Review 2024
Dinner is served: Food Chemistry and Technology course kicks off again!
In just 4 modules, you have the opportunity to gain fundamental knowledge about microbiology, food chemistry and analysis, but also specialised knowledge about allergies, intolerances, or food quality assessment methods.
Learn how to develop new innovative and high-quality food products and actively respond to the increased demand from consumers for high-quality, regional food.
Have we tantalized your tastebuds?
Next start date: 11 October 2024, application deadline: 15 July 2024
The course will be held in cooperation with the Styrian Food Hub.
Good to Know: What “Sustainability Reporting” Actually Means
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD for short) establishes an EU-wide obligation to provide information about how the activities of large companies impact people and the environment. This includes information on their environmental impact (e.g., energy consumption), social aspects (e.g., compliance with human rights), and corporate governance (e.g., fight against corruption). Thus, the directive addresses both how sustainability issues affect business success and how business activities affect people and the environment.
Tip: Expert Spotlight - ESG-Reporting – Umwelt, Soziales, Governance: Überbordende Bürokratie oder alternativlos? (Video in German, the video is hosted by Youtube, therefore YouTube’s privacy policy applies.)
Tip: University Course (in German) Dekarbonisierung und Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement
Tip: University Course Zero Carbon Management
Funding Project SME5.0: Knowledge Exchange with Stellenbosch University
In addition to improving resilience and focusing on people-centeredness, supporting SMEs in their digital and green transformation is a core goal of the EU-funded SME5.0 project.
Life Long Learning project employee Helmut Aschbacher went on a staff exchange to the Faculty of Engineering at Stellenbosch University hoping to learn how modularised further training opportunities and providing micro-credentials can contribute in this regard.
Having returned with quite a few experiences and stories to tell, he says: “I am impressed by the innovative teaching approaches that are being implemented here with regard to engineering education; I am very grateful to Prof. Wolff, Senior Advisor for Teaching and Learning, for the valuable insights she gave me into the continuing education programmes of their faculty.”
Attention all deep-tech innovators!
Use the HEICE project’s “Online Startup Acceleration Programme” to take your idea for a business or startup to the next level! Throughout this 8-week mentoring programme, you will benefit from the professional experience of top experts such as founders, academic geniuses, venture capitalists and a governance agency.
At the final presentation in front of a jury, you will not only receive valuable feedback, but there are also attractive prizes to be won!
- Start of the programme: April 22, 2024
- End of the programme: June 14, 2024
- Workload: ca. 6 hours/week
- Language: English
- Application deadline: April 12, 2024
Details and application form – filling out the form takes less than 15 minutes!
Our Tip: How do I find the right continuing education programme?
- First, consider in which area and on which topic you want to do further training.
- Then, explore which providers are available for your desired topic.
- Next, think about what you want to achieve or what you want to be able to do/know afterwards.
- Determine how much time you can/will invest!
- Wow, how high can the costs be? Or maybe your employer can cover part of them? And what about grants or scholarships?
- When do you want to start this exciting journey?
- Finally: Are there any admission requirements you should know about?
If you have any (further) questions about a specific programme at Life Long Learning, don't hesitate to ask! Our amazing programme managers are always there for you!
Springtime is planting time - for fresh know-how too!
As the days get longer and the temperatures rise, it's also a good time for us to grow again. Here is a selection of courses for your personal growth in knowledge and expertise from March to May 2024:
- Applied Leadership Behaviour in the Digital Transformation, starting 29 March, apply by 15 March
- Data Science: The Way from Big Data to Smart Data, starting 2 April, registration by 6 March
- Moisture and Waterproofing Monitoring, starting 5 April, registration by 8 March
- Applied Statistics as a Problem-Solving Tool in Industry and Business: Introduction, starting 14 May, registration by 15 April
- Restraint Stresses and Crack Width Control in Structural Concrete Members, starting 28 May, enrolment by 30 April
This was Zero Carbon Day 2024
Decarbonisation is everyone’s business – companies as well as politicians and educational institutions. What matters most is qualification, competitiveness and new ways to secure the economic future of the region, which requires close cooperation between research, politics and companies. Fascinating lectures showed the audience that sustainability is essential for the competitiveness of companies and that the most important fields of knowledge are “Energy and Green Production”, “Sustainable Buildings” and “Corporate Mobility”. The presentations of selected transfer projects, which were rooted in the large-scale Dekarb project funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), provided practical insights into decarbonisation plans and activities of corporate partners along with exchange and networking opportunities.
Special thanks to our event partners Green Tech Valley and GRETA as well as to all those who contributed to making the event a success!
Introducing: Franz Teschl, Academic Programme Lead of the Master’s Degree Programme SpaceTech
It all started with a passion for raindrops, or rather, with radar meteorology. Even today, the behaviour and properties of raindrops during extreme weather events play a major role in his research work on opportunistic remote sensing. Transmitting from space, satellites provide valuable information for his research.
Franz Teschl shares his enthusiasm in the Master’s Degree Programme SpaceTech, where he is not only responsible for the academic programme lead but also teaches academic working.
Given the opportunity, would he like to fly into space as a space tourist if being an astronaut is not an option? “That wouldn’t be as interesting to me because then you’re just a passenger. As an engineer, I’d obviously want to help and carry out experiments.”
New course starting in April 2024: Climate-Ready Spaces for Active Mobility
In six thematic blocks, participants not only acquire fundamental skills but also specialist knowledge for planning spaces for cycling and walking. They learn to plan and design sustainable, resilient open spaces and networks (streets, squares, paths, etc.) that are ready for climate change and suitable for various forms of active mobility and users. In addition to supporting online media for self-study, participants will attend in-person (guest) lectures as well as going on awareness walks and bike tours.
Start: 26 April 2024
Application deadline: 5 April 2024
Online information event: 7 March 2024, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
To register, e-mail m.monsberger@tugraz.at
Energy production and storage: Exciting insights into the “future laboratory” at TU Graz
“Is hydrogen dangerous?” is probably one of the questions Viktor Hacker, head of the Institute of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, is most frequently asked. The laboratory brings together not only many years of experience in the research and development of low-temperature fuel cells, but also cutting-edge work on new methods for hydrogen production and storage. As part of a comprehensive tour, Viktor Hacker explained innovative technologies intended to eventually secure a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy supply. “The danger of hydrogen is generally blown out of proportion because it is gaseous. In the event of an accident, hydrogen quickly rises to higher altitudes due to its low specific weight and, unlike many other fuels, it is not toxic.”
Review 2023
We wish you happy holidays and a "knowledge-rich" new year!
We will also be expanding our programme in the coming year, with exciting new courses in the area of green transformation in particular.
If you would like to expand your knowledge in this area right at the beginning of the year, we invite you to take part in our free online Expert Spotlight on "ESG Reporting (Environment, Social, Governance) - Excessive Bureaucracy or No Alternative?".
On 12 January 2024 from 17:00 - 18:00, decarbonisation and sustainability expert Günter Getzinger and Sophie Hilbert, expert for CSRD reporting, will discuss this topic.
Join us for Zero Carbon Day – From Science to Action
The Green Tech Valley Cluster, Green Tech Academy Austria (GRETA) and TU Graz Life Long Learning (TU Graz LLL) are hosting an afternoon full of lectures, a panel discussion, pitches and poster presentations revolving around all things zero carbon. Sabine Herlitschka, CEO of Infineon Technologies Austria AG, will be giving the keynote speech “Wettbewerbsfähigkeit aufbauend auf Nachhaltigkeit” (Sustainability as a Basis for Competitiveness) for the occasion.
Take this unique opportunity to learn from experts in the field ‒ both in theory and in practice ‒ and gain valuable insights that will help you overcome the challenges of decarbonisation in your own company.
The subsequent open buffet will be an ideal opportunity for you to expand your network.
This event is open to the public and free of charge: However, attendees must register for the event by 1 February 2024.
Click here for the detailed programme and registration.
Continuing education? New year, new course dates!
