History of the University of Applied Sciences in Vorarlberg

• 1989: set up of the group "Technical school, Vorarlberg". Dornbirn thus becomes the cradle of Austrian Applied Science Universities.

Senior education adviser OStR Prof. DI Paul Ulmer is appointed as first managing director and director. He is succeeded by director Markus Linhart as managing director.

• 1992: Start of the 'Applied Science University degree pilot course in automated production' together with the technical University in Graz. Location: Höchsterstraße.

• 1993: the University of Applied Science degree course law is passed. This guarantees the further development of Applied Science Universities in Austria.

• 1994: Name change from "Technical school, Vorarlberg" to "University of Applied Science degree courses, Vorarlberg".

"automated production" starts as University degree course with 45 students. Staff number: 10

• 1995: Start of second degree course "Business process and project management (BPPM) "

The first departments "Technology", "Business“, "Industrial methods" and "IT“  are set up .

The first overall concept is agreed.

Entry procedure is developed.

• 1996: Start of third degree course "InterMedia". Location: Achstraße.

The first 31 graduates complete their course 'Applied Science University degree course in automated production' and gain the academic title "Dipl.-Ing. (FH)“ .

The first cooperation agreements with three European Universities abroad overseas are signed.

The works council is set up.

• 1997: Set up of "Applied Science University courses Vorarlberg GmbH“, owner federal-state Vorarlberg.

Start of student mobility: for the first time 14 students spend a semester abroad; two guest students from abroad study in Vorarlberg.

• 1998: Set up of equal opportunities office.

The first 24 graduates successfully complete the applied science University degree course "production automation" and are awarded the academic title "Dipl.-Ing. (FH) ".

The third managing director is appointed: Dr. Wolfgang Kremser.

• 1999: University of Applied Science status is granted and the University is named "Fachhochschule Vorarlberg GmbH".

The first 40 graduates complete the degree course "Business process and project management (BPPM)" and are awarded the academic title “Mag. (FH) ".

Comprehensive organisational development:

• Profiles of degree courses and knowledge pool (formerly specialist departments) are sharpened up:
• International Office is set up.
• Assessment procedure is further developed.
  
  

Set up of the ALUMNI-graduate Association.

Library is opened.

“newway award“ given for the first time.

Election of the first Applied Science University Council. 

Appointment of first Rector: Dr.-Ing. Guntram Feurstein.

• 2000: Start of the fourth degree course "iTec - Information and Communication Engineering".

Further education section: start of the first part-time further training and Master’s program (course of University standard) "IPD - Integrated Product Development“.

• 2001: Start of the fifth degree course "International Business Administration“, part-time. This is the first time an part-time degree course is on offer.

Further education: start of the extra occupational NDS/MBA-Programme "IM -  International Management" in cooperation with the University of Applied Science in Liechtenstein. This start of the part-time course with University character "IT-network management".

The new R and D committee set up by the Council produces an R and D plan, defines processes and assessment criteria and documents projects.

The University of Applied Science joins University of Applied Science Corporation, Constance University of Applied Science (IBH).
Introduction of TQM based on EFQM.

The fourth managing director is appointed: Mag. Kurt Koleznik.

• 2002: Start of the 6th course "Social work".

Set up of "Fachhochschule Vorarlberg Forschung GmbH".

Election of second Rector: Prof. (FH) Dr. Oskar Müller.

• 2003: Completion of strategy 2003 "The University of Applied Science in Vorarlberg - the path taken by the University farm a special Austrian solution into European scientific region". Comprehensive, strategic refocusing in both teaching and research under the auspices of a concept until 2007. Introduction of personnel development plan.

Remodelling of direction based on the 2003 strategy.

Extensive funding from the EFRE- and FHplus-programs.

Held first "uDay" and "microtechnology days" under the auspices of "Vorarlberg university days“.

Award " Austrian state ties for multimedia and e-business“.

• 2004: Adaptation of degree courses to Bologna conforming Bachelor and Master's degrees (exception: social work). Thus the Bachelor degrees in Mechatronics, Business and Commerce full-time, Business studies full-time, Business studies, part-time, Media and design and IT start for the first time.

