Three decades of FHV - Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences

"We are very proud of what we have achieved. The FHV has established itself to an extent that was probably considered impossible in the beginning," emphasized FHV Managing Director Stefan Fitz-Rankl on the occasion of the 30th anniversary. A pioneering group of students, lecturers and trailblazing visionaries has become a European University in just three decades. The foundation stone of the FHV was laid in 1989 with the founding of the "Technikum Vorarlberg" association. In 1994, the name was changed to "Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences" on the basis of the then newly passed University of Applied Sciences Studies Act. Today, the university is an internationally recognised institution that is also firmly anchored in the region, with 25 study programmes and 1567 students in the Departments of Engineering, Business, Design, Social Work and Health.

Around 150 guests of honor, including numerous pioneers, congratulated the university on its anniversary. Governor Markus Wallner was among them: "In just a few decades, the FHV has grown from a 'study experiment' into a European university - a beacon for Vorarlberg as a location for education and business. Its central tasks as a first-class source of skilled workers and leading research partner for local Business and Management as well as international networking are also the focus of its future orientation. With the ongoing major project to expand and renovate the infrastructure, in which we are investing a total of around 50 million euros, we are setting the course for the future at Campus V. We are also focusing on the further development of cooperation with the University of St.Gallen and within the RUN-EU network."

Shaping the future

Fitz-Rankl looked ahead: "We continue to pursue the goal of developing the FHV into a university of European importance, further strengthening research within the university and at our research companies, and further expanding our internationalization. So we still have plenty of goals and ambitions for the next 30 years. State Governor Schöbi-Fink added: "The celebration of our 30th anniversary marks not only three decades of growth and innovation, but also the commitment of Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences to providing education and research at the highest level. This special event recognizes the achievements of our students, lecturers and partners who have worked together to realize our vision of future-oriented and practical studies. Looking ahead to the next 30 years, we remain determined to actively shape the opportunities and challenges of the future."

Students Week and General Assembly

There have been numerous milestones on the FHV's successful path, such as its consistent internationalization since 1997, the establishment of the four research centres and three research groups, the cooperation with the "Strong Partners" since 2014 and the founding of the European University (RUN-EU) in 2020. The university alliance consists of eight universities in rural areas. This week, the FHV hosted the International Students Week and the General Assembly of the European University with around 300 international guests. While 130 students worked on sustainable solutions for current challenges in workshops and then presented them, numerous representatives of RUN-EU worked on the further development of the university alliance. Marijana Milosevic, RUN-EU project manager at the FHV, had a positive summary: "The atmosphere was fantastic and the European spirit was palpable. My personal highlight was the strong collegial cohesion and the lived solidarity of the FHV colleagues, who made this week possible and designed it through their commitment." Networking with students As part of the "Meet the region" event during the event week, networking between students and Vorarlberg companies and stakeholders was on the agenda. The associated RUN-EU partners include the state of Vorarlberg, WISTO, the Vorarlberg Federation of Industry and CampusVäre. "The General Assembly of the European University is proof of the high status that the FHV has achieved in the three decades since it was founded," emphasized Fitz-Rankl. Many helping hands were involved in the planning and implementation of the week of events, which culminated in the 30th anniversary celebrations and the campus party for staff, students and alumni. "We owe them a big thank you for their great commitment and the successful implementation of the RUN-EU event week and the 30th anniversary celebration," concluded Fitz-Rankl.

More about the exciting history of the FHV HERE