Here you will find a selection of courses and microcredentials with start dates from January to March 2024:
- Decarbonisation & Sustainability Management: Start 15 January; registration deadline 5 January
- Sustainable Buildings: Start 15 January; registration deadline 4 January
- Sensory Evaluation of Food - Advanced course: Start 1 February
- Evaluation of Measurement Uncertainties: Start 14 March; registration deadline 12 February
- Digital & Green Economy: Start 4 March; registration deadline 19 February
- Innovation Management: Start 4 March; registration deadline 19 February
Successful expansion of skills: New “Master of Engineering” in Lean Management in Civil Engineering
From playful simulations using LEGO bricks to complex construction project management tasks – the graduates of the Master’s Degree Programme Lean Management in Civil Engineering can look at back on quite an intensive period in their lives, during which they gained valuable expertise in process optimisation and increased efficiency in civil engineering. The highlight for this batch of graduates was a study trip to Japan. Alumni representative Anna Hoppe said in her closing speech: “While we were there, we experienced first-hand how the fundamental principles of lean management can be put into practice in civil engineering. Our experiences with the innovative working methods and the efficient culture [of Japan] showed us that the roots of “lean” as an idea are more far-reaching than mere theory and models. These impressions will stay with us for the rest of our lives.”
We wholeheartedly congratulate all graduates!
Executive MBA in Green and Digital Transition: Learn More and Apply Now!
The Executive MBA programme provides managers with a scientifically sound and practice-based qualification at both strategic and operational levels in the broad subjects of digitalisation and the Green Transition.
In the application fields Energy & Production, Corporate Mobility, and Sustainable Construction of today, it is essential to learn more about new digital technologies and their use as well as about sustainability management (incl. reporting) and how to share specialised knowledge about decarbonisation.
Online information evenings:
Early bird bonus: Apply by 24 December 2023
We've done it: Master's degrees for new accident research experts
There are few other areas that are so immediately noticeable and encountered every day by each and every one of us. Those engaged in the profession of accident research, therefore, have special responsibilities. Diverse tasks need to be performed on the ground and in the air, as the master's theses written by students in the programme show. These were presented at the graduation ceremony held on November 6 by the proud programme director Hermann Steffan. The thesis topics ranged from human factors in aircraft and paraglider accidents to pedestrian protection methods and on to adapted vehicle designs and analyses of accidents involving cargo bikes, particularly with regard to the lack of child restraint systems.
Congratulations and we wish you all the best!
"Glück auf": We Congratulate the New Tunnelling Experts!
"Tunnel boring is not boring" - and this master's programme certainly isn't either! Programme participants from all over the world (e.g., Mexico, Germany, Pakistan, Singapore) bravely and brilliantly overcame challenges associated with pursuing a higher education degree in the middle of the pandemic and also dealt with some unusual course hours: Since part of the programme had to be conducted online, some students increased their knowledge at daybreak, while others did this at nightfall.
In addition to the course leaders Robert Galler (MU Leoben) and Thomas Marcher (TU Graz), Ernst Kreuzer from LLL also praised the graduates’ achievements: "By completing this programme, you have prepared yourself to face the next challenges in tunnelling and subsurface engineering, and you impressively demonstrated that your resilience and performance is a cut above the rest. Congratulations!"
Attention all deep-tech innovators!
Use the HEICE project’s “Online Startup Acceleration Programme” to take your idea for a business or startup to the next level! Throughout this 4-week mentoring programme, you will benefit from the professional experience of top experts such as founders, academic geniuses, venture capitalists and a governance agency.
Each participant team will hold a final presentation in front of a jury of experts and the winning team will receive a prize in the form of individual mentoring sessions with renowned experts.
- Start of the programme: October 23, 2023
- End of the programme: November 17, 2023
- Workload: ca. 8 hours/week
- Language: English
- Application deadline: October 18, 2023
- Details and application form – filling out the form takes less than 15 minutes!
Congratulation to the SpaceTech class of 2022/2023!
What an exhilarating day! It is very rare that the defence of the master's thesis and the graduation ceremony take place on the same day. Nevertheless, the newly minted graduates of this unique degree programme can now look back on many intensive days over the last three semesters. All the effort was worthwhile: Franz Teschl, who was responsible for academic course management, proudly congratulated his former students on the fantastic results of their Central Case Project (CCP) and with it their potential contribution to future success of lunar missions.
On such a momentous occasion, nothing can express better what we feel than the final words of Nuno Baltazar dos Santos (alumni 2023): ”Let us embrace the challenges that lie ahead...let us go forward and continue to involve, explore, push boundaries…and make a lasting impact on the world. Our journey towards our future has just begun and I do not doubt that we will shape it in remarkable ways.”
Vitamin Boost for Autumn and Winter: Fresh course dates
The days are becoming noticeably shorter and many activities are moving back indoors. Now is the perfect time for continuing your education.
Here is a small selection of our course offerings in different subject areas:
- Programming in MATLAB – Basics: Start November 8; registration deadline October 20, 2023
- Corporate Mobility: Start November 6; registration deadline October 30, 2023
- Mobility Systems: Start November 6; registration deadline October 30, 2023
- Energy & Green Production: New Processes, Biorefinery, Green Hydrogen: Start November 6; registration deadline October 30, 2023
- Food Sensory Science – Basics: Start December 12, 2023
- Sustainable Buildings: Start January 15; registration deadline January 4, 2024
Job offer: We are looking for student assistents!
We are looking for dependable and service-oriented students to help supervise our courses on site.
Are you motivated, have great people skills and would you like to contribute to university continuing education? Then we have the perfect job for you:
At a workload of around 30 hours/month paying € 14.75/hour, you can gain valuable experience working for a university. Work may occasionally also take place on Saturdays.
Your tasks include:
- Preparation and care of the seminar rooms
- Supervision of examinations
- Supervision of breaks
- Installation of seminar infrastructure and electronic aids
- Assistance with various mailings (e.g., information folders)
Interested? Then send us your CV to: lifelong.learning@tugraz.at
Hello Earth, the battery is running low!
Night is falling on the surface of the moon; it is getting dark and cold. A lone rover travels across the rocky landscape on a mission to explore the lunar surface. But suddenly, it stops. The rover has run out of energy...
One of the greatest obstacles facing robotic missions are the long and icy lunar nights, because without light, there is no available energy source for electricity generation. The students at “SpaceTech” have come up with an idea to potentially solve this problem: the “space-supported energy satellite”. It uses solar panels to generate electricity, which can then be transferred to different locations via high-energy lasers, i.e. a rover on the lunar surface. In this way, the service life of the robotic devices can be significantly extended. We are certainly looking forward to its implementation!
All about new buildings, additions, and dismantling: "Sustainable Building” excursion
Would you like to spend part of your studies doing something fun? The building project Graz Center of Physics is a good example of how the circular economy and "social urban mining" can work. Materials and objects are dismantled during the deconstruction process so that they can be reused afterwards. As part of this process, copper cables are collected, and other objects are gathered in a re-use box, such as clocks and armchairs from the former pre-clinic lecture halls, and then put up for sale.
The New Anatomy Building at MedUni Graz shows how this integration process can succeed on a historic site. The challenge here was not only to fulfil the requirements posed by the historical building materials and the new building, but also to create a reverent place where visitors could pay their respects to the bodies donated to science for teaching and research purposes. The completed annex is considered to be coherent, functional and sustainable.
Good to know: New continuing education certificate and degree designations beginning in autumn 2023
One of the changes resulting from the amendment of the Austrian Universities Act (2021) is related to designations for certificates and degrees: The visibility of continuing education certificates and degrees granted in Austria will increase in that they will receive an additional label of "CE" for "Continuing Education". This also applies to the TU Graz Life Long Learning part-time master's programmes. For example, students who enter the international Master's Programme "SpaceTech" in the future (starting next in March 2024) will be awarded the title of "Master of Science" with the addition of "Continuing Education (CE)" after successfully completing the programme. The previous degree of "Master of Engineering" will no longer be awarded in master's programmes as of 30 September 2023.
Kick-off for the Paper and Pulp Technology Programme
The paper and pulp industry is incredibly diverse and so are the career opportunities for programme graduates: Not only paper and pulp, but also bioproducts like sugar for chewing gum and vanilla flavouring come from the paper industry. This industry also plays an important role in times of climate change. You can learn how to make active contributions to climate protection, ranging from the sustainable use of wood to the production of green electricity.
Kick-off event for the university programme, which begins in October 2023:
- September 15, 2023, 4 p.m.
- Institute of Bioproducts and Paper Technology, Inffeldgasse 23
Good to know: What are the 3 teaching phases at LLL?
Some of our courses and university programmes are offered in 3 phases: An online phase, an in-presence phase, and a transfer phase.
Online phase: In the online phase, basic subject knowledge is acquired through self-study, e.g. by referring to scripts and learning videos. Students can choose when and where they would like to study. They have access to a learning platform that they can use to ask questions and exchange information with others.
Attendance phase: Students deepen their knowledge in on-site course sessions. These give them the chance to discuss and reflect on the acquired knowledge with experts, as well as to apply it in the context of case study examples.
