Dornbirn (VLK) – Today, Friday, September 6, 2024, the Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences celebrated its 30th anniversary with a party. With the anniversary, the university looked back on an eventful past and focused on an innovative and bold future. “The development from a ‘study experiment’ to a European university with vision is impressive and its importance as a center for research and innovation is unbroken,” agreed Governor Markus Wallner and State Governor Barbara Schöbi-Fink.
From what was once a “study experiment”, the FHV has now developed into a model educational institution: over 1,500 students are trained in 25 courses in the areas of business, technology, design, social sciences and health. It now has 400 employees – 70 percent of whom work in the academic sector – and organizes more than a hundred events every year, most of which are public.
The FHV enjoys an excellent reputation far beyond the country’s borders – both in the training of specialists and in research partnerships with companies. In Austria, it has long been one of the universities of applied sciences with the strongest research activities.
“Its pioneering spirit of innovation and leading research activity make the Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences an indispensable institution in the local educational landscape. The economic location and the further development of the region benefit enormously from its teachers, students and graduates,” emphasized Governor Wallner.
A look at an eventful history
The campus celebration for the anniversary was all about the development from the former “study experiment” to the center of the region’s educational location. Founded in 1989 as the “Technikum Vorarlberg” association, the Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences was launched in 1994 with ten employees and 45 students. The newly renamed “Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences Study Programs” was quickly able to establish itself as an active educational and research institution.
“With now over 7,000 alumni, the University of Applied Sciences in Dornbirn is one of the great success stories in the country. As an active partner of the economic and educational region of Vorarlberg, it can be relied upon. We are proud of this unique development,” said Governor Wallner.
Closing Remarks der General Assembly Week
Under the motto “The Future starts now”, around 300 international guests gathered this week for the RUN-EU general assembly at the FHV to address the challenges and opportunities of the future in workshops and programs. State Governor Schöbi-Fink delivered the following words at the closing event, which took place immediately before the FHV’s 30th anniversary celebrations: “Face-to-face with the future with courage and a spirit of innovation is essential for the further development of society. It is therefore all the more important that the bright minds of tomorrow meet here in Dornbirn to have the necessary vision for the future.”
The “Regional University Network – European University” (RUN-EU for short) is a cross-border alliance of eight European universities in rural areas. Since 2020, the Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences has also been a founding member of the association. RUN-EU aims to share skills and experiences across borders and organizes joint courses for students, further training for employees or international research groups.
