Voices from professional life
Mag. (FH) Sandra Wohlgenannt studied Social Work at the FH Vorarlberg.
A good decision: The diversity of her profession still excites her today.
Mag. (FH) Sandra Wohlgenannt is the coordinator of FAMILIENemPOWERment (Vorarlberg Children's Village) for the district of Dornbirn. This is a preventive offer for young families with children that have power, but sometimes would like contacts and relief.
Sandra Wohlgenannt gained substantial practical experience before and during her degree programme: Initially, she did a voluntary social year in France, in a home for people with mental and physical handicaps. She completed the 5th semester of her degree programme in a family consulting centre in Bolivia: "I organised, among other things, small loans for single parent mothers and scholarships for young people. The experiences in Bolivia broadened my horizons and relativised my European perspective."
She decided to study at the FH Vorarlberg because she wanted to develop a solid academic basis for her strengths and skills in the social field: "The degree programme is close to practice and focused on general issues, which leaves open a broad range of professional fields. I am convinced that the right specialisation should first occur through practical experience," she says.
Looking back, Sandra Wohlgenannt: "The four years at the FH Vorarlberg were a valuable, enriching time for me. Many courses, above all with lecturers in real life, met my expectations. They managed to bridge the gap between theory and practice best of all. I remember the creative and original courses, group work, interesting discussions and conversations in the breaks - and finally a few great friendships resulted."
Just two weeks after receiving her university degree, she began at the Vorarlberg Children's Village: "I applied by phone at the Vorarlberg Children's Village without great expectations. A few weeks later, I was actually able to choose between two positions."
Sandra Wohlgenannt is persuaded: "The university gave me much good 'equipment' for my journey. Her advice for incoming students: "The more you try, the more you'll get out of it: You decide by yourself how much you will invest, how you will use your knowledge and what you will take from three years of studying and put into your life and professional rucksack - that is a challenge, but also a great opportunity!