Transfer phase: This phase takes place either individually or in a team. Students use the acquired knowledge to work on questions and problems from their own business context.
LLL courses and university programmes in 3 phases include: Leadership in Digital Transformation, Decarbonisation and Sustainability Management, and Vehicle Technologies.
Mobility of the Future
More flexible, more efficient and more environmentally friendly: This is what mobility should look like in the future.
Those who would like to broaden their knowledge of current and future infrastructure and vehicle technologies and pick up specific decision-making skills that they can use to develop and apply new technologies and business models can do so by signing up for the following 3 modules/courses (either individually or as a complete "Future Mobility & Management" package):
Registration deadline: 4 September 2023
More information about the "Future Mobility & Management" offer can be found at www.LeadTransformation.tugraz.at/mobility.
Life Long Learning Has Joined the "HEICE" Project
TU Graz is one of the 16 winning consortia in this year's EIT HEI Initiative and, together with project partners from Portugal and Serbia, is receiving funding (EU / EIT KIC Health) to increase innovative capacity in deep tech areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and environmental technology. Students and alumni in particular, but also academic and administrative staff at the respective universities, will receive this specialised training. The aim is to build and develop entrepreneurship and innovation skills to close the gap between research and industry. Interdisciplinary cooperation, entrepreneurial education, mentoring programmes and networking events, for example, are being emphasised.
Learn more about the HEICE project
We Congratulate Our Graduates!
The graduates of the course "Decarbonisation and Sustainability Management" have taken the first step towards achieving climate neutrality in their own company.
In just 10 course sessions, participants were able to acquire basic knowledge about environmental and sustainability management systems, sustainability reporting and greenhouse gas balancing, as well as carbon management with a special focus on how to decarbonise supply chains through self-study (this video course is available for free, at https://imoox.at).
Of these participants, 11 opted to receive subsequent in-depth training in supervised in-presence sessions and in the context of an accompanying transfer project. Specific and individual questions could thus be answered in their own companies. The exciting results were presented at the certificate ceremony on 22 May.
The next course round will start on 11 September 2023.
Saluti dall'italia: SpaceTech in Frascati
In this unit, the participants could enrich both their theoretical knowledge and visit numerous aerospace facilities. The visit to the data centre of the ESA Centre for Earth Observation, for example, provided them with impressive insights into the wide range of services offered by Earth observation missions. These missions, which enable satellite observations of Earth and provide up-to-date and comprehensive data on our planet, gather valuable information in a wide range of application areas (e.g. agriculture, spatial and transport planning, geodesy, and climate research).
In addition, the participants also visited the Italian Space Agency in Rome, the rocket manufacturer AVIO in Colleferro, and the largest European spaceport Telespacio Space Center in Fucino.
Learn more about the master's programme
Introducing: Melanie Krisper, Graduate of the Master's Programme in Sustainable Construction
For BIG - Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft m.b.H. in the OFM Team Steiermark, Melanie Krisper is responsible for the maintenance processes at Medical University of Graz. When asked why she took part in the Sustainable Building programme, she said, "After I finished my architecture studies, I felt as though I still had many questions about climate- and resource-friendly construction, surface sealing, the decarbonisation of existing buildings, as well as the responsibility of the builder, e.g. in terms of using climate-neutral materials." After completing the master's programme, Melanie Krisper is now looking forward to representing her current company both internally and externally to provide more education on the topic of sustainability and environmental protection.
Sustainable Construction: Learn More and Apply Now!
The joint part-time university programme offered by TU Wien and TU Graz gives you the opportunity to become fully qualified in the field of sustainable construction. The programme starts on September 28, 2023. Apply now and take advantage of this opportunity to help make the construction sector more sustainable.
Info event dates:
- 16.05.2023, 17:30, online and TU Graz (hybrid)
- 14.06.2023, 16:30, TU Vienna
- 03.07.2023, 17:30, online and TU Graz (hybrid)
Register for the info by sending an e-mail to office@nachhaltigesbauen.eu
OUR TIP: Register by May 28, 2023 to receive an EARLY BOOKING BONUS of 10% off the participation fees.
Our Tip: How to Finance Your Continuing Education
FFG "Skills Checks" support the development of sustainability and digitisation skills in companies (including micro and individual enterprises), covering up to 80% of the continuing education costs or up to a maximum of € 5,000.
The SFG "Weiter!Bilden" programme promotes further training measures in SMEs that contribute significantly to sustainable business development, e.g. related to the environment and climate. This funding programme covers 30% of the costs for qualifications. Funding of up to € 2,500 can be granted twice a year.
Attention: Please always check directly with the funding body before beginning your planned course/training to ensure that your specific continuing education project can actually be funded! LLL cannot guarantee that funding will be granted!
Innovation Programme "Inno-EBS" Celebrates its Completion
About 100 participants from 16 companies took part in 70 courses over 3 years as part of the Innovation Programme on Electronic Based Systems (Inno-EBS). Inno-EBS, funded by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy, placed a strong focus hardware, software, system and innovation management.
In the final workshop, participants discussed the project highlights, what they had learned from the project, and shared their thoughts and wishes regarding future offers. In addition to the technical knowledge, participants described the practical Lern-Repair-Cafés and the chance to exchange knowledge and networking with people from other sectors and company sizes as particularly valuable.
During the following field trip of the Silicon Alps Cluster, ams-OSRAM opened its factory gates and provided an interesting introduction to the topic of sensor technology.
Modules as Knowledge Building Blocks for Everyone
Many professionals who are interested in pursuing continuing education do not want to or cannot complete an entire master's programme straight away. This offer is just for you: Select individual modules (university courses) from the continuing education programmes "MBA Leadership in Digital Transformation", "EMBA Digital Leadership", and "EMBA Green and Digital Transition" and design your continuing education individually to fit your needs. No prior academic education is required to participate.
Upcoming deadlines:
- Organisational Change
- Applied Digital Transformation
- Advanced Digital Technologies
- Digital Strategies & Business Modelling
You can find descriptions of all courses here under University Courses (Modules).
Our Tip: Improving your Study-Work-Life-Balance
- Identify, negotiate and plan time slots when studying is most likely to be possible, considering the additional demands of your job and family.
- Create a pleasant environment without distractions where you can study without being disturbed.
- Remember: Which study methods did you feel worked best for you in the past (e.g. listening to something, discussing the material with others, recording something)?
- Use (digital) media (e.g. videos) and Q&A sessions with speakers to get additional information and gather background knowledge.
- Find study partners with whom you can exchange ideas or simply talk with your "fellow sufferers".
- Drink water regularly and make sure you get enough sleep: This will increase your concentration and memory skills.
- Reward yourself!
Competence Elevator (CompElev): Successful completion of the qualification programme
Workshops, short presentations of the partner companies, and well-organised discussion rounds provided an entertaining review of the "Digital Competence Elevator for Save, Secure and Smart Enterprises" project and its results.
And the results of this project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy (R&D Competences for Industry) are impressive: A broad continuing education programme on the topic smart factory and cyber security was made available, encompassing 114 courses. In total, 196 people from 22 partner companies took part in this programme to receive further qualification. Many companies also took advantage of the chance to share their experience in the courses and networking meetings to initiate future cooperation.
Goal achieved – mission accomplished.
Introducing: Markus Karlseder, participant in the MBA programme Leadership in Digital Transformation
Markus Karlseder is the managing director of the digital company "Mindconsole", which has employees based in Graz, Berlin, and Sydney. As a team, they develop digital content that is used in film, motion design, and visuals and, as extended reality and storytelling enthusiasts, are tracking current developments in these areas. To maintain a clear perspective on business aspects of the digital transformation, Markus Karlseder decided to participate in the MBA programme "Leadership in Digital Transformation" in 2022, stating "I am putting together and expanding the essential entrepreneurial tools that I need for my company, to be able to adapt quickly, and to stay up-to-date in the digital field. Fortunately, it’s always been possible to find a solution for any professional scheduling conflicts!"
Master's Programme SpaceTech: Meet the Commander!
What a highlight! In a Q&A session, Frank De Winne, Head of the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) since 2012 and former astronaut, shared his own personal experiences as the first Western European ISS commander (2009) with the participants of the international master's programme "SpaceTech". The participants were also able to get a real "space feeling" by listening to other exciting lectures on manned spaceflight in the astronaut training room, going on tours of the EAC training hall (including modules of the space station and various spacecraft), and visiting the control centre and the Spaceship EAC innovation laboratory. Visits to other DLR facilities (e.g. Institute of Aerospace Medicine) perfectly rounded off this extraordinary attendance module.
