Michaela Loher, Sales Lead / Microsoft Austria Azure Services

Microsoft Austria Azure Services - business/cooperation partner of the FH Upper Austria
Cooperation with the FH has existed since: 2014

The Interview 

How did you hear about the FH Upper Austria for a cooperation?

I have been in close contact with the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria since I completed my Master's degree in Digital Business Management in 2013. The synergy effects were clear for me to maintain this close connection, for example I was already active as a lecturer myself or organised a Microsoft Office visit for the students during their business trip to Lisbon.

What do you think is the strength of the FH Upper Austria?

The strength lies in the close co-operation with the business location, especially in Upper Austria of course. The company projects and work placements that students complete during their degree programme offer an excellent opportunity to join one of these companies later on or to build up a valuable network. In addition, the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria offers lecturers from the business world and is much more modern and agile than many universities in terms of course content and curricula.

What advantages do you as a company gain from the cooperation?

It is important for Microsoft that students come into contact with our cloud and AI technologies at an early stage, as they will later be the decision-makers in companies. Convincing them of the strengths of our products and solutions and offering them practical opportunities to try out the technologies at an early stage, as well as establishing good contact on a personal level, therefore seems extremely sensible to me.

What has changed for you in recent years?

My thinking has changed to the extent that I have realised how beneficial cooperation and collaboration with the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria is for Microsoft and how this could be expanded accordingly. I would like to define specific activities here together with my colleagues. There have already been some approaches in the past, but I think that in such technology-driven times, when many companies are desperately looking for IT specialists, this cooperation with a tech giant like Microsoft could be intensified, from which both sides would benefit enormously.

How do you see the FH Upper Austria today?

Absolutely positive and I look forward to many more co-operations! I can recommend the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria to others without reservation and would be delighted if we could get even more graduates from the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria at Microsoft - there are a few of them, after all

Personal comments on 30 years of FH Upper Austria

I look back on a great time as a student with unforgettable experiences and a degree programme that catapulted me into my management position at Microsoft and I am delighted that I was able to be part of the 30th anniversary of the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria as a student and lecturer for 6 years and hope for many more joint activities.