"Developing unique talents"

You head the Department of Business and Management at the FHV. What is particularly important to you in this position? 

Anna Knorr: We face adaptive challenges that put us in a kind of "gray area moment". The problems are changeable, complex and not always solvable, but rather need to be navigated. At a time like this, I see a huge opportunity in pulling together as a team of experts instead of working in a fragmented way. This requires trust, transparency and room for co-design. 


The FHV sees itself as a practice-oriented university with strong regional roots and an international orientation. What strategic priorities would you like to set as Head of the Department of Business and Management in order to further strengthen this claim? 

Anna Knorr: We offer our graduates a regional network and at the same time empower them on a global level. We give them more than just specialist knowledge. For me, action competence, the ability to reflect and evidence-based decision-making skills are an integral part of all our programs. Coupled with self-directed and modular learning paths, as well as learning according to skills relevant to the labor market, we make skills development the common thread.


Vorarlberg is characterized by internationally successful SMEs and family businesses. How can the Department of Business and Management contribute to the competitiveness of the regional economy?

Anna Knorr: Our educational mission is to give as many students as possible the opportunity to develop their unique talents. At the same time, we teach skills that enable them to make a positive contribution to our society. For me, self-management is a core competence when it comes to employability in the changing regional Business and Management. With us, they strengthen this in a safe environment. Students develop self-efficacy and learn to remain capable of acting in the face of change.


The FHV pursues the goal of closely interlinking teaching, applied research and its transfer. To what extent is this triad being further developed in the Department of Business and Management?

Anna Knorr: We are moving away from traditional teaching towards experiential learning. To do this, we have to give our students the space to work on tricky problems, carry out their own investigations, gain insights, try things out in a playful way and also fail. This is precisely what enables a triad that generates impact and can flow directly back into regional organizations. 


What importance do contemporary management models and flexible framework conditions of an employer have for you - also with regard to the compatibility of career and family?

Anna Knorr: For me, the compatibility of career and family is a knock-out criterion when choosing an employer. I am a mother and a manager and I know that "breaking through the glass ceiling" is not just an individual achievement, but also always a question of framework conditions and management culture. My husband and I both work 80% and share the supervisor 50:50. For this to succeed, we need trust, flexible models and a clear focus on results rather than rigid contact hours. When employers make this possible, there is a high level of loyalty and a willingness to deliver more than expected. 


What prospects await students in the Bachelor's and Master's programmes in the Department of Business and Management at the FHV after graduation? 

Anna Knorr: After graduation, our graduates have prospects that go beyond future-oriented specialist knowledge: social mobility, real creative power, resilience and the ability to take responsibility in Business and Management. What is most important to me is that our graduates know what they stand for and what they can achieve. And that they have the courage to question old ways of thinking and break new ground. 


Thank you very much for the interview!

You can find more information about the business degree programmes at the FHV 👉 here.