![[Translate to Englisch:] Abschlussfeier Nachhaltiges Bauen](https://www.tugraz.at/fileadmin/_processed_/9/1/csm_Abschlussfeier-Nachhaltiges-Bauen_-Bildquelle-Armin-Rastegar_f9f8f88cbb.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Abschlussfeier Nachhaltiges Bauen Bildquelle Armin_Rastegar")
Working Together to Achieve a Sustainable Future
There is still a great deal to do, and there are many ways in the construction industry to make a significant contribution to achieving climate neutrality. The diversity of master’s thesis topics chosen by participants in the joint TU Vienna and TU Graz programme also clearly shows this. These include how to use cooling systems efficiently, renovate existing buildings, avoid soil sealing despite construction, certification systems, how to use vacancies or promote affordable and sustainable housing.
The ceremonial presentation of the graduation certificates took place on December 5, 2022, in the Kuppelsaal at TU Vienna.
Congratulations!
![[Translate to Englisch:] Sujetbild Microcredentials Hand auf Tastatur](https://www.tugraz.at/fileadmin/_processed_/b/8/csm_MC_Social_Media_Presets_MS_2022-29_b6de97185c.png "[Translate to Englisch:] Microcredentials Bildquelle Rawpixel")
Good to Know: What Exactly Are "Microcredentials"?
The term "microcredentials" is often used as a synonym for "short courses," although it can also refer to modules and "module bundles" that are extracted from full master's programmes.
Topics of current and relevance in the job market are addressed in these "microcredentials", which are particularly well suited for working professionals, as the online self-learning phases can be easily planned around everyday working life. These phases enable participants to acquire knowledge, but are also complemented by in-depth study and practice phases (either online or face-to-face), which are supervised by experts in the field. After successfully completing a final performance assessment, you will receive a certificate issued by a university.
On the platform microcredentials.at, you will find the list of microcredentials offered by TU Graz, which is being continually expanded.
Review 2022
FOR LEADERS 5.0: New Executive MBAs at TU Graz
Two new Executive MBA programmes at TU Graz help to provide you with a scientifically sound and action-oriented qualification in the broad field of digitalisation and the Green Transition at a strategic and operational level.
Upcoming online info sessions:
- Executive MBA Green and Digital Transition: Monday, 09.02.2023, 17:00 Uhr, Registration link
- Executive MBA Digital Leadership: Freitag, 10.02.2023, 17:00 Uhr, Registration link
Even more dates and information at: www.EMBALead.tugraz.at and www.EMBATwin.tugraz.at
![[Translate to Englisch:] Sujetbild Wasserkraft](https://www.tugraz.at/fileadmin/_processed_/c/2/csm_wasserkraft-by-conny-schoenherr_eff4260cf2.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Foto by Conny Shoenherr")
We train future experts in hydropower
Hydropower is one of the most important energy sources and is being assigned enormous importance in these politically turbulent times, especially in view of the climate crisis and global dependencies.
The university course on "Hydropower " has been developed for people working in the field of hydropower who would like to develop their technical and professional skills still further: Aspects of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and civil engineering, as well as environmental protection, sustainability, and ecology, are as much a part of this in-service course as organisational and economic aspects. Based on your previous training and professional experience, two different certificate options are offered.
If you complete your application by 24 December 2022, you will receive an early bird bonus that reduces the participation fees by 10%.
More info: www.wasserkraft.tugraz.at
![[Translate to Englisch:] Helga Kromp-Kolb eröffnet Lehrgang Nachhaltiges Bauen](https://www.tugraz.at/fileadmin/_processed_/9/f/csm_Kromp-Kolb-NHB-Foto-by-Nikola-Milatovic-_4e08e30110.jpg)
Helga Kromp-Kolb Opens the University Certificate Programme in Sustainable Construction
It’s not every day that you have the chance to meet people you know mainly from the media. For this reason, we are very pleased that Dr. Kromp-Kolb agreed to serve as a lecturer for the University Certificate Programme in Sustainable Construction. As an internationally renowned scientist in the areas of meteorology and climatology, she is one of the leading experts on the topic of climate change. In her keynote speech entitled "Sustainable Developments", held at the first course session on October 20, she emphasised that we can only fully address the climate crisis if everyone works together, both internationally and nationally.
In this spirit, we wish all participants a good start in the programme and for a successful period of continuing education!
![[Translate to Englisch:] Stadt-Exkursion in Graz](https://www.tugraz.at/fileadmin/_processed_/5/6/csm_2022-09-16_NHB_Alexander_Passer_193d3d88e2.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Lehrgang Nachhaltiges Bauen Bildquelle: Alexander Passer")
See and Understand: Examples of Sustainable Buildings and Energy-efficient Building Technology
Not only building construction, but also building operation plays a decisive role in achieving climate goals. Heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting and electrical equipment are responsible for a large proportion of the energy consumption. The course participants were taught how building technology can be used in a way that conserves resources as much as possible during visits to the Med Campus, Joanneum Quarter and Kunsthaus facilities.
During the visit to the Cosa Science Centre with its interactive zones and augmented reality rooms, a focus was placed on the topic of energy, and the participants were able to determine their personal energy consumption and explore the potential for improvement.
Learn more about the University Programme in Sustainable Building
![[Translate to Englisch:] Screenshot Online Session MBA Leadership in Digital Transformation](https://www.tugraz.at/fileadmin/_processed_/a/3/csm_2022-09-23_MBA_LEAD_Screenshot_by_Helmut_Aschbacher_2099d09a41.png "[Translate to Englisch:] Online Session: MBA Leadership in Digital Transformation. Bildquelle: Helmut Aschbacher")
Welcome to the MBA Programme Leadership in Digital Transformation!
The students are already in the middle of the first online phase and are steadily building up their first business knowledge base through self-study, independent of time and place. The topics of General and Strategic Management are presented first, and the students are supported by receiving weekly plans and instructions. At the end of each week, students have the opportunity to reflect upon and discuss the acquired content in a joint online session with Prof. Vorbach.
After the four-week online phase, a one-week attendance phase will take place, followed by a transfer phase. This enables practical issues to be dealt with individually and in ways that are suitable for each student's professional field of application.
Learn more about the MBA Leadership in Digital Transformation
Kick-off for the Paper and Pulp Technology Programme
Are you are interested in the University Programme Paper and Pulp Technology? Have you already registered or are planning to register for the programme? Then this kick-off event on 16 September 2022 is where you want to be!
The paper and pulp industry is incredibly diverse and so are the career opportunities for course graduates: Not only paper and pulp, but also bioproducts like sugar for chewing gum and vanilla flavouring come from the paper industry. This industry also plays an important role in times of climate change. You can learn how to make active contributions to climate protection, ranging from the sustainable use of wood to the production of green electricity.
Kick-off event for the university programme, which begins in October 2022:
- September 16, 2022, 4 p.m.
- Institute of Bioproducts and Paper Technology, Inffeldgasse 23
Well prepared: Congratulations to the Masters of Engineering Lean Management in Civil Engineering
In a festive ceremony at the end of July, sixteen graduates of the Master's Degree Programme Lean Management in Civil Engineering received their well-deserved degree certificates.
After 2 years, 4 semesters, 90 ECTS credit points, 34 courses, 41 lecturers from business and science, 16 master's theses and a total of 8000 hours spent working diligently on them, the graduates finally reached their 1 big goal: “At the beginning of our studies, we boarded a boat together and ventured out on a journey that took us all the way to graduation. We successfully made landfall today,” said the course spokesperson Christian Glatzl, thanking the “crew” at TU Graz, who accompanied the students of the master’s degree programme on their journey in an “extraordinary way”.
We wish the new experts in efficient civil engineering management all the best for their future projects!
From West to East and North and South: A Tunnel Road Trip
Students of the NATM Engineering master’s degree programme were on the road for about a fortnight with the aim of exploring tunnel construction sites in Austria, South Tyrol and Germany.
While theoretical foundations are important, they are just that, theoretical. What can be better than getting a “hands-on” experience of implementation in a real-world environment? And so the international participants of the NATM Tunnel Construction course set out in mid-June to familiarise themselves with Austrian tunnel construction practices by viewing numerous construction sites. Among the locations on the itinerary were the Brenner Base Tunnel, Trunk Line 2 of Munich’s S-Bahn, the Zentrum im Berg Leoben test and research facility, Linz urban motorway, the Tauernmoos pumped-storage plant and a new underground railway in Vienna. With the opportunity to make lots of new contacts, the participants will also have great memories of various activities on the social programme.
