Our university: innovative, international, people-focused
Since it opened in 1994, our university has built a reputation as one of the most innovative and international higher education institutions in Austria.
Impressive results in a range of rankings underline the high levels of satisfaction among our students from Austria and abroad: the top marks that IMC Krems receives year after year in Universum’s Talent Survey, for example.
Education with a personal touch
IMC Krems was founded as the International Management Center (IMC) in 1994 by Dr. Heinz Boyer, who is now the university’s Supervisory Board Chairman and majority owner. Eight years later, on 1 April 2002, we were awarded university of applied science status. Since then, the university has grown rapidly. IMC Krems currently offers 16 bachelor and 11 master degree programmes, as well as 3 continuing education courses – about 40 % of programmes are taught in English. Our programmes are closely linked to the university’s core focuses of business, digitalisation & engineering, health and life sciences.
The university education we provide stands out for its exceptional practical focus and emphasis on leadership and soft skills, as well as the extensive language-learning options available to students and project-based teaching in small groups. We do not think that our university should be an “educational production line”. First-hand learning experiences are fundamental to our teaching approaches.
International – and not just on paper
Our international environment defines day-to-day life at IMC Krems: we have 140 partner universities, cooperate in many partnership programmes and have attracted students from 50 different countries. Intercultural exchange, internships abroad, participation in international research projects, and lectures from teaching staff and guest professors with extensive international experience are part and parcel of what we do. Around half of all degree programmes are taught in English – an especially attractive aspect for foreign students.
Strong partnerships for outstanding career opportunities
Establishing close ties between teaching, research and industry is a major priority, and is a crucial part of how we prepare students for the job market. 90% of all students find permanent employment within three months of graduation, thanks in no small part to the compulsory internships or research placements they have completed.
The Executive Management
Mag. Ulrike Prommer and Prof.(FH) Dr. Karl Ennsfellner form the Executive Management team at IMC Krems. Their deputy is authorised signatory Michaela Sabathiel.
The Executive Management represents the university in all external matters, including representation of IMC FH Krems GmbH in its dealings with external stakeholders, and is also responsible for overall management of the university.
The Executive Management sets the university’s strategic direction. In this respect, representing the university externally, concluding strategic partnerships and maintaining links to stakeholders are core responsibilities.
IMC Krems is a Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (limited liability company). When we became a university of applied sciences in 2002, the managing company changed its name to IMC FH Krems GmbH. It is owned by IMC Consulting GmbH, which has a 70% stake, and the City of Krems, which holds the remaining 30%.
The Supervisory Board
In July 1998 we put in place a Supervisory Board, which is elected at the annual general meeting.
The current members of the Supervisory Board are:
- Heinz Boyer, Chairman and the founder of the managing company
- Reinhard Resch, Mayor of Krems
- Michael Schwarz, solicitor
The Academic Board
Rules of procedure govern the responsibilities, periods of office, rules of proxy and election procedures of the Academic Board, in accordance with the Fachhochschul-Studiengesetz (Universities of Applied Sciences Studies Act).
The Academic Board is responsible for managing the university’s academic affairs.
The Academic Board is currently made up of the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Academic Board, degree programme directors, representatives of the teaching and research staff, and students.
The following appointments were made at the board’s meeting of 27 November 2018:
- Prof.(FH) Mag. Dr. Martin Waiguny was elected Chair of the Academic Board
- Prof.(FH) Mag.(FH) Dr.phil. Manfred Pferzinger was elected Deputy Chair of the Academic Board
The IMC Krems team
We currently have 265 employees and our headcount is growing from month to month. Our lecturers, researchers, service department personnel and apprentices all make important contributions to the success of our university. At IMC Krems, people are at the heart of everything we do.
Our internal structures reflect the university’s strategic goals and are set out in the university’s organisational chart.
Targeting the future: Strategy of IMC Krems
As a private educational enterprise and an internationally-focused university of applied sciences, we need to lead the way – pursuing innovative approaches and questioning the existing way of doing things – in order to have international recognition.
The strategy document, Targeting the Future, zeroes in on this kind of change and development. Our vision, our mission and our values have been developed and, together with the strategic guidelines, form the basis for our strategic goals. The operational targets for the next three years are derived from the strategic goals.
The road ahead: Corporate philosophy
Study the art of applied sciences: our vision, mission and values are firmly established in all areas of the university.
