30 years of FH Upper Austria, Campus Steyr
What began in 1995 with 48 students has grown into one of the top management faculties in the German-speaking region. Around 1,400 students from across the globe study at FH Upper Austria, Campus Steyr, which offers three English-taught programs and strong business links.
We have shaped the university of applied sciences sector in Austria with our focus on quality and research. Three decades after the first courses were held, the faculty in Steyr is one of the most renowned training centres for business and management in the entire German-speaking region, and we have recently been rated twice in a row as Austria's leading management university of applied sciences in the CHE ranking
Heimo Losichler
Dean of FH OÖ Campus Steyr
More than 7,400 alumni - and impressive careers
When the first pioneers graduated from the Faculty of Business and Management at the Upper Austrian University of Applied Sciences in Steyr in 1999, it was a milestone. Today, more than 25 years later, the campus has over 7,400 graduates - many of them in top positions in business and industry. You can find more career stories on our Wall of Faces.
1.400 students
14 degree programs
7.400 Alumni
The journey through time: Foundation and history of the FH OÖ Campus Steyr
The Steyr Campus of the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria is located in the halls and buildings of the former Hack company in the Wehrgraben district of Steyr. Until the 1980s, the cutlery manufacturer (Steyrer Werke, Hack-Werke) was successfully operating there.
Image: Steyr’s Wehrgraben 100 years ago
In 1992, a working committee FH Steyr was founded. An initial concept was developed. (from left to right): Dr Christoph Leitl, Mayor Hermann Leithenmayr and Dr Herbert Jodlbauer.
In October 1995, the first FH degree programme in Production and Management starts in Steyr with 48 students. The first team in the founding year was small, from left to right: Heimo Losbichler, Fritz Miecke, Martina Neuhauser, Herbert Jodlbauer.
The first students were housed in the Steyrer Vereinsdrucker (owned by Ennsthaler). The rooftop ceremony took place in 1997 and the University of Applied Sciences moved into the new premises in August 1998. There were 2 large and 3 small lecture halls with a few seminar and IT rooms.
The pioneers! It took four years to complete an FH diploma programme. In 1999, the first graduates of the Production and Management degree programme celebrated their graduation as "Diplomingenieur (FH)".
Further degree programmes followed:
2000: International Logistics Management
2001: Process Management Health now: Process Management and Business Intelligence
2002: E-Business Now: Marketing and Digital Business
2003: International Technical Sales Management now: Global Sales and Marketing
2006: Supply Chain Management
2007: Controlling, Accounting and Financial Management
2011: Digital Business Management, Austria's first joint master's programme (FH Upper Austria and JKU)
2018: Digital Transport and Logistics Management
The devastating floods in August 2002 caused damage to the University of Applied Sciences with a cost of 2 million euros. In an incredible clean-up and renovation campaign, the building was successfully drained and repaired in the following weeks, so that the university was able to reopen on 10 October 2002.
The newly constructed FH II building was opened in 2004. All diploma programmes were also converted to the new Bologna system (Bachelor, Master, doctorate).
2006: Foundation of the "Logistikum Steyr"
2008: Start of the first all-English degree programme and ‘Trara’ 1,000 students are already enrolled in Steyr.
2010 - 99% of the graduates are employed (annual evaluation, continuously top employment rate since then)
2016 - Foundation of the Institute for Smart Production (now: Centre of Excellence for Smart Production).
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new FH Upper Austria Campus Steyr III took place on October 20, 2017.
With the new FH Upper Austria Campus Steyr III, a total of 11,300m² of space for teaching and research has been created since autumn 2019. By 2019, around 5,000 students had graduated from one of the twelve degree programs offered.
The Chimney Award is the most important award of the FH Upper Austria Faculty of Business and Management. Seven graduates with outstanding academic success and the most innovative theses have been honoured with the traditional Chimney Award every year since 1999.
The legendary Boatmania at the FH Upper Austria Campus Steyr is 23 YEARS old! Organised by the ÖH campus team since 1999, a competition for the most creative ‘boat’ design and party is held every year.
The Career Festival at Campus Steyr has been legendary since 2021 with an all-in-one programme for students: Career fair, semester opening party and after-party at Röda.
The Josef Ressel Centre for Data Driven Business Model Innovation under the direction of FH-Prof. DI Dr. Herbert Jodlbauer, Center of Excellence for Smart Production, Production and Operations Management, was established in January 2023. Pöttinger Landtechnik GmbH, Tiger Coatings GmbH and Miba AG act as partners, with the Christian Doppler Research Association acting as funding body.
In October 2023, the Josef Ressel Centre for Predictive Value Network Intelligence (PREVAIL) opened under the direction of FH-Prof. Dr Patrick Brandtner, BA MA MSc at the Logistikum of the FH Upper Austria Campus Steyr. With Blum, Internorm and Vaillant, the centre is cooperating with three renowned corporate partners. The new research centre is funded by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Economics (BMAW).
Already 7,400 alumni can celebrate their successful graduation from the Faculty of Business & Management at FH Upper Austria, Campus Steyr.
The FH Upper Austria DigiSpace at the Management Faculty in Steyr in the Museum Arbeitswelt is a space of digital possibilities where companies and students can experience and shape the potential of the digitalisation of companies in an area of 500 m². Specifically, the focus is on the economic utilisation of digital technologies and the role of management in the successful design and implementation of digital strategies in companies. The digitalisation centre was designed by Professor Michael Shamiyeh, Head of the Center for Future Design at the University of Art and Design Linz, and implemented by Hertl.Architekten. The official opening took place in April 2023.
From 1 to 14 - study diversity made in Steyr
It all started in 1995 with one degree programme - today there are 14 business bachelor's and master's programmes to choose from... how the degree programmes available at Campus Steyr have developed over 30 years!
3 English-taught degree programs
16 Double Degree / 1 Triple Degree
130 partner universities worldwide
Top quality in research and teaching
This is something we are proud of: FH Upper Austria Campus Steyr has once again been recognised as the best university of applied sciences for management in Austria in 2023/2024 - a great demonstration of our strong combination of practice-oriented teaching and excellent research.
Over 120 academic employees work on more than 100 research projects every year. Our focus areas: Management and digitalisation, logistics, controlling, global sales, agricultural innovation and much more.
With the “Logistikum”, the Centre of Excellence for Smart Production, two Josef Ressel Centres and the DigiSpace, we offer a research environment in which innovation is put into practice - together with companies, students and partners from the region and beyond.
120 research assistants
Over 100 research projects
R&D turnover Steyr 2004 to 2024: 73 million euros
Strong business partnerships - by conviction
Being close to business is not just a keyword in Steyr, but a living reality. Co-operations with international companies, practice-oriented projects, part-time study models and applied research create synergies that benefit students, companies and the region. This is also confirmed by leading business representatives:
Excellent job prospects for our alumni
The strong cooperation with the economy is also reflected in the employment rate: For over 15 years, the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria has been analysing the employment rate of Steyr graduates together with the AMS - with consistently outstanding results. Job opportunities are consistently excellent. Many students receive several job offers during their studies, often via internships during their bachelor's degree programme. The latest AMS evaluation from January 2025 confirms once again that students studying in Steyr have excellent prospects. More than 99.5% of all graduates have a job.
That was the ‘30th’ gala
...with the celebrating guests...
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