Salut et bienvenue: SpaceTech in Toulouse
Participants in the second in-person unit of the SpaceTech master’s degree programme finally had the chance to get another taste of space in France in July.
As always, the two-week in-person unit was packed with activities: besides courses on “Earth Observation” and “Business Engineering”, a lot of work was done on this year’s Central Case Project (CCP), with a presentation of the first ideas via a live video link from the ESA “Space4Innovation” event at ESTEC Noordwijk. The students got a behind-the-scenes look at space travel on a tour of the facilities of the French Space Agency CNES, the launching site of numerous satellites. The participants also had a lot of fun at the “Cité de l’Espace” theme park, where visitors can marvel at a full-scale replica of the 55-metre-high Ariane 5 rocket.
Inno-EBS event: from getting to know one another to building towers
Featuring a diverse programme, the first networking meeting of corporate and scientific partners took place on July 4 as part of the Inno-EBS innovation course.
Have you ever tried to build a tower as high as you can using only 20 pieces of spaghetti, a string and an adhesive strip…and then tried to place a marshmallow on top?
Although this sounds like something the office staff might get up to on hot summer days, the participants at the first Inno-EBS event took up this challenge, getting to know one another in the process and, of course, trying to achieve success! In addition, numerous presentations were given and discussion rounds were held on "Electronic-based Systems". The main topic was the shortage of skilled workers and how this can be addressed by promoting "women in technology" and offering specific training courses.
Business administration knowledge as a career building block for technicians
Improving your knowledge of business administration to supplement your engineering degree programme can open up interesting leadership and management positions in promising industries.
From September 2022 and on, the following courses will be available for everyone who has already received an introduction to the area of administration and now would like to further develop their skills:
- Fundamentals in Management, starts on 19.9.2022, 20 ECTS
- General Management for Engineers, starts on 19.9.2022, 10 ECTS
- Business Administration for Engineers, starts on 14.11.2022, 10 ECTS
Once you’ve completed the course successfully, you will receive a certificate from TU Graz and possess valuable knowledge that will support you in your career, for example, as an entrepreneur, digitalization expert, or innovation manager.
Questions? Helmut Aschbacher is looking forward to hearing from you!
CompElev: Networking, Exchanging, Getting to Know One Other and Making Contacts
The first networking meeting organised by the CompElev qualification network took place in a relaxed atmosphere on 17 May.
The qualification network is funded by the FFG programme "Research Competences for the Economy". One of the network objectives, in addition to supporting professional qualification in the Smart Factory and Cyber Security subject areas, is to support the establishment of sustainable cooperations. For this reason, corporate as well as scientific partners were invited to share their experiences and competences with one another in an informal event. There was a lively exchange, for example, on the topic of "digital twins" and the different implementation statuses in the respective companies. We are particularly pleased about the fact that, overall, we received a lot of positive feedback about the training programme as a whole.
Learn more about the CompElev qualification network
We Are Happy to Introduce: GRETA - Green Tech Academy Austria
The new non-profit association for the promotion of green competences for business and society was presented at a press conference held at TU Graz on 24 May.
Based on the Erasmus+ project "Greenovet", the Green Tech Academy Austria (GRETA - Austria for short) was founded as the first Austrian centre of excellence for vocational training for green innovations by Green Tech Cluster Styria, WKO Steiermark, TU Graz, FH JOANNEUM and PH Steiermark, and the administrative office was set up at TU Graz. ‘We see ourselves as providing a bridge between education providers and interested companies and individuals,’ says Ernst Kreuzer, GRETA managing director and head of TU Graz Life Long Learning. The focus is directed toward "green change": Innovative products and services should contribute to reducing the burden on our environment.
Sustainable Construction: Decision-making Skills that Support Carbon Neutrality
Learn more on 23 June about the upcoming launch of the University Programme in Sustainable Construction to be offered in October 2022.
The construction sector is considered to be the largest single contributor of greenhouse gases; thus, there is a great potential in this sector to take action against the climate crisis. The University programme in Sustainable Construction gives you the opportunity to become actively involved in the field of architecture, construction and facility management as a future expert and to help shape a more climate-friendly future. You will learn how to take a holistic perspective of a building's life cycle and how to make decisions that encourage the frugal, economic and socially compatible use of resources both in the present and the future.
Info session dates:
- 23.06.2021, 5:30 p.m., at TU Graz
- 28.06.2022, 5:30 p.m., at TU Vienna
MBA Programme on Leadership in Digital Transformation: Learn More and Register Now!
Get first-hand information and ask all your burning questions at the upcoming online info event on August 24, 2022.
We will provide you with information about the programme content, organizational processes as well as ways for you to define an individual area of specialization. It is possible for you to customize the programme, for example, by choosing one of the six areas of specializations in the following application fields:
- Digital & Sustainable Production
- Digitization & Energy Management
- Future Mobility & Management
- Smart & Sustainable Business Economics
- Digital Transformation & Entrepreneurial Leadership
- Digital Marketing & Sales
- Registration for the online info session on August 24, 2022, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
- Detailed information about the MBA Programme
We warmly welcome you to participate!
SpaceTech Programme Launched with New Certificate Programme Director
Franz Teschl takes over the scientific direction of the programme from Otto Koudelka and is able to welcome a participant from NASA for the first time.
Even though the “Welcome Ceremony” could not take place in presence at TU Graz at the end of April as planned, international programme participants from Europe, Asia and the USA could be warmly welcomed online by the new scientific director of the Master’s Degree Programme in Space Systems and Business Engineering. Franz Teschl, an expert in the area of microwave propagation at the Institute of Communication Networks and Satellite Communication, is particularly pleased that – in addition to participants from ESA, DLR and Airbus – a specialist from the NASA Johnson Space Center in Maryland could take part for the first time this year. This allowed even more direct interactions among the students, especially with regard to commercial human spaceflight.
Decision-making in Action: Leadership Training in Complex Situations with Virtual Reality
With the help of VR goggles, course participants were put into a real-time decision-making situation at the beginning of March and had to solve a real-life scenario.
Virtual Reality (VR) technologies are highly useful and sustainable in many fields. In this course, participants had the chance to test their leadership skills virtually in a digitalized, real-time Red Cross scenario. In this spontaneous role-play situation where VR goggles provided a ‘real’ environment and the course instructors presented interpersonal challenges, participants could experience and then reflect on their individual leadership behaviour. In addition to the virtual leadership experience, other current VR technology concepts were presented.
The training offered in cooperation with DIH-Süd is free of charge for EPUs and SME employees.
Next date: 1 July 2022
Early Bird Discounts for Enrolment in Master's Degree Programmes in Traffic Accident Research
Those who enrol in the Master’s Degree Programme in Traffic Accident Research or Aviation Safety by 30 April 2022 will get a discount on their course fees.
Whether it’s on the ground or in the air, as the volume of traffic increases, so does the likelihood of accidents. In the two Master's Degree Programmes in Traffic Accident Research, you will learn how to reconstruct all types of accidents. This will enable you to develop preventive improvement measures based on the investigation results and help to prevent future accidents. In an on-site crash test lab, it’s possible to illustrate the effect of various forces impacting vehicles (e.g. cars, bicycles) and the human body in the event of a collision.
Next starting date: 21 September 2022
Details about the Master's Degree Programmes in Traffic Accident Research und Traffic Accident Research – Aviation Safety
Digital Skills Checks: Support for Continuing Education in the Field of Digitalization
The Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs is providing support for SME employees that enables them to gain higher qualifications until 30 November 2022.
Specifically, funding is being provided for professional continuing education activities designed to build digital skills, which are being carried out at recognized educational institutions. This also includes universities. Courses, training courses and training sessions must be completed and invoiced within 18 months of submitting the application. These can only be started once the application for the digital skills check has been filed.
Funding for TU Graz Life Long Learning offers is also possible! However, please make sure to verify on an individual basis whether you are really eligible for funding!
Details and the contact for applying for funding can be found on the Website of FFG.
LLL offers for Digital Transformation
Digital Transformation Backstage - Success Factors & Tools
In our Expert Spotlight on 21 April, the focus is on "data". Join the discussion with Gert Breitfuss from Know-Center and Oliver Greifenstein from Dynatrace.
Digital transformation is not possible without data. But what data do we need and where does the data come from? What do I actually want to achieve with data? What benefits are possible? How must the data be processed? And what are the success factors of a market leader in the software industry?
In this free online Expert Spotlight, you will not only get a sneak peek into the methods and tools applied to efficiently use data, such as "Data Service Cards" and "Data Service Canvas", but also get a chance to take a look behind the scenes of Dynatrace's product development.
