Study week in Vienna and Bratislava - A travel report

On the initiative of the head of the International Academy (IA) and international representative of the Faculty of Technology and Management, Professor Dr. Barbara Niersbach, two European capitals were visited for the first time as part of the study week: Vienna and Bratislava. The study week was led by Professor Dr. Eberhard Hohl and Professor Dr. Frank Ermark.

The study weeks are offered as part of the "International Business Project" elective for domestic and international students. "In addition to broadening their academic horizons, this format allows students to acquire business-related know-how and intercultural skills," says Eberhard Hohl.

Baroque prelude

The first stop on the study trip took the RWU students to Schönbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Habsburg monarchy and a prime example of Baroque architecture. During the guided tour of the palace, the students were impressed by the magnificent rococo-style rooms, especially the Hall of Mirrors, where the six-year-old Mozart played music in front of Empress Theresa.

After a walk together through the extensive palace park, the group took the streetcar back to the center of the lively cosmopolitan city for a cultural tour. A visit to a traditional Viennese coffee house, the famous Café Central with its special flair and impressive interior architecture, was a successful conclusion for the group.

Vienna - a world metropolis

Vienna, Austria's capital city of 2 million people, was voted the world's most liveable city by the British Economist for the fourth time since 2018. There are many good reasons for this, which were also noticeable for the students during their stay.

For Daniel Kabelkov, the award is understandable: "Good infrastructure, the density of outstanding sights, many restaurants and cafés, beautiful parks, lots of culture with galleries, museums, events and a noticeably positive attitude to life among the people. I'm also very impressed that there are drinking water dispensers with excellent water quality everywhere in the city," says the fourth semester business administration student.

Seestadt Aspern - Europe's largest urban development project

Seestadt Aspern, one of the largest urban development projects in Europe, is being built in Vienna's 22nd district. Housing for more than 25,000 people and around 20,000 jobs are to be created here by 2030. Based on innovative concepts, a district is growing that combines a high quality of life, sustainability and dynamic economic power. Several project partners have joined forces to realize this project. Among the largest are the City of Vienna and Siemens.

The students were given a guided tour of the built-up area by the project manager "Aspern Smart City Research" (ASCR). They were able to marvel at the HoHo Vienna, currently the tallest wooden building in Austria at 84 meters and the third tallest in the world. In the ASCR demo center, the innovative urban development project was vividly explained using a three-dimensional city map and was the subject of lively discussion.

TU Wien Pilot Factory

The "TU Wien Pilot Factory", a research facility of the Vienna University of Technology, is also located in Seestadt. It is supported by many well-known companies and is dedicated to researching forward-looking topics. These include the concepts of "Industry 4.0 and 5.0". This involves machines and robots that can communicate with each other and facilitate manufacturing processes with the help of robotics and laser technology. The head of the research facility, Dr. Claudia Schickling, welcomed the RWU group to the Pilot Factory. This was followed by a tour of the entire machine park.

Aerospace technology

The visit to TTTech, which has 2,300 employees worldwide and is active in vehicle and aerospace technology, was planned by Dr. Hans-Jürgen August, Head of Quality Management at TTTech. The students were impressed by the presentations of current projects, such as the work for the space program of the European Space Agency (ESA). Shortly beforehand, Ariane 6, the European launch vehicle, had successfully completed its first flight with TTTech systems for secure data communication on board.

In the "TTTech Auto" section, the presentation on Connected Vehicles, Autonomous Vehicles and Cloud Connections met with particular interest. This was followed by an interactive, practical afternoon lecture on the topic of "Innovation management: from creativity to invention and innovation".

Visit to the German Chamber of Commerce Abroad

The German Chamber of Commerce Abroad (AHK) plays a central role in promoting bilateral economic relations and offers a wide range of services, such as market entry advice, networking events and support with legal issues. Niclas Buschke, Head of Market Consulting, provided the group from Weingarten with insights into the economic relations between Austria and Germany as well as specific cultural and mentality-oriented characteristics of his home country ("Austria is not Germany").

In addition to the cultural differences and the associated business implications, Niclas Buschke emphasized the start-up landscape in Austria. More than 3,300 start-ups have been founded since 2011, with Vienna being the center of the start-up scene.

University of Economics in Bratislava

A day trip to Bratislava rounded off the study trip. The capital of Slovakia has 470,000 inhabitants and is only around 80 kilometers away from Vienna. The students reached the heart of the city on the Twin City Liner, a modern catamaran, after a one-hour trip across the Danube. On the campus of the University of Economics in Bratislava, the largest university in Slovakia, Professor Dr. Denisa Čiderová from the Faculty of Economics welcomed the visitors from Weingarten. Together with students from all over the world, Eberhard Hohl gave an intercultural lecture on "The Successful Culture Manager". The RWU visit was embedded in an "International Summer School" led by Denisa Čiderová.

The RWU students were divided into small, internationally mixed groups to work together on a case study about Nissan and its global risk management. This case study gave students an insight into working practices in Japan and showed how cultural differences can influence the approach to business practices. The results were then presented and discussed lively.

After a campus tour, the students returned to the historic old town with its historical sights such as St. Martin's Cathedral from the 13th century, which once served as the coronation church for Hungarian kings. The Gothic castle, once the royal seat and symbol of Bratislava, the Old Town Hall and St. Michael's Gate also conveyed the importance of Bratislava in the history of Central Europe. The eventful day was rounded off with a dinner of traditional Slovakian dishes.

"During our stay in Vienna, we gained deep insights into the history of the city and also into modern projects. In Bratislava, we were able to expand our intercultural understanding. The study trip combined cultural exchange and practical training," sums up Ben Franca, who is studying Business Administration and Management in his fourth semester at RWU.