–
Academic success ensured despite Corona; growth in teaching and research; University of Applied Sciences: 38.9 million operating performance; 2.2 million investments
Salzburg/Puch (OTS) – Today (09.02.2022), the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences successfully took stock of the past financial year (=academic year; from September 01, 2020 to August 31, 2021): Operating performance and research volumes were increased. The increase in the demand from applicants (3,364; in the previous year there were 3,255) for the 1,087 beginner study places was also pleasing. New study programmes, a plus in research and a number of awards underline the positive development.
The development of numbers
The most important key figures from the past academic year 2020/21: 12,013 graduates (previous year: 11,109), 3,097 students (2,852), 407 employees (399) and 963 external lecturers (970) – the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences has a high relevance for Salzburg as a science and business location.
With the current academic year 2021/22, around 3,200 students from 49 nations are completing their academic training at one of the four FH Salzburg locations (Campus Urstein, Campus Kuchl, Campus SALK, Campus Schwarzach). A good third of them in technical courses. Again, almost a third of the students complete the training on a part-time basis. With a total of 163 partner universities worldwide and on all continents, Salzburg University of Applied Sciences has attractive opportunities for its students abroad.
The Corona year 2020/21: Challenging for students and teachers, but successful
The pandemic has also shaped the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences in the past academic year. Excursions, conferences, symposia, sponsons, the career fair Contacta or information events had to be cancelled or mostly held online.
Doris Walter, Managing Director: “Lectures and exams were again held in online or hybrid mode; the employees in teaching, research and administration worked for longer periods in the home office. In the non-substitutable face-to-face events and examinations, everyone adhered to the strict hygiene measures. The completion of the semesters could be guaranteed thanks to the flexibility of all participants.“
Digital teaching formats
University of Applied Sciences Rector Gerhard Blechinger: “The changeover was a challenge for the students, but despite the changed methods, they did not lose a semester, the level of learning was maintained. Thus, in the last academic year, a total of more than 900 graduates were able to celebrate their graduation.“
“Nevertheless, we still do not want to become a Fern-FH. Studying also means the development of social skills, social interaction and interdisciplinary cooperation. Therefore, we are already looking forward to hopefully being able to work with our students on site again very soon,“ adds Blechinger.
Stable economic situation
Managing Director Raimund Ribitsch: “We are on solid economic footing. In addition to academic development, maintaining profitability and positive financial development are important to us. Operating performance increased to EUR 38.9 million in the past financial year (after EUR 35.7 million in the previous year); the investment volume amounted to EUR 2.2 million (after EUR 7.2 million – the enormous one-off increase in 2019/20 was primarily due to the acquisition of buildings and building rights at the Kuchl campus).
New degree program ‘Business Informatics’
Gerhard Blechinger is satisfied with the academic development: “In 2020, the new master’s program ‘Business Informatics’ started, building on the bachelor’s program ‘Business Informatics & Digital Transformation’, which was successfully launched three years ago. Here, the urgently needed experts for digital transformation are trained, at the interface between IT and business administration.“
Expansion of health science courses
“The corona pandemic has once again shown how important well-trained personnel are in the health professions. The Salzburg University of Applied Sciences can meet this growing demand with additional places in the Health & Nursing and Biomedical Analytics degree programs,“ says Raimund Ribitsch, stressing the importance of the health science degree programs. The growth also led to new infrastructure – for example, a total of 1,800 m2 was rented in the neighboring Wissenspark Urstein for the expansion of nursing care.
The first address for applied research
Almost 100 R&D projects per year and a large number of scientific publications reflect the research skills of the FH scientists. Research volumes amounted to EUR 4.8 million in 2020/21 (after EUR 4.7 million in the previous year).
Roald Steiner, University of Applied Sciences Vice Rector for Research: “With its wide range of topics, Salzburg University of Applied Sciences is the first address for applied research, which has an impact far beyond the location through many national and international cooperations. The high level of competence in research is reflected in the excellence of teaching and makes the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences an important player in the Salzburg innovation system. The current portfolio with a focus on sustainability and digitalization includes, for example, the development of innovative methods for innovative recycling and thus new added value from wood waste. Another model of current research is the Digital Innovation Hub West (DIH West) dar. The DIH West is a new transnational cooperation for the transfer of knowledge between location agencies, interest groups and research institutions from Salzburg, Tyrol and Vorarlberg. He supports SMEs in Western Austria in their digital transformation through consultations, coaching and further training opportunities. The focus is on manufacturing companies and companies from tourism, trade and commerce.“
Knowledge transfer: New magazine “why!«
Also new is the magazine of the FH Salzburg with the title “why!“. It offers insights into teaching and research, shows what the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences is working on and doing research – in relevant topics such as health, sustainability, digitization or society. “why” is synonymous with asking, the call sign for the pursuit of answers and solutions.
Questions & Contact:
University of Applied Sciences Salzburg GmbH
Sigi Kämmerer
University Communication & Marketing, Press Officer
0676/847795502
media outlets@fh-salzburg.ac.at
www.fh-salzburg.ac.at
–