WHEN: Thursday, 21 April, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Building with concrete: How can undesirable cracking be avoided in planning and execution?
In April, the course Restraint Stresses and Crack Width Control in Structural Concrete Members will be held. Interested persons can still register.
In general, buildings not only have to fulfil specific purposes, but also fulfil requirements in terms of their visual appearance. This also applies to concrete and reinforced concrete construction. In this case, for example, undesirable cracks can form depending on heat developments and the component geometry. The most efficient solution is offered by considering the actual behaviour of the components based on their deformation.
In this course, therefore, a deformation-based calculation model for mechanically consistent constraint design is presented, additionally considering the current standard regulations and their application limits.
Dates: 11 and 12 April
Registration Deadline: 27 March 2022
Digital Innovation Hub South: Supported Know-how for SMEs
Free continuing education courses offered by TU Graz help SMEs to remain competitive in the digital age.
The DHI South initiative is open to all SMEs located in southern Austria that want to push forward their digital transformation. The focus is placed on the topics of production and manufacturing technologies, security, data science, digital business models and processes, logistics, human resources and young scientists. TU Graz is one of 5 digital centres and offers the following courses, among others:
- Knowledge Management and Knowledge Transfer in the Digital Transformation
- Leadership Training in Complex Situations with Virtual Reality
- Digital Business Innovation Basics
- Technology Basics for Digital Innovation
DIH South will receive funding from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) for the next three years.
More information
Expert Spotlights: Concise Knowledge Transfer and Exciting Discussions
On 24 March, our free online event series will kick off again with the topic "Digital Services".
"Are you still investing or are you already earning?" This is the provocative question that will serve as the basis for discussion in our first Expert Spotlight in 2022.
Konrad Diwold, Key Researcher for Cognitive Products at the Competence Centre Pro2Future, and Stefan Pfeffer, Managing Director at Microtronics Engineering, will not only provide interesting insights into how smart services are currently influencing markets and industries, but also will explain "lived digitalisation" from different perspectives. They will also share their research and daily business experiences. During the discussion, the speakers will make one thing plain: SMEs can also take advantage of the IoT (Internet of Things) megatrend and shore up their core competences in the process!
Date: 24 March, 17:00 - 18:00, Registration
Dinner is served: Food Chemistry and Technology course kicks off again!
Are you working in the area of food production or processing? Apply now to take part in the next course as part of our acclaimed continuing education offers!
In just 4 modules, you have the opportunity to gain fundamental knowledge about microbiology, food chemistry and analysis, but also specialised knowledge about allergies, intolerances, or food quality assessment methods.
Learn how to develop new innovative and high-quality food products and actively respond to the increased demand from consumers for high-quality, regional food.
Have we tantalized your tastebuds?
Next start date: 7 October 2022, application deadline: 17 July 2022
The course will be held in cooperation with the Styrian Food Hub.
Learn Repair Café: Learn how electronics work with real devices
As part of the FFG-funded project "Innovationslehrgang Inno-EBS", the Café’s practical learning format helps participants acquire sustainable skills.
Why do devices quit working after two or three years? How can they be repaired? As an engineer, how can I build them so that they last as long as possible? How can we redesign business models so that sustainable electronics are advantageous for both consumers and manufacturers?
As part of the multi-year qualification project for employees at Austrian companies from the electronics sector, Dominik Berger initiated the Learn & Repair Cafés. These Café’s help participants experience how electronics work by giving them the chance to repair real, supposedly unusable devices and to consolidate the knowledge acquired. They also raise awareness for the need to manufacture such products sustainably.
More Learn Repair Cafés will follow.
Digital Competence Elevator: Never stand still!
Holding true to its corporate philosophy, the DAM company uses the "CompElev" qualification programme to stay in tune with the times.
The Styrian company DAM is a global leader in automotive testing and assembly. Machine safety is Bernhard Schütz's area of responsibility. He has been participating in the FFG-funded CompElev training programme since March 2021. Since industrial robots are used in the company, he decided to focus on the key area of robotics. “From the basic module to the advanced module, this area included all sorts of interesting and valuable topics and insights that I can already implement in my daily work. In particular, the application of collaborative robots made for an exciting story, and we were allowed to adapt these robots practically in the lab,” says Bernhard Schütz, adding “I am already looking forward to the planned training modules in 2022!”
Harnessing military management and leadership expertise for economic enterprises
Improve your management and leadership skills in a university course offered in cooperation with the Theresian Military Academy.
“Leading means: ensuring survival,” says Alexander Gstrein, principal education officer for didactics and methodology at the Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt. Even if this statement seems somewhat drastic, it reflects the reality of enterprises operating in the free market. The continuing education programme “Applied Management Behaviour in the Digital Transformation", therefore, is aimed at (future) managers from all sectors and has been developed to help them meet the current challenges associated with digital ecosystems, business models and transfer phases in companies.
Online Info Events:
- 15 February 2022, 5 p.m., Registration
- 1 March 2022, 5 p.m., Registration
Seize opportunities: Continuing education 2022!
In 2022 we will continue to provide you with technical, scientific and techno-economic know-how in a wide range of courses and programmes!
Are you well equipped for the next professional years with your current technical knowledge? Are you satisfied with your interdisciplinary skills? Does digitalisation make you uncomfortable? Are you actually doing what you really want to do?
Take a look at our extensive range of continuing education courses and get new impetus for your professional challenges of tomorrow!
We support you with innovative and technology-supported didactic concepts as well as with practice-relevant content and transfer projects.
Review 2021
SpaceTech: Mission completed in Bremen 2021
The Space Tech Expo Europe in Bremen is the most important annual event on space travel in Europe. LLL SpaceTech Ambassador Peter Schrotter was there.
The countdown has started: As planned, the successful master's programme SpaceTech will begin again in March 2022. The programme manager visited the Expo in Bremen in search of unknown worlds and the latest industrial developments. Among other things, he discovered exciting initiatives from the realm of European spaceports, but also from the orbital rocket manufacturers’ start-up scene.
"It’s so gratifying to see that interest in space technology is constantly growing, just like the industry itself is," says Peter Schrotter. He adds "This meant that I could attract new prospective students to our course by holding numerous personal conversations." Mission completed.
Solving the time-crunch dilemma: Continuing education with a job and family
University programmes require you to invest additional time. But how can you achieve the right balance between continuing education, work, family and hobbies?
"Compatibility" is the buzzword that one hears frequently in discussions about encouraging working people to take part in continuing education activities. However, those providing such offers rarely specifically define what you can expect. LLL provides you with this clarity by:
- Improving plannability (providing a fixed timetable in advance)
- Reduced the amount of on-site attendance required (supplemented by online teaching)
- Flexible management for distance-learning elements (e.g. digital materials, videos)
Also considering discussing which time slots you can use with your family and employer and present the advantages of acquiring more expertise! Our programme managers will also be happy to advise you!
Career Building Block: Alexander Passer is the New Head of the "Sustainable Construction" Programme
The renowned TU Graz scientist takes over from Peter Maydl and now heads the successful programme together with Karin Stieldorf (TU Vienna).
On 21 October, Alexander Passer welcomed the new participants in the certificate and master's programme "Sustainable Construction" for the first time in his new position at TU Graz. Passer is Associate Professor for Sustainable Construction and is passionately committed to the topic of sustainability in construction. One of his main research areas is "Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA)". On the opening day as part of the course "Sustainability in the Construction Sector", he was able to share his expertise with the participants, communicating his conviction that the construction sector has an enormous potential to make a positive contribution to developments in the global climate.
Graduation with a "Seal of Approval”
We congratulate the graduates of the university course Food Chemistry and Technology for the certificate they have received!
This last year was particularly challenging for all participants and lecturers involved in the university course of Food Chemistry and Technology. It was necessary to switch to online teaching wherever possible, but, at the same time, to hold the necessary in-presence class sessions in compliance with the required COVID-19 measures. Therefore, we are all the more pleased that this course could be successfully carried out and that the participants were able to acquire solid, state-of-the-art specialist knowledge that will come in handy when they carry out their professional activities in the food industry. On 1 October, the graduates were able to receive their well-deserved certificate in a small ceremony. We wish them all the best!
Green Light Means Go for the GREENOVET Project
The keystone has been set. The strategy paper has been finalised for establishing a centre of excellence for vocational training for green innovations. And now…
On 16 September, as part of the Erasmus+ project GREENOVET, the strategy that will be used to establish "Centers of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs)" was finalised in an intensive workshop held at TU Graz. Workshop participants addressed the challenges and the added value for the region of Styria, derived priorities for a competence centre for green innovation and clearly outlined educational offers for different target groups. Workshop organisers supported the operational cooperation of all partners involved. Now, it’s simply a matter of taking the first steps to establish the centre, whereby the set framework will be further supplemented, expanded and modified in a dynamic development process.