Start of the new part-time Bachelor course "Engineering".

Introduction of the foreign language plan with extended language courses on offer.

Further education: start of transborder, part-time further education and Master's program (University style course) "Micro- and Nanotechnology".

Set up of three research centres "micro-electronics (FZ-MT) ", "user centred technologies (FZ-UCT)" and "Product and process engineering (FZ-PPE) ".

Conversion of "Fachhochschule Vorarlberg Forschung GmbH" to the child-centre "VResearch". The University has a 49% stake in this.

Set up of "Micro-and nano technology network EUREGIO Lake Constance".

The first research report "summary0304" is published.

Introduction of strategic targets in connection with staff appraisals and target agreements.

Start of the lecture series Start "Being an entrepreneur today" and "Getting a grip on product development".

Set up of the Association "JUMP - Joint University Mobility Platform" to support the promotion of student mobility.

First award of the "Socrates quality seal".
Award "Federal Ministry of education, science and culture, award of honour" 
Award "Goldene Nica" at Ars Electronica.

• 2005: Construction completion at Campus Vorarlberg, building extension of the University. Location: Hochschulstraße.

Start of University for children Vorarlberg.

Second research report "summary0506" is published.

Award "ECTS-Label" and "Sokrates quality seal".
Award "Diploma Supplement Label".

Appointment of third Rector: Prof. (FH) DI Rudi Feurstein.

• 2006: Hofen Castle becomes 100% subsidiary of the University.

Award "Federal Ministry of education, science and culture, award of honour"

Award "Sokrates quality seal".

Appointment of fifth managing director: Dr. Vaheh Khachatouri.

• 2007: Adapting the degree course in Social work to the Bachelor and Master's structure.

Start of the Master’s courses in "Mechatronics", "Business studies, part-time", "InterMedia part-time" and "IT".

Start of the Master’s modular library.

10 years after the introduction of student mobility 93 students are studying for a semester at a partner university abroad and 102 exchange students are doing their semester abroad at the FH Vorarlberg.

The German language PBL-Congress is held at the FH Vorarlberg.

Award "Federal Ministry of education, science and culture, award of honour"
Award "E-Quality Label".

• 2008: The further education department along with the further education programs NDS/MBA-Program are spun off and relocated to Hofen Castle.

The first 173 bachelor graduates successfully complete their course with the academic title "Bachelor of Science in Engineering, BSc", "Bachelor of Arts in Business, BA" and "Bachelor of Arts in Arts and Design, BA".

15 November 2008 the number of students exceeds the 1000 mark for the first time. There are exactly one thousand female students (40%) and male students (60%) at the FH Vorarlberg.

Start of a further extensive strategy development process for the next decade.

"LifeLongLearning Award" for the high quality in planning and implementation of student mobility in the Erasmus program.

Appointment of the sixth managing director: Dr. Hedwig Natter.

Re-election of the Rector: Prof. (FH) DI Rudi Feurstein.

• 2009: Successful re-accreditation of the Bachelor degrees "Mechatronics", "Engineering", "IT" (new title: "IT software and Information Engineering"), "Business studies" full-time and part-time (new title: "International business studies full-time and part-time"), "Media and design" (new title: "InterMedia").

The first 92 Master’s graduates successfully complete their course with the academic title "Master of Science in Engineering, MSc", "Master of Arts in Business, MA" and "Master of Arts in Arts and Design, MA".

Student mobility: the University has cooperation agreements with 114 Universities in 24 European countries and also in North, Central and South America, Asia, Africa and Australia.

Further education: start of the part-time further education program "Location and regional management" (University-style course).

Completion of the strategy 2009-2015.

Refocusing the direction based on the strategy 2009-2015.

Set up of Josef Ressel-centre.

Anniversaries

• 20 years Vorarlberg technical Association

• 15 years university degree courses

• 10 years FH Vorarlberg

First award of the "Blum-Prize" and "Hilti-promotion prize".
"Lifelong Learning Award"

• 2010: Start of the part-time Master’s degree "Social work ".

Further education: start of part-time further educational program "video journalism and video design for TV, online and PR" (University style course).