Chronicle

Historical development

1993

• June 22: Establishment of the FH system in Upper Austria.
• Establishment of the supporting association for the preparation, establishment, and maintenance of University of Applied Sciences programs in Upper Austria. Members: Province of Upper Austria, City of Wels, and Market Town of Hagenberg.
• Start of the supplementary course for technicians.
   

1994

• The market town of Hagenberg and the cities of Steyr and Wels participate in the founding, thereby supporting the province of Upper Austria.
• Adoption of the FhStg (University of Applied Sciences Act)
• Start of the first degree programs: “Automated Plant and Process Technology” (AAPT) in Wels, “Software Engineering” (SE) in Hagenberg.
   

1995

• Accreditation and launch of the FH diploma program “Production and Management Technology” in Steyr (now: Bachelor's degree program “Smart Production and Management”).
• The city of Steyr becomes the fourth member of the sponsoring association.

1996

• Start of the degree program “Media Technology and Design” in Hagenberg.

1997

• First graduation ceremony for the degree programs: “Automated Plant and Process Engineering” (AAPT) in Wels with 37 graduates “Software Engineering” (SE) in Hagenberg with 21 graduates.
• Steyr Campus: Graduation ceremony in the main building.

1998

• Under the management of Hofrat Mag. Johann Weixelbaumer, the foundations are laid for a common strategic orientation of all future locations.
• Upper Austria's first part-time and target group-specific degree program is launched: “Mechatronics and Business Management” in Wels.

1999

• Hagenberg moves into its first building.
• Launch of the “Software Engineering for Medicine” degree program at Hagenberg Campus.
• The degree programs at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria have surpassed the 1,000-student mark.

2000

• Launch of four new degree programs: in Hagenberg, “Hardware/Software Systems Engineering,” “Computer and Media Security,” “Software Engineering for Business and Finance”; in Steyr, “International Logistics Management.”

2001

• Linz becomes the fourth location and launches the “Social Work” degree program.
• Foundation of “FH OÖ Holding GmbH” (now: FH OÖ Management GmbH) from the supporting association and “FH OÖ Immobilien GmbH.”
• Five new degree programs are launched: “Bio- and Environmental Technology” and “Industrial Computer Science” (Wels), “Engineering for Computer-Based Learning” (Hagenberg), “Health Process Management” (Steyr), and “Social Work” (Linz).
• There are a total of 14 FH diploma degree programs in Upper Austria.

2002

• Exchange programs with international partner universities are established and the first incoming students are welcomed.
• Seven new degree programs are launched: 
  “Sensors and Microsystems” in Wels, “Eco-Energy Technology” in Linz, “Medical Technology,” “Social Management,” and “Social Services for People in Need of Care” in Hagenberg, ‘Bioinformatics’ in Steyr, and “e-Business” as a part-time program.
• There are a total of 21 FH diploma programs in Upper Austria.

2003

• The Bologna system is introduced, leading to the restructuring of degree programs into bachelor's and master's degrees.
• New degree programs are launched: “International Technical Sales Management” in Steyr, “Materials and Processing Technology” and “Innovation and Product Management” in Wels, “Mobile Computing” in Hagenberg as a Bachelor's degree program, and “e-Business” in Steyr is expanded. The degree programs “Media Technology and Design” and “Computer and Media Security” are transferred to the tiered Bachelor's/Master's system.
• The 28 degree programs are taken over by FH OÖ Studienbetriebs GmbH.
• The increase in research assistants and the growing demand for third-party-funded projects necessitates the founding of “FH OÖ Forschungs- und Entwicklungs GmbH.”
• The first 47 part-time students begin their studies.
• Hagenberg begins construction of the FH2 building.

2004

• Dr. Gerald Reisinger takes over as managing director of the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria and its affiliated companies.
• New term for place of study introduced as “faculty” and the function of the dean's office.
• A new degree program is launched: “Public Management” in Linz.
• Work continues on the transition of diploma programs to the bachelor's/master's system.
• A total of 33 degree programs are offered.

