FH Kufstein once again recognized as a family-friendly university
Kufstein (A) For the fourth time in a row, the FH Kufstein Tirol can look forward to being awarded the certificate hochschuleundfamilie. The compatibility of family and work is particularly important nowadays. As an educational institution, the Kufstein University of Applied Sciences also serves as a role model. The University of Applied Sciences has held the title of one of 30 family-friendly universities in Austria since 2012. On March 2nd, 2022, the certificate for the period 2021 to 2024 was awarded by the Ministry of Family Affairs.
The possibility of organizing a course of study alongside one’s job but also alongside one’s family was a goal of the Kufstein University of Applied Sciences early on. The first extra-occupational course in real estate management and facility management started in 2000. The Fachhochschule Kufstein Tirol currently offers four bachelor’s and nine master’s courses in part-time study formats.
Bernadette Humer, MSC, Head of the Family and Youth Section in the Federal Chancellery, thanked the virtual award ceremony on March 2nd for the commitment and commitment and wished the FH Kufstein Tirol continued success in the implementation. In 2012, the university of applied sciences successfully underwent the audit for the first time, in 2015 the first re-auditing took place, in 2018 the second and now Familie & Beruf Management GmbH, the Austria-wide coordination office for compatibility measures, has again awarded the university of applied sciences the certificate hochschuleundfamilie.
New challenges for the university
Mag. (FH) Sara Neubauer heads the hochschuleundfamilie project at the FH Kufstein Tirol. “Better compatibility of studies, work and family is not just lip service at the FH Kufstein Tirol. In the last 10 years we have increased the compatibility for our students with a whole range of measures and have also received a lot of positive feedback. Of course, this spurs us on to set further milestones for compatibility in the current certification interval,” says Neubauer. Due to the measures taken during the corona pandemic, the universities had to deal with many new challenges that also touch on the subject of university and family. Distance learning and home office are among the aspects that were most in focus and therefore play a major role in the current certification interval.
Focus on family friendliness and flexibility
Goals and measures designed in the past have been successfully implemented at the Kufstein University of Applied Sciences: the illness of children or relatives in need of care has been an excuse for examinations or attendance at courses for years. In the past, the only reason for an apology was one’s own illness. “The FH Kufstein Tirol has set itself the goal of expanding the family-friendliness of the university of applied sciences in the years to come. One of the deepest goals is to deal with models for full-time and part-time courses with a focus on how future presence and self-learning phases could be designed,” says Rector Prof. (FH) Dr. Mario Döller on the current target agreement. Mag. (FH) Sara Neubauer adds: “We also make our various health offers available and we have developed a new mobile working guideline, so that our work can probably be even more flexible.”