For the first time in the history of IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems, an agreement with a new partner university was signed virtually on 8 October 2020.
New university cooperation with a leading South Korean university
Due to current travel restrictions, the signing ceremony for an exchange agreement with Hanyang University ERICA took place virtually via Zoom. This format was a new experience for the CEO of IMC Krems, Dr. Karl C. Ennsfellner, and the Vice President for International Affairs at Hanyang University, Dr. Bong Young Yoo.
"For our university, this agreement and the associated continued development of international collaborations is a clear signal to our students that we are promoting the international dimension of our study programmes even in these challenging times. In addition to the regular student exchange programme, our students can currently also participate virtually in courses at some of our partner universities in order to gain international experience even in times of travel restrictions," emphasises CEO Dr. Karl Ennsfellner.
This newly signed agreement enables students of our business studies and our bachelor degree programme Informatics to spend an exchange semester at Hanyang University ERICA in South Korea. The new partner university has a very good international reputation and is accredited by AACSB, among others. The first student exchange is planned for the winter semester 2021/22.
Away on exchange: gaining international experience
Students have the opportunity to gain international experience during their studies through the optional exchange semester and an internship semester abroad. Even under the current challenging conditions, this offer is well received: In the winter semester 2020/21, more than 70 students are studying at one of our partner universities, in some cases with a high virtual component.
The application phase for an exchange semester for the next academic year starts in November. The International Office of IMC Krems is pleased that the worldwide network of IMC Krems now includes 148 partner universities, including Hanyang University ERICA.
„Study the international way“ at IMC Krems
More than 40% of the degree programmes are offered in English. This also explains the high share of international students of 20%. Even though the majority of international students come from Europe, people from more than 60 countries around the world study at IMC Krems. The teaching staff at the University of Applied Sciences is also international: every fifth lecturer has an international background.
Study programmes from Krems offered at numerous partner universities
Unique for Austria is the focus on transnational study programmes – that is, study programmes developed and accredited by IMC Krems and offered at partner universities abroad. With almost 500 students and more than 850 graduates in Vietnam, Latvia, Azerbaijan, China, the Ukraine and Uzbekistan, this model can be considered a big success.