2005

• Two new buildings are ready: in Wels (Stelzhamerstraße) and in Linz (Garnisonstraße).
• The FH landscape in Upper Austria includes 13 FH diploma, 10 bachelor's, and 2 master's degree programs.
• A total of 3 part-time programs, 19 full-time programs, 2 mixed programs (full-time and part-time), and one target group-specific program (mechatronics/economics) are offered.
• In the 2005/06 academic year, 2,200 people completed degree programs in Upper Austria. Of these, 20% were female.

2006

• The University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria is preparing itself organizationally for a university-style organizational structure: The structural separation between academic and commercial decision-making bodies is being worked out; the strategic concept is being further developed and the design of a faculty structure has been decided:
  • Hagenberg Campus: School of Informatics, Communications, Media
  • Linz Campus: School of Health and Social Sciences (later: School of Medical Technology and Applied Social Sciences)
  • Steyr Campus: School of Management (later: School of Business and Management)
  • Wels Campus: School of Engineering and Environmental Sciences (later: School of Engineering)

2007

• The University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria offers more than 50 degree programs.
• The Transfer Center for Business Start-ups is established.
• The University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria is preparing intensively for the institutional evaluation in 2008; the structural and organizational networking of the four faculties is already well developed; the organizational structure is supplemented by the organizational units “Dean” and “Scientific Management.”

2008

• Institutional evaluation by experts and the University of Applied Sciences Council concludes that “the conditions for very positive future development are in place.”
• The University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria recorded a total of 5,037 graduates in the 2007/08 academic year.

2009

• The legislature integrates scientific continuing education at universities of applied sciences, thereby establishing the Academy for Further Education.
• The University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria celebrates its 15th anniversary.
• The University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria joins the European University Association (EUA).
• In the 2007/08 academic year, the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria offers a total of 49 degree programs and has a total of 5,980 graduates.

2010

• The University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria joins the International Association for University Presidents (IAUP). Managing Director Dr. Reisinger is elected to the Executive Committee for a term of three years, assumes responsibility for Southern and Eastern Europe, and serves as the UNESCO representative within the IAUP.
• The University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria establishes a permanent working group for gender mainstreaming and diversity management – the diversity policy is developed and approved by the extended management board.

2011

• The increased demand for IT systems and IT infrastructure leads to the founding of FH OÖ IT GmbH.
• The School of Business and Management in Steyr sets a milestone throughout Austria: The first part-time joint master's program in “Digital Business Management” is accredited and launched in cooperation between Johannes Kepler University Linz and FH Upper Austria.
• FH OÖ IT GmbH is founded with over 34 employees.

2012

• The amendment to the FhStg leads to the establishment of the collegium as an academic management and steering committee.
• The “Extended Management” is renamed “University Management” and the Presidium is installed as the decision-making body at the level of corporate officers.
• The “University Didactics” expert forum is launched with the aim of focusing on the exchange of innovative forms of teaching and learning. 

2015

• New degree programs at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria: Three new degree programs launched - Energy Informatics and Information Security Management at Hagenberg Campus and Electrical Engineering at Wels Campus.
• University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria graduate awarded doctorate sub auspiciis: Gerhard Prechtl, a graduate of the FH Upper Austria Campus Wels, was awarded a doctorate sub auspiciis and honored with the Golden Ring of Honor of the Republic by Federal President Heinz Fischer.
• State of Upper Austria invests: The State of Upper Austria plans to further expand the FH Upper Austria, in particular the faculties in Steyr and Wels.
• State Prize for Business Quality 2015: As part of its first application for the State Prize for Business Quality 2015, the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria achieved the excellence level "EFQM Recognized for Excellence *** (3 Star).

