Starting a new study program raises many questions: How are the upcoming semesters organized? Who can I turn to with my concerns? And above all: Who will I be spending the next three years with? The new students at FHWien der WKW received answers to these questions right at the start of their studies. During the first few weeks of the semester, introductory seminars and kick-off events were held to provide initial orientation and help students get to know one another.
The kick-off events for the five study programs, Tourism & Hospitality Management, Management & Entrepreneurship, Human Resources Management, Real Estate, and Finance, Accounting & Taxation, demonstrated just how varied the start of a degree program can be.
Tourism & Hospitality Management: Study Real Business from the Very Beginning
For students in the Bachelor’s program Tourism & Hospitaliy Management, their studies began with a multi-day field trip to Schladming. This brought the motto “studying practical applications” to life right from the very first days.
One stop took the group to the Red Bull Ring; another led them to Schladming, the Planai, and the Dachstein. There, the students gained their first insight into tourism regions and were able to explore topics that will accompany them over the next three years. At the same time, the days spent together in Styria offered plenty of opportunities to get to know their classmates outside the routine of daily classes.
Management & Entrepreneurship: Finding Solutions Together
Teamwork was also the focus of the kickoff event for the Bachelor’s program Management & Entrepreneurship. Various tasks prepared the new cohort for collaboration over the next three years.
In their first group activity, the students worked together to build a marble run out of paper. The goal was to coordinate ideas within the group and jointly develop a solution that worked. Communication skills and negotiation skills were also essential for the “River Crossing” task.
Human Resources Management: Coming Together as a Study Group
Team building was also a key focus at the start of the Bachelor’s program Human Resources Management. Through various team-building games, the new students got to know each other better.
These shared activities created a setting for initial interaction within the cohort. This allowed the students to make connections during the kick-off event and begin their first semester as a group.
Real Estate: Navigating Your Studies with Mentors
During the kick-off event for the Bachelor’s program Real Estate, new students also learned about support services available to them throughout their studies. The ÖH introduced itself and its activities, providing an initial glimpse into student representation.
In addition, the program’s mentoring initiative was presented. This opportunity is unique to the Real Estate programs: Throughout their studies, students are mentored by professionals from the real estate industry, giving them the chance to engage in personal exchanges with industry experts.
Finance, Accounting & Taxation: Group Dynamics from the Very Beginning
The kick-off event for the Bachelor’s program Finance, Accounting & Taxation served as excellent preparation for upcoming group work: During “speed dating” and in the “Microlab,” students shared their personal interests, experiences, and highlights. A Big Five personality test, an exploration of team roles, and reflection on different skills and thinking styles helped bring the group’s strengths and areas for growth into focus.
With the kick-off events at FHWien der WKW, the first semester begins not only with organizational information but, above all, with a shared start as a cohort in their studies.