The university of applied sciences has once again been awarded the state quality label “hochschuleundfamilie” for its continued efforts to foster the compatibility of studying, work and private life.
Vienna, February 20, 2025 – Enabling its students and employees to combine studying, work and family life: FHWien der WKW has been pursuing this goal for years. Once again, the University of Applied Sciences for Management and Communication received the “hochschuleundfamilie” certificate at the end of January 2025, serving as a confirmation that its initiatives in this field are effective and its goals are meaningful. In 2012, FHWien der WKW was one of the first universities in Austria to be awarded the state quality label “hochschuleundfamilie”. The certificate, which is valid for three years, has now been renewed for the fourth time.
Initiatives to promote family friendliness are effective
The recertification was preceded by target agreement workshops and an audit by an external assessor. The audit serves as a strategic tool to scrutinize the university’s procedures and processes in terms of their impact on those involved. “We are delighted to have once again been certified as a family-friendly university. It shows that our numerous initiatives to promote the compatibility of studying, work and family are bearing fruit,” explains Beate Huber, Head of the Academic Board of FHWien der WKW. “In fact, there is already a very high level of satisfaction in many areas of the university, which we can also see from the great motivation of our staff and students.”
How FHWien der WKW creates a family-friendly environment
FHWien der WKW has implemented numerous measures to make it easier for its students and employees to find a work-life balance. Examples of measures already implemented include the following:
- All Master’s degree programs and numerous Bachelor’s degree programs are offered as part-time programs.
- The range of rooms that external lecturers can use for online teaching has been expanded.
- Employees benefit from flexitime arrangements and flexible working time models.
- Every other year, a Family Day is offered where children can get to know their parents’ workplaces.
Family friendliness to be further improved
FHWien der WKW has set itself new goals for the next three-year certification period in order to become an even more attractive place to study and work:
- The support services for family-friendly studying are to be communicated more strongly.
- Awareness is to be raised in the process of planning meetings, particularly with regard to part-time employees and various weekly working time models.
- Good practices, attitudes and projects implemented at FHWien on the topic of family-friendliness will be presented regularly and thus made better known.
About the “hochschuleundfamilie” certificate
Certification by the “hochschuleundfamilie” audit offers universities and universities of applied sciences an effective instrument for making everyday university life family-friendly. As part of the certification process, employees, students and managers work together to develop family-friendly measures. Universities that successfully complete this process can use the state quality label to document their commitment to family-friendly university operations. Over 30 Austrian universities have already taken advantage of this opportunity.
Photos:
Brigitte Keiser (left) and Ute Erhart-Tschakl from FHWien der WKW accepted the “hochschuleundfamilie” certificate from Bernadett Humer (center) from the Federal Chancellery.
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Copyright: Harald Schlossko
“The renewed certification of FHWien der WKW as a family-friendly university shows that our initiatives to promote the compatibility of studying, work and family are bearing fruit,” says a delighted Beate Huber, Head of the Academic Board.
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Copyright: feelimage | Matern
FHWien der WKW – University of Applied Sciences for Management & Communication
FHWien der WKW is Austria’s leading university of applied sciences for management and communication. Its Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs offer over 2,800 students a practical academic education. Around 900 people complete a continuing education program at the university. Two thirds of the teaching staff come directly from industry. The close cooperation with local companies in teaching and research prepares students optimally for their careers. Since its foundation in 1994, FHWien der WKW has already produced around 15,100 graduates.
Contact:
Bernhard Witzeling
Head of Corporate Communication, Marketing and Alumni & Career Services, Press Officer
Tel.: +43 (1) 476 77-5733
presse@fh-wien.ac.at
www.fh-wien.ac.at