We embrace work-life balance.

College & Family

Family. Career. College.

FERNFH creates the conditions necessary for employees, faculty, and students to effectively balance family, work, and their studies.

A Balanced Life.

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More Info

As a university, we view it as our special responsibility to create conditions that support both professional development and family needs. We pursue this goal with professionalism and have it regularly certified by the state-recognized “hochschuleundfamilie” seal of quality.

Our Goal: More Balance for Everyone

As a state-recognized family-friendly university, we pursue a family-oriented, life-stage-based higher education policy. Our goal: not only to make work-life balance possible, but to actively help shape it. This includes:

Ongoing support for students and staff members with caregiving responsibilities
Creating family-friendly structures on campus and in the online space
Further Development of Family-Friendly Work and Study Arrangements
The Topic of “Higher Education and Family” as an Integral Part of Teaching and Research

"hochschuleundfamilie" Certification

Since 2017 , FERNFH has held the state-awarded “hochschuleundfamilie” seal of quality. Since then, numerous measures have been implemented, ranging from the establishment of a family room and flexible work models to the appointment of a family liaison officer. Recertifications followed in 2020 and 2023, each accompanied by comprehensive target agreements.

In the 2023–24 academic year, FERNFH received this distinction for the third time. This is a visible sign of our ongoing development. Our initiatives incorporate not only the latest research findings but also the needs and real-life circumstances of our university community.

Measures Taken to Date

Many family-friendly initiatives have already been successfully implemented at FERNFH.

Conducting a Study Life survey among students and faculty
Compiling information on family activities in the region (e.g., the “Family Program for the In-Person Weekend” brochure on the website and online campus)
Academic Research on the Topic of “Higher Education and Family”
Including topics related to balancing college and family life, health, and work capacity in the exit interview
Organization of various event formats on the topics of health and work-life balance (e.g., panel discussion titled “Progress, Not Regression—When Career Success and Family Happiness Align: Methods, Approaches, and Strategies”)
Targeted public relations efforts as a family-friendly university
Regular internal exchange of information on the topic of higher education and family
Providing digital file formats for parents
A digital family space for everyone (students, faculty, and staff) on the Online Campus—serving as both a knowledge and networking platform (Course: “College & Family” | Online Campus)

Family Room

To make studying with a child or children easier, a family room has been set up on the FERNFH campus.

The family room is located on the first floor and is wheelchair accessible. The family room is open to everyone—whether for breastfeeding mothers with babies who need a quiet place to sleep, or for older children who want to play, read, draw, or run around.

Just stop by and check out the family room! We hope you have a great time exploring, playing, reading, relaxing, drawing, running around, ...

360° Tour of Our Family Room

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Here you'll find internal and external links on balancing family, work, caregiving, and your studies:

Awards & Honors

2nd Place in the Lower Austria State Competition “Family-Friendly Business 2026”

On April 22, 2026, Ferdinand Porsche FERNFH was once again awarded second place in the Lower Austria state competition “Family-Friendly Company” in the medium-sized businesses category.

2nd Place in the Lower Austria State Competition “Family-Friendly Business 2024”

On May 23, 2024, the Ferdinand Porsche FERNFH was awarded second place in the Lower Austria state competition “Family-Friendly Workplace 2024” in the medium-sized businesses category.

Best-Practice Example as Part of the “Family & Career” State Award (2024)

...with a focus on father-friendly HR policies. Although the award was not won, FERNFH is listed as a best-practice example on the Familie und Beruf website under the initiative “Companies for Fathers – Better Work-Life Balance Together” and is featured in the guide on “Father-Friendly Corporate Policies.”