Two lecturers were honored for their methodologically diverse courses on statistics.
Vienna, November 18, 2025 – With the presentation of its Awards for Innovative Teaching, FHWien der WKW recognizes outstanding didactic projects each year, underscoring the high value it places on teaching. On Thursday, November 13, 2025, this year’s award recipients were announced.
A total of 30 submissions demonstrated the strong interest in didactic development at FHWien der WKW. The university’s internal Didactics Working Group, led by Head of Academic Affairs Beate Huber and higher education didactics expert Olivia Vrabl, reviewed all entries and reached the following decision:
The Two Winners of the 2025 Teaching Awards
This year’s winners are lecturers Tonina Liriel Aurel and Elka Xharo, who were recognized for their teaching concepts in the same subject area – statistics. “The jury also wished to highlight the fact that the content of one and the same subject can be taught successfully using completely different methods,” explained Head of Academic Affairs Beate Huber.
Tonina Liriel Aurel, from the Human Resources & Organization study programs, made a subject often perceived as dry more accessible in her course “Statistics,” part of the Master’s program in Organizational & Human Resources Development. Her course design, consistently aligned with the practical value of a quantitative research concept, impressed with its clear structure and her strong commitment as a lecturer. Individualized feedback ensured that students achieved the learning objectives.
Elka Xharo, from the Digital Economy study programs, aimed to make statistics comprehensible in her course “Business Data Analytics and Formal Foundations,” part of the Bachelor’s program in Digital Business, by employing a wide range of teaching methods. A playful approach, innovative use of AI, and a gamified examination format designed as a virtual adventure created a high level of interaction and delighted the jury.
Recognition Awards for Four Teaching Projects
The high number of submissions prompted the jury to grant additional recognition awards for other outstanding projects:
In their course “Fields of Corporate Communication: Marketing” in the Bachelor’s program in Corporate Communication, Leyla Tavernaro-Haidarian and David Dobrowsky created an interactive didactic environment that addressed the highly topical issue of AI in marketing through a well-balanced mix of distance learning and in-person sessions. A consistently well-received oral exam ensured the achievement of learning outcomes.
In his course “International Strategies – Case Study” in the Bachelor’s program in Management – Entrepreneurship, Aydar Muslimov used HBR case studies to explore ethical dilemmas such as corruption in corporate leadership. The integration of AI, along with discussions about the ethical aspects of AI use, resulted in a teaching concept that reflects the latest developments in the field.
In the Master’s program in Organizational & Human Resources Development, Florian Schrenk taught the content of his course “Labor and Social Law” through practical exercises and discussions of common reasoning errors that can impede learning success. The jury praised the assessment criteria written in legal language, which suited the subject matter and provided a didactically coherent framework for students’ skills development.
In their course “Business Case Skills and Business Case” in the Bachelor’s program in Management – Entrepreneurship, Sebastian Diermayr and Andrew Pullen prepared students for their presentations through feedforward sessions. Interactive methods and the targeted use of AI fostered a deeper understanding of professional terminology in business contexts. Students then demonstrated this understanding in presentations tailored to their respective audiences.
As part of the award ceremony, the recognized projects were presented, and participants had the opportunity to exchange ideas with colleagues.
Photos:
Head of Academic Affairs Beate Huber, award winners Tonina Liriel Aurel and Elka Xharo, and CEO Stephan Gasser at the 2025 FHWien der WKW Teaching Awards (from left).
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Copyright: Markus Hechenberger
Head of Academic Affairs Beate Huber, the recipients of the recognition awards Andrew Pullen, Sebastian Diermayr, Leyla Tavernaro-Haidarian, David Dobrowsky, and Aydar Muslimov, as well as CEO Stephan Gasser at the 2025 FHWien der WKW Teaching Awards (from left).
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Copyright: Markus Hechenberger
FHWien der WKW – University of Applied Sciences for Management & Communication
FHWien der WKW is Austria’s leading university of applied sciences for management and communication. Its Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs offer around 2,900 students a practical academic education. Two-thirds of the lecturers come directly from the business world. The close cooperation with local companies in teaching and research prepares students optimally for their careers. Since its foundation in 1994, FHWien der WKW has already produced more than 15,900 graduates.
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