What we are working towards: Strategic goals
We are a learning team that evolves constantly and, together, contributes to continuous improvement in quality. In this way we ensure that we are a leading institution in our core activities of education and research, and in university services. We ensure that we can offer our stakeholders outstanding quality, and that we are leading the way.
Our outstanding research–led, innovative teaching gives students the best possible preparation to successfully take on professional challenges in the national and international job market.
Future–proof degree programmes
The university's future-proof degree programmes are defined by practice-orientated curricula as well as the innovative ways in which they are organised and taught. They ensure that students are equipped for the roles they will take on in work and in society.
Effective implementation of degree programmes
Effective implementation of degree programmes depends upon the high level of professional and academic expertise among teaching staff, good teaching in terms of both content and methodology, the use of innovative learning formats, appropriate assessment procedures and comprehensive support and advice for students. Master's and Bachelor's theses and coursework support the research focus areas of the respective department.
Continuous evaluation and development of degree programmes
The content of degree programmes is regularly reviewed and developed with regard to currentness and readiness for the future. Appropriate external accreditations and rankings assure international competitiveness.
Internationalisation of degree programmes
All degree programmes comprise internationalisation or internationalisation@home components.
Integration of digitalisation into degree programmes
Selected basic courses for a number of bachelor programmes will be centrally designed, and delivered and assessed digitally. A digital toolbox will be provided for programme-specific digitalisation.
All digitalisation measures serve to make programmes more flexible in terms of time and place, encourage exchange with transnational programmes and projects and are quality assured.
Student numbers will grow further to 2025, to 3,500 students in degree programmes taught in Austria, 400 non–degree students on continuing education programmes taught in Austria, and 700 students on courses at external locations in other countries.
Development of new programmes and expansion of existing programmes
- Life Sciences: Development of new master programmes and increased study places for existing programmes
- Digitalisation: Increase in study places for the bachelor degree programme and development of a master degree programme
- Health Sciences: Increased study places for existing programme
- Continuing education: selective expansion of short programmes (microdegrees for in-house training and summer schools) and health sciences continuing education courses
High appeal of educational offerings
All degree programmes demonstrate appeal in the education market, resulting in a high-quality intake for all study places in every year, and full capacity.
Expansion of transnational programmes and projects
The number of transnational programmes and projects offered will be expanded to 17 by 2025. Expansion will focus on East and Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Eastern Europe and South America. Synergies between IMC Krems’ various international activities will be exploited, new formats developed and transnational programmes and projects will make a positive contribution margin.
Doctorate cooperations
Targeted national and international cooperations as well as PhD calls will result in attractive doctorate opportunities for staff and graduates
IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems is perceived as a research–strong university of applied sciences with forward–looking research focuses.
Establishment of forward–looking research focuses
The university’s key areas of research are focused on the longterm, and establish and develop expertise in specific areas and research methods . Interdisciplinary approaches and cooperations with industry, society and other academic institutions support the development of research focuses and the academic development of team members. Researchers are active members of the scientific communities in their respective fields.
Competitive funding applications
The number of funding applications in response to national and international calls for proposals will rise consistently, guided by the following framework:
- Minimum volume will be maintained to support long-term development of research focuses
- Applications will be made to a mix of different funding schemes in order to spread risk and reduce dependency
- Preference for highly competitive projects (e.g. Josef Ressel Centre)
Dissemination of research findings
Research findings will primarily be published in peer reviewed journals, as contributions to specialist academic conferences and as contributions to compilations.
In line with research-led teaching, research outcomes will be integrated into selected degree programme courses and projects.
Articles in journals and periodicals, popular science contributions and media appearances will contribute to awareness of IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems as a research institution.
Commercial exploitation of research outcomes
Outcomes from research focus areas provide the basis for building up consulting services and contract research. Research findings will also serve as a springboard for patents, products and spinoffs.
Research quality
Research quality is defined by research impact, the assessment of publication outlets and the satisfaction of our partners. Accreditations will be used as an instrument of quality assurance. Internal quality assurance will be supported by standardised processes, guidelines and evaluation criteria.
Research focus areas
The strategic goals for research at IMC Krems will be realised predominantly in the following research focus areas.
Although the focus areas are presented by department, interdepartmental collaboration is expressly intended and supported.
Department of BusinessDepartment of Health SciencesDepartment of Life Sciences
