From Vienna to Amsterdam: Following the conclusion of the latest edition of the BIP “Family Business & Entrepreneurship” at FHWien der WKW, 15 students traveled to Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences in May as part of the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Program (BIP).
Together with students from the Netherlands, HWR Berlin and Kozminski University in Poland, they spent a week working on practical issues related to family businesses and entrepreneurship in the digital age.
Research on Family Businesses
This year’s BIP was held under the theme “Family Business & Entrepreneurship: Challenges in the Digital Era”. Initial research findings were presented during the program week and discussed with students and faculty from the partner universities. The final presentation by students from FHWien der WKW was particularly successful: Carmen Rathmair, Paul Zulehner, Temirlan Makeshev, Florian Marchsteiner and Lea Marie Hofer were honored with one of the “Best Family Business Presentation Awards” for their work.
Insights into Successful Family Businesses
In addition to the academic work, the program also included lectures. Of particular interest was the presentation by Westland Kaas, a Dutch family-owned business with a history spanning nearly 90 years. This long-established company is now in its third and fourth generations of ownership, and the students learned how ownership structures and corporate governance have evolved over the course of several generations. A tasting of the products rounded out the visit.
Another highlight was the excursion to Loogman Carwash in Aalsmeer, a family-owned business whose roots date back to 1959. Over several generations, a regional milk delivery truck evolved into a corporate group that is now one of the best-known providers of car wash services in the Netherlands, but also includes restaurants, golf courses and supermarkets in its portfolio.
Marketing Challenge for the Moco Museum
Practical learning was also the focus of an international marketing challenge. Following a visit to the Moco Museum in Amsterdam, the students worked in international teams to develop new affiliate marketing concepts for the museum.
Once again, the students from FHWien der WKW delivered impressive results: the teams led by Amelie Bittner and Paul Zulehner took first and third place, respectively, in the competition.
The assignment gave participants the opportunity to directly apply the knowledge they gained during their studies and to work on real-world challenges alongside international peers.
Alexander Holzbauer, a part-time student at FHWien der WKW, was thrilled by the combination of academic presentations and international experience: “For an entire week, you have the opportunity to get to know a city, a university, and its cultural offerings from a new perspective, all while enjoying a varied program that includes exciting lectures. It’s a demanding and intense week, after which you’ll definitely need a few days to recover, but I wouldn’t have missed this experience for the world and was happy to use a week of vacation for it.”
Learning Across Borders
The Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Program combines international collaboration, academic research and hands-on learning. For the 15 students from FHWien der WKW, the week in Amsterdam provided an opportunity to work on current issues alongside students from the Netherlands, Germany and Poland, gain new perspectives and gain valuable experience for their future careers.
>> More information about the Bachelor’s program in Management & Entrepreneurship