What is your vision for Salzburg University of Applied Sciences?
My goal is to use our strengths to make our degree programmes even better, to promote internationalisation and introduce more courses in English. The broad scope of our work gives us the opportunity to address the big issues facing our society from a range of different perspectives. We want to expand this interdisciplinarity even more.
How is the University of Applied Sciences positioned within Salzburg's academic landscape – and in which direction should it progress?
Here at the University of Applied Sciences, we are in a very strong position. We are the people who can understand the theory, show how it is applicable and then teach and research it in a practical way. We have a very clear focus on research and teaching that is relevant in practice. No-one else does that and we are increasingly being recognised for it in the region.
As the university develops, will it be all about growth or about focussing more strongly on certain issues such as sustainability?
We can't continue to grow at the current rate. That's partly to do with demographics - some low birth years are coming through - and also lots of new opportunities for education and training have opened up around us. But of course there are areas in which we want to grow. We will look at our range of courses systematically and consider where we could make ourselves more attractive. One example is our new degree programme in Cyber Security, where we have extensive expertise. We are in the process of separating this area out from an existing IT degree programme and offering it as an independent programme.
Growth needs money – how is the university fixed for funding?
Our sector is under pressure like every other. The funding of university places is not automatically index-linked, and that hits us hard. However, the state of Salzburg is a very supportive partner, especially in our research.
With degree programmes and research areas ranging from Health Studies and Forest Products Technology to MultiMediaArt and Cyber Security, Salzburg University of Applied Sciences has a very broad spread. Is that an advantage or a disadvantage?
Our broad scope enables us to look at subjects from many different perspectives. The Cyber Security degree programme also discusses ethical questions, Nursing students use digital options in their work and the Forest Products Technology students work closely with Biomedical Science. It all gives rise to exciting new debates and projects. That's very inspiring for us and our students and it's what makes us unique.
Which target group will your master programme in Cyber Security be aimed at?
Primarily people with a technical background who are looking to specialise in cyber security within the framework of their master studies. But the content of the curriculum goes far beyond the purely technical. When there's a hacker attack, you need more than just technical know-how. It's a lot about crisis communication. I think the course will also be interesting for people who have already been working in that field for a while. That's why we are going to make studying for the master programme compatible with employment.
What makes the new degree programme special?
My vision is to offer a firm grounding in IT security, supplemented by extra subjects such as communication. We will also discuss ethical issues on the course and simulate some complex cases. More and more businesses – including in manufacturing and in critical infrastructure – are going digital, so that opens up new areas which are liable to attack and must be safeguarded. That requires people with a grasp of cyber security.
When will the course begin?
We're expecting to launch it properly in autumn 2024. But even in the coming 2023 academic year, students can specialise in cyber security as part of our IT degree master programme. Then they should be able to switch to the full Master's in Cyber Security.
Artificial intelligence is one of the big topics for the future. What is the university's approach to an app like ChatGPT?
At first glance, it appears to be a major challenge. You can use the app to write a seminar paper at the press of a button. We have set up a working group to look into it. I am of the opinion that bans don't work. What's always crucial is to talk to the students who are writing a paper. You can soon tell how deeply someone has studied a subject. Even in the past there were always people who used dishonest methods. But if someone doesn't understand the detail of their work, that's very obvious.
What were the major milestones in 2022, and what big projects and changes are in store for Salzburg University of Applied Sciences in 2023?
Last year, the most important step was the decision to restructure the organisation and set up six departments. We have been busy implementing that since the autumn, so the different areas are reorganising themselves and we have advertised for Heads of the specialist departments. The restructuring is taking shape, but it will continue to preoccupy us this year, too. The changes mean that teaching, research and admin departments will work more closely together. I'm starting to sense that people are excited about the fresh start.
Sustainability, switching to renewable energy sources, climate change: what contribution can Salzburg University of Applied Sciences make to solving the big questions of our time?
There are no easy answers to the climate crisis, it needs to be tackled in a systematic, interdisciplinary way. Our subject areas look at it from different perspectives and this gives rise to some exciting projects and a very wide range of opinions. There are some degree programmes like Forest Products Technology & Timber Construction, Smart Building and Design & Product Management which focus very strongly on aspects of sustainability and the circular economy and are very innovative.
How many graduates do you have each year, and what are their job prospects?
Around 800 students complete their studies each year. The demand for them in the jobs market is extremely high. Many of our students are recruited by companies while they are still studying. That's why we also offer programmes, for example in Business Management, IT, Smart Building and Social Sciences, which enable them to complete their degree alongside employment.
In Health Studies and Nursing, the number of places available has increased in recent semesters. What is the demand like for those places?
The course is very popular but we do still need to try even harder to make a career in nursing more attractive. There are also some legal changes that need to be discussed so that the graduates are allowed to do all the things in practice that they have learnt here. We have grown from 80 students starting the academic year in 2017 to 200 places a year now. The places are over 80% taken, so, given the rapid increase in the numbers, we're very pleased. With the care allowance (currently 600 euros per month) that has been granted since autumn 2022, the demand will only rise further.
Everyone is complaining about a shortage of specialists. How easy or difficult is it for Salzburg University of Applied Sciences to attract teaching staff from industry?
Luckily, that's less of a problem for us. There are many people who find it very satisfying to share their expertise with young people by teaching at the university of applied sciences.
If a young person looking for a suitable course were to ask you what really makes Salzburg University of Applied Sciences stand out – what would you say?
Students here are given truly personalised support. With our practical teaching and research, we provide a framework in which young people can develop their talents. As a graduate of FH Salzburg, all doors are open to you: you can enter employment straight after the successful completion of your degree, go on to do a master programme with specialisation, or write a doctoral thesis. Our graduates cover a wide spectrum from successful company founders to university professors.