A Breath of Fresh Air and Proven Expertise: FERNFH Faculty Begins a New Term

January 24, 2025

On January 9, 2025, the Faculty of the Ferdinand Porsche FERNFH convened for its 43rd meeting to be constituted and to mark the official start of its fifth term. At this meeting, the current leadership was confirmed: Prof. (FH) DI Dr. Martin Staudinger remains Academic Director, and MMag.^a Tanja Adamcik will continue in her role as Deputy Chair of the Faculty Board.

This consistency, combined with the interplay of experience and new perspectives, ensures that FERNFH will continue to play a pioneering role in the higher education landscape in the future.

Tanja Adamcik sees the combination of many years of experience and fresh ideas as the ideal foundation for the Executive Board’s upcoming tasks: “The Executive Board, which was formed in January, combines the valuable experience of long-standing members with the fresh perspectives of new colleagues. This provides an excellent foundation for addressing key issues at the university with a successful blend of expertise and innovation.” She is particularly committed to further developing new approaches in higher education to promote “lifelong learning” in a sustainable way.

Martin Staudinger describes the faculty as a “driver of evolution”: “The faculty has often proven itself to be a catalyst for change in the past. In the coming period, the focus will certainly be on the challenges that AI will bring us, as it becomes a natural part of our educational systems.” With creativity and a spirit of innovation, the faculty also aims to further develop FERNFH’s quality management system.

Strong support from management

The managing directors of FERNFH, Mag. (FH) Axel Jungwirth, MEng, AKKM, and Dr. Alexander Fleischer, also actively support the work of the faculty.

“The faculty is a cornerstone of our university. It ensures that teaching and research meet the highest quality standards, while at the same time providing important impetus for innovation,” emphasizes Axel Jungwirth.

Dr. Alexander Fleischer adds: “FERNFH has established itself as a pioneer in the field of innovative higher education. The faculty plays a key role in further strengthening this position and breaking new ground in the process. We look forward to working with the faculty leadership during this exciting term.”

What does the FERNFH faculty do?

The Faculty Council of the Ferdinand Porsche FERNFH is responsible for overseeing teaching and examinations. In addition, it ensures internal quality assurance in teaching and research and supports the implementation of the standards set forth in the Higher Education Quality Assurance Act (HSQSG). Since it was first convened in the winter semester of 2012, the council has established itself as a key decision-making body at the university.

Spotlight on Strong Leaders

Prof. (FH) DI Dr. Martin Staudinger, Academic Director of FERNFH since 2012, brings an impressive academic career and many years of experience in the university of applied sciences sector. In addition to his role at FERNFH, he represents the university at the national level, including in the Austrian Conference of Universities of Applied Sciences (FHK) and on the advisory panel for the Ars Docendi State Prize.

Tanja Adamcik, M.^A., a member of the faculty since 2017 and associate director since fall 2024, is an expert in the fields of health sciences and higher education. Her diverse academic and teaching activities, as well as her experience in research projects, make her a key pillar of the university.

A Look into the Future

With strong leadership and a dedicated team of both long-standing and new members, the FERNFH faculty is well-equipped to meet the challenges of the coming years. Together, they are developing new approaches to ensure the future of higher education and to continue positioning FERNFH as a pioneer in the field of “lifelong learning.”