TU Graz awards partial scholarships for the Master's programme Leadership in Digital Transformation
Third scholarships will be awarded exclusively for the start of the programme in March 2022. Applications for these are open until 15 January 2022.
One of the reasons why those hungry for further education often fail to realise their ambitions is the lack of financial resources. With the partial scholarships, we want to support, among others, all TU Graz alumni as well as top-qualified women who choose the basic module "Fundamentals in Computer Science" in financing their next career step. For people who have successfully applied for a scholarship, the participation fee for the Master's programme is 16,600 euros (VAT-free) instead of 24,900 euros (cannot be combined with early bird bonus).
Interested? Details here as well as at info evenings on
23 November 2021 at 5:00 p.m. (registration)
25 November 2021 at 5:00 p.m., focus on financing (registration)
Uncertain and Digital: How Entrepreneurs and Intrapreneurs Are Shaping a Future that No One Can Really Imagine
Join the discussion at our upcoming online Expert Spotlight on 21 October 2021!
What can we learn from entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs? How does the "Effectuation approach" work? And how can entrepreneurship be developed and promoted as a "life skill"? In this Expert Spotlight, we will discuss what core competences entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs need to have and to use to deal with the uncertainty they encounter in everyday business life.
The keynote speakers:
- Elisabeth Stiegler (TU Graz, entrepreneurship and business model researcher, board member of the Gründungsgarage (Start-up Garage))
- Michael Faschingbauer (ICG and Effectuation Intelligence, consultant and book author)
WHEN and WHERE: Thursday, 21 October 2021, 6 – 7 p.m., ONLINE
SCIENCE FOR FUTURE: Research-based Continuing Education at TU Graz
Life Long Learning was able to present its continuing education offers at the interdisciplinary Science Day held on September 29th at TU Graz.
TU Graz scientists provided exciting insights into and perspectives on their research activities, placing a special focus on climate and energy and using a mixture of keynotes, workshops, lectures, panel discussions and an accompanying poster exhibition.
The "Fields of Expertise" at TU Graz also serve as inspiration for the continuing education offers from Life Long Learning. At our info points, interested people could learn more about the Greenovet project, our continuing education initiative in the field of digital transformation, and the special courses and training programmes offered on a diversity of topics, such as sustainable construction, hydropower, paper and pulp technology, and smart neighbourhood development.
“How cool is that: A Master’s Degree in SpaceTech!”
We congratulate all graduates of the international Master's Degree Programme "SpaceTech2020" and wish them all the best for the future!
At long last, we were able to hold a graduation ceremony our distinguished auditorium. Those who were able to attend the ceremony attended in person, while those and their relatives who chose to stay home were able to view the traditional ceremony via livestream.
The highlight of this year's "Central Case Project (CCP)", which was sponsored by ESA and was located in the fields of "Space Situational Awareness", "Space Domain Awareness" and "Space Traffic Management", was the presentation given to a wide audience in July both on site in the Netherlands and online. The presentation introduced the NAVIR company, which was founded as part of the project, and its marketable "GEOScan" products and services.
Take a Look: Our Digital Transformation Training Offer at a Glance
Our new landing page Digital Transformation provides an overview of the diverse and comprehensive opportunities for continuing education in the field of digitalisation.
The training portfolio also includes innovative offers, so that a high degree of individualisation and training tailored to personal needs is possible. These include various educational tracks and degree options in the Leadership in Digital Transformation course, individually bookable university courses and flexibly applicable continuing education vouchers for companies. On this page, you will find the bundled expertise of TU Graz that supports employees and companies in maintaining and further expanding their future viability in the labour and economic market.
Details at digitaletransformation.tugraz
Kick-off for the Paper and Pulp Technology Programme
Are you are interested in the University Programme Paper and Pulp Technology? Have you already registered or are planning to register for the programme? Then this kick-off event on 17 September 2021 is where you want to be!
The paper and pulp industry is incredibly diverse and so are the career opportunities for course graduates: Not only paper and pulp, but also bioproducts like sugar for chewing gum and vanilla flavouring come from the paper industry. This industry also plays an important role in times of climate change. You can learn how to make active contributions to climate protection, ranging from the sustainable use of wood to the production of green electricity.
Kick-off event for the university programme, which begins in October 2021:
- September 17, 2021, 4 p.m.
- Institute of Bioproducts and Paper Technology, Inffeldgasse 23
Exclusively for companies: Vouchers for modules from the Leadership in Digital Transformation programme
Companies are offered 21 flexible training modules as part of Corporate Life Long Learning (CL3) initiative.
Starting in autumn 2021, TU Graz Life Long Learning is offering two course models that address and provide solutions for entrepreneurial problems in the area of continuing education and training. The issues to be tackled include dissemination of knowledge within the company, greater flexibility in the acquisition of knowledge content and the effectiveness of training measures.
Model CL3 Teams: Participants in the master’s programme receive 4 module vouchers for up to 4 colleagues to complete individual modules from the degree programme.
Model CL3 Enterprise: Companies can purchase module packages with 7, 14 or 21 module vouchers at a flat rate and distribute them to employees as required.
Interested? Details are available at the programme's page.
Of power houses, dams and structural supervision
On excursions to the Zillertal Alps, participants of the University Programme in Hydropower became familiar with impressive turbines and dams.
The Zemm-Ziller storage power plants are part of the most powerful power plant group in Austria, generating more than 1,240 million kWh of electricity per year from natural intakes. Along with the Durlassboden high mountain reservoir, they served as an exciting backdrop for the in-person courses “Krafthaus und Kavernen” (Powerhouse and Caverns) and “Bauwerkssicherung und -überwachung” (Building Security and Monitoring). The participants were able to experience theoretical concepts directly on site. These included operation of the Durlassboden outlet works, which can regulate water flow into the stream below in the event of a necessary lowering or draining (e.g. for maintenance).
More information about the hydropower course.
Excursion days to sustainable construction projects
For the participants in the University Programme in Sustainable Construction, the last two days of attendance in the semester were all about “work and pleasure”.
After a written examination and presentation of the group work on day 1, the students were rewarded with a joint trip to southern Styria touring selected sustainable construction projects and indulging in the region's excellent cuisine. Day 2 was dedicated to the city of Graz. Guided tours to landmarks of the historical city centre (Schloßberg), revitalised buildings (Schlossbergmuseum, Kulturstollen plus slide), modern examples of building service systems (Kunsthaus, Joanneumsviertel) and a construction site tour of the urban development area “Reininghaus” were on the itinerary. A final discussion at StadtLABOR concluded the excursion days.
Electronic Based Systems: Creating Networks Between Research and Industry
At the end of June, representatives from research and industry and participants in the "Inno-EBS" course discussed hurdles and potentials for collaboration.
While gaining insights into the services offered, more than 80 participants in this virtual event discussed how hurdles between business and research could be overcome and what tasks could be carried out together more effectively than alone.
The conclusion reached: Representatives and participants were not always pursuing the same goals. But in this respect as well, the motto two heads are better than one
especially applied when supporting advances in innovative topics and identifying future technologies. After all, by working together, we not only have complementary competencies, but also complementary infrastructure and funding opportunities.
And what first step would the participants of the Inno-EBS-course like to take?
To ensure that the "EBS Day" becomes a recurring event for joint exchange and networking.
Centre of Excellence for Green Innovations to be Established at TU Graz
As part of the EU project GREENOVET, a concept for the first Austria-wide vocational training centre of excellence for green innovations is being developed.
Since November 2020, TU Graz has taken part in the international project GREENOVET - Green Innovation for a Sustainable Future, which is being carried out together with 18 partners from four different EU countries.
The primary goal is to promote the development of excellence in vocational education and support an innovative, inclusive and sustainable economy. The first centre of its kind in Austria will be established at TU Graz in 2022.
Currently, a customized concept for Styria is being developed: Based on the identified needs and a survey of the available offers (e.g. trainings) in relevant application fields (e.g. mobility), the strategic orientation will be finalized by the end of September.
Read more: Project GREENOVET
University Programme Leadership in Digital Transformation – Online Application Now Possible!
Whether your plans are clear or you’re still undecided, this notice is for you! The online application form is now accessible, and another online info event will take place on 23 June.
