Hands-on Studies
Engineering in Action: Learning by Doing at Wels Campus
At the School of Engineering of the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, engineering is not something you only learn from textbooks - it is something you experience.
Projects & Lab exercise
From the early semesters, students work on real company-sponsored projects, apply theory in laboratories, and gain practical experience in industrial environments.
Projects cover a wide range of topics, from product and heating system development to market analyses, innovation management, safety concepts, and AI-based business models. Students strengthen not only technical expertise but also creativity, teamwork, communication, and entrepreneurial skills.
Close cooperation with industry
Close cooperation with leading companies and research institutions is a key element of all programs. In Automotive Mechatronics and Management, for example, students collaborate with partners such as BRP-Rotax, Magna, Bosch, Rosenbauer, and ZKW through projects, lectures, field trips, and research activities.
Mandatory internships
Most engineering degrees also include mandatory internships, allowing students to apply their knowledge in professional settings, build networks, and gain valuable industry experience. Graduates leave with practical project portfolios, industry contacts, and the confidence to contribute from day one.
Interesting Examples of Project Work
Raiffeisen Bank
The goal of the project was to improve the implementation of innovation into daily business operations at Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich. Based on their findings, students developed clear recommendations, like stronger ownership and decision structures, dedicated time and resources for innovation projects, and earlier involvement of operational teams, which resulted in a more structured and successful framework for realization of innovation initiatives.
Development of a 60KW Pulse Density Modulation Induction Heater
Induction heating is a very important industrial process nowadays used to melt or heat metal parts for applications like casting, forging, or hardening. The goal of the bachelor's project of the student Moritz Hillinger was to develop a compact and powerful induction heating system that outperforms competitor products in terms of volume and weight power density. This was achieved by the usage of a resonant converter which gets controlled using Pulse Density Modulation, as this method leads to a large reduction of semiconductor switching losses in the system.
Trafility
The goal of the project was to explore how artificial intelligence can improve internal knowledge access and efficiency in traffic planning projects at Trafility GmbH. Students analysed the company’s existing knowledge management challenges and developed a prototype concept for an AI-powered, queryable knowledge database based on retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) principles.
EE-students develop unique arc loudspeaker
The two electrical engineering master's students Bence Schmuck and Moritz Hillinger have made a fascinating invention. The two have developed an arc loudspeaker in their living room that is operated with high voltage. An arc loudspeaker generates sound waves through an electric arc. The students used high voltage to create a tiny arc between two electrodes. By modulating the arc with the music, the air heats up in time with the music and produces sound waves with the same sounds as the music. The innovation lies not only in the technology, but also in the creativity of the students, who implemented the project in their living room using recycled components.
PIA
The goal of the project was to analyse donation behaviour in Austria in recent years, identify key trends, and understand how these trends have evolved over time. Based on these insights, students developed a tailored fundraising concept for the NGO, including strategic recommendations to improve donor engagement, and designed a trophy to recognize and motivate its largest sponsors.
Electric Vehicle Drive Train Thermal Modeling for Controller Hardware in the Loop Testing
Mechatronic systems produce heat, and may burn-out or even catch fire. Therefore, temperature modeling is critical in the design process. The goal of this bachelor’s thesis of Reily Janson was to model the temperature of the drivetrain, primarily the motor and inverter, of an electric vehicle. A very powerful technique for thermal modeling is to consider the system as a thermal circuit with resistors and capacitors; in fact, most physical systems can be understood by this analogy. In this way, the circuit can be simplified and solved by the same rules as electric circuits. In the end, we obtain sets of differential equations. By coupling these into multi-physics systems, we can describe the entire world around us mathematically.
Life Tool
The goal of the project was to develop an innovative solution that enhances safety for water sports enthusiasts and swimmers. By blending technical expertise, user-centered design, and strategic thinking, the project addressed critical risks in aquatic environments, aiming to save lives.
The Development and Testing of a High Output Voltage DC-DC Converter
The goal of the bachelor's project of Bence Schmuck was to create a small form factor high voltage power supply that would lead RECOM Power GmbH into the high voltage DC/DC converter market. Such a small, 1” x 2” footprint PCB mountable power supply could be used for a variety of different applications ranging from medical applications to electrostatic research. The developed power supply was aimed to outperform the existing competitors in total power output, power density and controllability. This was done by developing a small but powerful buck converter input stage, followed by a resonant converter and a voltage multiplier output stage. This way an easily and precisely adjustable high voltage output was achieved. This project was funded and owned by RECOM Engineering GmbH in Gmunden and it was carried out by the students Bence Schmuck in close collaboration with Moritz Hillinger.
RUFF Golf
The goal of the project was to assess the market potential for an innovative minigolf concept in Austria. Combining market research and analytical skills, students designed and conducted a survey to test the feasibility of the proposed indoor minigolf concept, providing essential data for RUFF's strategic decisions.
Podcast The Agile Way
The goal of the project was to create a concept and produce the initial episodes of a podcast targeting innovation managers, R&D managers, and agile coaches. Integrating marketing expertise with agile competencies, students launched an interview-style podcast for the Institute for Agile Transformation, which has since attracted a wide audience of companies and consultants.
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