At the 18th Research Forum of Austrian Universities of Applied Sciences, which took place on May 7 and 8, 2025 at FH Campus Wien, numerous researchers from FHWien der WKW presented their results under the motto “Doing Research – Shaping the Future”.
Current challenges of sustainable tourism development
Under the direction of Endowed Chair for Sustainable Urban Tourism Cornelia Djabaja and Mariya Katelieva (Tourism & Hospitality Management Study Program), perspectives from research and practice were presented and discussed to meet the current challenges facing the tourism industry in Austria. Following the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, the sector is experiencing an upswing again, while at the same time undergoing a massive transformation.
In addition to lectures on culinary tourism, the effects of climate change, nature experiences and sustainable tourism offers, Daniela Wagner and Andreas Minichberger from the Tourism & Hospitality Management Study Programs presented their study results on the “Subjective well-being of museum visitors” in cooperation with the Museum Belvedere.
In the afternoon, a concluding ideas forum took place in which Austrian universities of applied sciences as well as research institutions from the field of tourism research exchanged ideas in order to initiate an interdisciplinary agenda for future tourism-related formats and cooperation between universities in this area.
Digital teaching and sustainable management
In the session “Artificial intelligence (AI) and its effects”, Evelyn Fränzl and Larissa Neuburger from the City of Vienna Competence Team “Master Propaedeutics” presented the status of the MA 23-funded project on “Bridge courses for scientific work”. In their presentation “AI Tutor for Research Skills and Thesis Supervision”, they presented the first learning paths developed in the project to increase research skills and supervise theses.
The “Business and Digital Transformation” session was also dedicated to the topic of sustainability. In her pitch talk “Sustainability Orientation and Entrepreneurial Actions Among University Students”, Diana Muslimova from the Management & Entrepreneurship Study Program presented the initial results of a current research study.
Future trends and human-centered technologies
The political panel under the motto “A strong Europe needs research and innovation” and the “Leading Edge Research Program”, which opened the second day of the research forum, was followed by the presentation “Trust Between Employees As Learners, Supervising Managers And AI-Supported Systems In Human Resources Development” by Steffi Bärmann from the Human Resources & Organization Study Program as part of the “Future Trends” session.
The extensive scientific program of the 18th Research Forum of the Austrian Universities of Applied Sciences was accompanied by poster sessions on various topics. FHWien der WKW was also represented here in the “Human Centered Technologies” track with two poster presentations. Gisela Reiter, Andreas Hess and Marian Adolf from the Departement of Communication provided insights into the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and its labeling in journalism as well as the attitudes and expectations of users as an impact on media companies. Patrick Rupprecht from the Institute for Digital Transformation and Strategy (IDS) at FHWien der WKW presented a digital workplace and ergonomics simulation in courier, express and parcel logistics in the form of innovative loading processes with returnable systems and robotics.
Political perspectives and social exchange at the Wien Museum
The participants of the UAS Research Forum were able to exchange their diverse impressions of the first day at an evening event in the Wien Museum.
Among the guests was the Federal Minister for Women, Science and Research, Eva-Maria Holzleitner. In a political dialog with the President of the University of Applied Sciences Conference, Ulrike Pommer, she outlined her ideas for the further development of the university of applied sciences sector in the coming years.