Take advantage of the 4 education paths and 3 certification options: From now on, all those who are interested can apply online for the part-time Leadership in Digital Transformation programme. All participants who complete the application by 30 June 30 2021, will receive an early bird bonus of 10% off the participation fees.
Are you still unsure whether the content and focus are right for you or whether time and finances make participation is at all possible for you?
Simply take part in our information event on 23 June 23 at 5 p.m. or contact Helmut Aschbacher (Programme Management) to schedule a personal consultation.
LEAD transformation!
All Hell is Breaking Loose in Space!
In the master's degree programme in Space Systems and Business Engineering (SpaceTech), the increasing amount of space traffic as well as space pollution are burning topics.
One look at images of our Earth's orbit leaves no doubt that a lot is going on up there. More than a thousand active and inactive satellites, as well as millions of pieces of wreckage and asteroid fragments, share the orbit. Dicey situations inevitably arise, including collisions. The international participants in the SpaceTech master's degree programme are tackling this problem in their central case study project. Technically feasible and economically attractive solutions will be developed on the topics of space situational awareness, space domain awareness and space traffic management, and these solutions will ultimately be presented to potential investors.
You might also be interested in: SpaceTech Alumni Symposium on 23 July 2021
Get More Info and Register Now: University Programme on Sustainable Construction 2021
The part-time certificate and master's programme from TU Graz and TU Vienna allows you to learn about the latest developments in sustainable construction.
Sustainable construction means optimising the present and future use of a building while minimising the environmental impacts and costs over its life cycle. This means considering how materials and energy are consumed but also how waste is recycled. Additional topics addressed are: Design aspects (architecture), social aspects (e.g. neighbourhood) and the regional sourcing of building materials and craftmanship.
This university programme has been developed especially for managers, planners and project developers in the building sector and public administration.
- Info event: 22 June 2021, 5:30 p.m.; ONLINE
- Early bird special offer until 30 May 2021
- Programme start date: 21 October 2021
More information: Sustainable Construction
Tunnel Construction Worldwide
International students can present “their” construction sites in the university programme NATM Engineering.
How is work carried out on tunnel construction sites in Colombia and what specific challenges arise when constructing tunnels in Singapore?
The university programme in NATM Engineering, which started back up on April 6, involves international participants who share their diverse professional experiences. In addition, students who have already worked or are currently working on tunnelling projects worldwide provide insights into the projects by means of online presentations and field reports. In the subsequent discussion rounds with teachers and other participants, both the most diverse and shared approaches will be discussed.
We wish all participants an exciting first module and look forward to welcoming them back to Styria in person!
LEAD Transformation! Online Information Event for the New University Programme
Pick up first-hand information about the Leadership in Digital Transformation programme at a Webex event on 21 April 2021.
At this event, you will receive information about the programme content and focus, learn how you can individually design and complete the programme, and find out how the organisational procedures work.
At this information event, you will also have the chance to meet Prof. Stefan Vorbach (Programme Director) and Helmut Aschbacher (Programme Management). They will be happy to answer your questions!
Click here to register for the information event on 21 April 2021.
Two more online information events will take place on 19 May 2021 and 23 June 2021.
Please note that you can take advantage of an early bird bonus if you send in your completed application by no later than 30 June 2021. Spaces are limited (first come, first served)!
Save the Date: Webinar - The Revenge of Small and Medium-sized Cities
Those interested are invited on 6 May 2021 to discuss the urgent need for urban development and to share lessons learned from the current pandemic.
Migration flows, climate change and the pandemic are challenges that are also currently affecting the development of cities and towns.
In this online pre-event for the university course Smart District Development in Small and Medium-Sized Cities, we want to talk to interested individuals and jointly map out a path to support climate neutrality, digitalisation, and sustainable settlement and urban development. At the same time, we want to listen to the experiences and specific expectations shared by the potential course participants. These aspects will be considered during the programme development and built into the thematic course framework (public space, mobility, inner development, governance, energy, technology).
When: Thursday, 6 May 2021, 1 – 3 p.m.
Registration: until 3 May 2021 by sending an e-mail to urba@tugraz.at
New Course Offers: Digital Business Innovation Basics
For everyone who has an idea for an innovative product or is planning to digitally set up or alter their company or business model.
Flexible, proactive, anticipatory and proactive: Agility is one of the decisive characteristics of successful companies. Knowing how to carry out a digital transformation can help ensure the future viability of a company and its staff. In the new University course Digital Business Innovation Basics, you will acquire comprehensive knowledge about technologies, business models and business processes in the digital age. In a final project, you will have the opportunity to develop a concept specifically for your business field.
Deadline: 28 April 2021 (starts with an online pre-module)
Apply: by no later than 15 April 2021
R&D Competences for Industry: TU Graz Trains Innovative Companies
Digitalisation, smart factory and cyber security are highlighted in the new CompElev qualification project that started at the beginning of March.
In order to develop and successfully apply their individual and cross-company digitisation strategies, 125 staff members from 22 companies will take part in the knowledge transfer of TU Graz (consortium leadership and scientific management: Institute of Production Engineering, project management: Life Long Learning), Joanneum Research and FH CAMPUS 02 from March and on.
The focus is placed not only on increasing technical expertise in the areas of smart technologies, robotics, the Internet of Things, digital communication, data management and safety and security, but also on social aspects of the transformation.
The training programme is supported by the Federal Ministry for Digitalisation and Economic Affairs as part of the FFG programme R&D Competencies for Industry.
New Thematic Cluster at LLL Continuing Education: Techno-Economics
In the Techno-Economics cluster, we offer both cross-sectoral training courses and place a focus on management, technology and economics.
What good is the best idea or invention if it can’t be turned into new products, services, or processes in an economically sustainable way?
The courses in the field of techno-economics combine technical knowledge with business know-how, strengthening the innovative power of employees and companies.
The core target group includes specialists and managers at all management levels who want to acquire cross-over competencies and leadership knowledge through specific continuing education. This is offered in our new university programme Leadership in Digital Transformation as well as in our new course Digital Business Innovation Basics.
LLL Kicks Off the Online Expert Spotlights Series
Starting on March 4, 2021, we’ll be offering exciting discussions and talks with experts on the topics of digital transformation and research-based continuing education.
Stefan Vorbach (TU Graz) and Kurt Mayer (ICG) will kick off the event with a discussion on the human factor: What key competencies are needed for the digital transformation? They will look at the topic from several different angles.
Join the discussion! This event series is free of charge and will be held online.
The next Online Expert Spotlight event is coming up soon and will take place on April 8 on the topic of changes in mobility through digitalisation.
Details and registration: www.tugraz.at/go/lll-expert
Pump up your BIM: Seminar series started!
This seminar series in the form of modules has been developed in cooperation with the Civil Engineers’ Form (Ziviltechniker-Forum) and covers practical Building Information Modeling (BIM) basic information as well as different application areas.
Digitalisation entered the construction industry many years ago. Now, it’s just a matter of remaining competitive and familiarising yourself with the new standards. Building Information Modeling can be used as a tool to digitise, network, model and visualise all relevant building or structure data as a 3D model. In this way, it’s possible to optimise and clearly illustrate all processes – from planning, design and construction and on to operation and management.
The modules will be held from January to June 2021.
Details: www.tugraz.at/go/lll-bimfit
Degree options for university programmes
Depending on the duration and intensity of the course, it possible for participants to apply for different degrees.
University programme with more than 30 ECTS
The shortest form of the university programme lasts 1 to 2 semesters (part-time). If they pass all courses (including any project work), the participants receive a certificate attesting to their newly acquired competencies.
University programme with more than 60 ECTS
All participants who have successfully completed the part-time 3- to 4-semester university programme receive the title of academic expert or engineer.
Master’s programme from 90 ECTS and on
Those who participate in the part-time 5- to 6-semester university programme receive a master's degree upon successful completion (incl. master’s thesis): Depending on the content, this can be a Master of Engineering (MEng) or Master of Business Administration (MBA).
2021: Continuing Education in the TU Graz Fields of Expertise
The annual programme for 2021 provides you with an overview of the continuing education offers at TU Graz Life Long Learning.
Scientists offer their expertise in the strongest research areas at TU Graz in specific ways through continuing education. The practical implementation of this expertise plays an essential role in this process. In the annual programme, therefore, we are focussing on the TU Graz Fields of Expertise (FoE), which are also reflected in our courses and master’s programmes. We want to address the needs of individuals as well as companies that want to improve their employees’ qualifications.
NEW: Leadership in Digital Transformation, which offers individual and flexible educational tracks for technicians and non-technicians serving in key functions as well as for junior managers in all industries.
You can order a free copy of the annual programme!
