On June 3, 2026, approximately 20 industry partners of the dual Bachelor’s program in Tourism & Hospitality Management at FHWien der WKW gathered for an HR breakfast. The aim of the event was to exchange experiences, discuss current developments in the program and further strengthen the collaboration between the university and its industry partners.
The invitation was accepted by both long-standing partner companies that have supported the dual study program since its launch in 2023, as well as companies that have only recently taken on students or are interested in future collaboration. The group was joined by two sixth-semester students who are nearing the end of their studies and shared their experiences from the dual program.
A look at current developments
Peter Klinger, Academic Expert & Lecturer in the Bachelor’s program in Tourism & Hospitality Management, led the morning session. He presented current figures and trends regarding the dual study program and provided an outlook on upcoming milestones.
A special moment awaits the program in fall 2026: That is when the first cohort of the dual Bachelor’s program in Tourism & Hospitality Management will celebrate their graduation. Currently, there are approximately 120 students enrolled in the dual program. Of these, about 80 students are currently completing their practical phases at partner companies, while around 40 students are in their first semester.
Different perspectives enriched the dialogue
Companies with varying levels of experience engaged in conversation and exchanged ideas on the organization and implementation of dual study programs. The students’ perspectives also provided important insights into the connection between academic study and professional practice.
Internships as shared learning spaces
In the second part of the event, researchers from the WILKOP project led an interactive workshop. The focus was on how professional internships can be utilized even more effectively as learning environments, and how the processes and lessons learned from dual study programs could be applied to these internships.
The research project examines internships as hybrid learning spaces between universities and companies. The focus is on collaboration between learning environments, the reflection of learning experiences via e-portfolios and the development of professional competencies.
Shaping the future of dual study programs together
The HR Breakfast demonstrated once again how important regular exchange between universities, students and industry partners is for the success of a dual study model. The open atmosphere of discussion, the diverse experiences of the participants and the opportunity for networking provided valuable insights for the further development of the program.