Tanishka Murthy ‘27 completes research study for the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ), selected for Central European University Civic Engagement Fellowship

During her academic year abroad at Central European University (CEU) in Vienna, Bard College Berlin student Tanishka Murthy ‘27 conducted qualitative research on Austria’s visa extension policy for non-EU graduates in collaboration with the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ). Her research project, titled "Non-EU Students in Austria: Visas, Migration Policy, the EU Job Market, and Institutional Support," was selected for a 2025-26 Civic Engagement Fellowship by the CEU Student Engagement Office.

The project was inspired by her previous experience in the Salzburg Global Public Policy New Voices Europe program as a fellow in 2025. As part of the fellowship, Tanishka participated in discussions across Berlin, Oslo, and Salzburg that focused on migration, policy, and the experiences of individuals navigating European institutions.

Tanishka reflected upon her research experience at CEU in an article for Salzburg Global this summer, "The Value of Each Story: Researching Fair Migration Policies in Austria." In the article, she examines the relationship between quantitative research and the individual experiences that can be obscured by statistics. She writes that quantitative research can identify patterns, but “cannot fully capture the human experience behind those numbers.” Conversations during the Salzburg program led her to consider how qualitative research could provide a fuller account of migration, uncertainty, and the challenges faced by non-EU graduates seeking to establish their lives in Europe.

This interest developed into a qualitative research project at CEU’s Science for Society Hub. Working with the Student Engagement Office at CEU, Tanishka partnered with the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ) to design and conduct the study. The research consisted of one-on-one interviews with non-EU post-graduates navigating Austria’s visa extension policy conducted over the course of a month, transcribed, and analyzed through a qualitative coding process. The research complemented a separate quantitative study conducted by CEU researchers Valentin Seidler, Javid Huseynli, and Anna Kaplanishvili. Together, the studies examined the experiences and circumstances of non-EU graduates in Austria following the completion of their studies.

On May 27, 2026, Tanishka and her research colleagues presented their findings at a forum hosted with the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber to an audience consisting of ministers, federal representatives, educators, policymakers, and NGO directors. The students proposed extending the period available to graduates to improve their German language skills and seek full-time employment, providing affordable German courses for university credit, and conducting periodic research on the experiences and motivations of third-country nationals in Austria.

Reflecting on the research, Tanishka writes, “None of us deserve to be reduced to a statistic.”

Bard College Berlin's study abroad programs provide motivated students like Tanishka a world of opportunities to engage with research, civic institutions, and public policy beyond the classroom. Eligible Bard College Berlin students in their third year can apply to study abroad for the 2027–2028 academic year by December 2026.

Post Date: 08-17-2026