, Peter Wieser, Lea Putz-Erath, Michael Hämmerle, Andrea Bachmayr-Heyda

Extended audience participation (Fishbowl method)

 
 

Reading and reflections "Taxes are unsexy - but democratic"
Brigitta Soraperra presents and reads from an interview with the Austrian activist and heiress Marlene Engelhorn.
 

Closing round "A constructive contribution for moving forward"
Regional Councillor Martina Rüscher and Caritas Director Walter Schmolly
05:30 PM Closing and Networking

 

Moderation:

 

Oliver Mössinger

Event language

German
 

Audience

Everyone who is interested in the topic is cordially invited.
 

Participation

Participation in the event is free of charge. Registration is required, please ▷ click here.
 

Details of the event series

The Social Space Conference is an annual plenary event organized by the FHV as part of modern social planning and with stakeholders from Vorarlberg's social space.

FHV is committed to a sustainable event culture. This event is organised according to the principles of “ghörig feschta”, with attention to appropriate measures and conscious practices.

Logo Ghörig Feschta | © Ghörig Feschta

 

In cooperation with

 

Impressions from past social space conferences