Project Marketplace

FHV students present real life projects

Press release from 29 April 2010  "Project Marketplace" demonstrates the successful collaboration between the FH Vorarlberg and the economy.

Students in the fourth semester of International Business Administration along with eight companies presented the results of their project work today. Starting with real life tasks, the students work out solutions and concepts in the area of logistics and corporate process management. The eight-week real-life projects give the students insights into businesses and facilitate the authentic implementation of the methods learned in the degree programme. "The project partners are very satisfied with the results. This once again confirms the high standard of our education and the good collaboration with the economy," says Professor Werner Manahl, who is responsible for the course.

For eight weeks, the students worked in companies. The project partners included the Dornbirn health services, Grass GmbH, Mäser Tableware Solutions, Müller Glas, Schott forma vitrum ag, Symphonieorchester Vorarlberg (Vorarlberg Symphony Orchestra), Zech Fenster and Zumtobel AG. For each of the projects, there was a clear company assignment. At Glass Müller it was the question: What is cheaper? Outsourcing transport services to a carrier or purchasing company lorries? "Over the first few weeks, we entered all the data. Only then could we prepare the actual comparison and consider the costs," explains Seher Kartal, one of the six students working on this project. "The tool that we developed will also be used at Glas Müller in the future."

Kerstin Schnell from the company Grass was also enthusiastic about the outcome of the project: "Our collaboration was exceptional. The students quickly understood the business processes and prepared a very good solution. We will superimpose a follow-up project on the results now."

The project marketplace shows the impressive real-life orientation of training at the FH Vorarlberg and the close contacts that students can make with companies during the degree programme.

Other quotes from participating companies

Marc Kriessler, managing director at Mäser Tableware Solutions: "I consider the idea of practical projects to be excellent. This way the students learn to professionally implement and present projects. I am very satisfied with the results from our project."

Jörn Thimm, Supply Chain Manager Schott forma vitrum: "The students did exceptional work. The results helped us cut this area’s article portfolio in half and thus save costs."

Eduard Konzett, President of the Vorarlberg Symphony Orchestra: "As a corporate consultant, I know how important it is that employees not only have professional knowledge, but also are able to launch things. In such projects, the students learn these important abilities."