2016

• Top rankings: Six bachelor's degree programs at Wels Campus receive top ratings in the CHE university ranking.
• First dual degree program at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria launches with nine companies.
• New K1 center for food approved: The approval of the K1 center “FFoQSI – Austrian Competence Center for Food & Food Quality, Safety and Innovation” at the FH Upper Austria faculty in Wels marks another step toward expanding expertise in the food sector.
• The University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria receives the first-ever Diversity Management Award from the Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy 

2017

• The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Steyr Campus 3 takes place in Steyr.
• The degree programs at Steyr Campus are rated “very good” in the CHE ranking.
• An “Industry 4.0 test laboratory” is opened at Wels Campus. In this digital factory of the future, humans and robots work hand in hand.
• University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria is rated the best university of applied sciences in Austria by 600 industry decision-makers in the Industriemagazin ranking – for the 7th time in 9 years

2018

• The University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria is expanding with six new degree programs, bringing the total number of degree programs offered to 68.
• In Wels, ground is being broken for a new laboratory and administration building.
• Three Josef Ressel Centers are opening at FH Upper Austria: The JRZ for thermographic non-destructive testing of composite materials and the JRZ for innovative multi-body dynamics in Wels, as well as the JRZ for symbolic regression in Hagenberg, are thematically located in the Center of Excellence for Smart Production.

2019

• The 25th anniversary of the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria will be celebrated at the Palais Kaufmännischer Verein in Linz in September.
• In 2019, the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria opened three additional Josef Ressel Centers: JRZ for phytogenic active ingredient research in Wels, JRZ for real-time visualization of value creation networks – JRC LIVE in Steyr, and JRZ with adaptive optimization in dynamic environments (adaptOp) in Hagenberg.
• Seventeen Upper Austrian companies are launching the dual study program Intelligent Production Technology together with Wels Campus.
• More space for teaching and research was created in October with the opening of the FH III building on the Steyr campus.
• Completion and occupancy of the new management building at Roseggerstraße 15.
• The University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria promotes lifelong learning at the Center of Lifelong Learning (CoL³).

2020

• Shortly after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, academic operations and administration are running smoothly via online scenarios or from home offices.
• The Digitalization Center in Steyr serves as a point of contact for companies and supports teaching, research, and development at the FH Upper Austria Campus Steyr.
• The annual number of incoming students rises to 300. 

2021

• Launch of the new bachelor's degree program in Digital Arts in Hagenberg.
• Launch of the new master's degree program in Agricultural Technology and Management in Steyr.
• Renovation and expansion measures at the Wels faculty: opening of the new laboratory building and enhancement of the inner courtyard.
• Construction of the new start-up center in the old building and opening of the digitization center at the Steyr faculty.
• The University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria is the leading player in Upper Austria in FFG projects related to the Green Deal.
• Cooperative doctoral program “Human-centered Artificial Intelligence” (HCAI) of FH Upper Austria and JKU Linz.
• Launch of the certification program “Agile Management and New Work” at the Center of Lifelong Learning (CoL3) at FH Upper Austria.

2022

• Expansion plans Energy topics related to the ASIC research group in Wels and energy informatics in Hagenberg (focus on energy storage).
• Award from the Upper Austrian Council for Research and Technology for lifetime achievement to Gustav Pomberger (as a bridge builder between the University of Applied Sciences and JKU).
• Since June 2022, FH-Prof. PD DI Dr. Michael Affenzeller has been Provost of the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria.
• The new scientific director of the Hagenberg Software Park is FH-Prof. PD DI Dr. Stephan Winkler.

2023

• Increase in the number of courses offered to over 70
• Grand opening of FH OÖ DigiSpace in Steyr (a digitization center equipped with state-of-the-art technology for research and teaching)

2024

• The 30th anniversary celebration of the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria took place on October 14, 2024, at the Palais Kaufmännischer Verein in Linz under the motto “New paths – success comes to those who constantly reinvent themselves.”
• President Dr. Gerald Reisinger is retiring after 20 years, and the new leadership of the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria will be taken over by FH-Prof. DI Dr. Michael Rabl TUM (President of FH Upper Austria) and MMag. Isolde Perndl (Commercial Director) on September 1, 2024.
• Start of the “University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria 2040” strategy process, which will be led by FH-Prof. Mag. Dr. Kurt Gaubinger.
• FH-Prof. Priv.-Doz. Mag. Dr. Andreas Auinger will join the university management team on September 1, 2024, taking on the position of Vice President for Digitalization and Marketing.