Business Informatics at FERNFH: How Digitalization, Interdisciplinarity, and Flexibility Shape the Program
Part-time, hands-on, and forward-looking—the Bachelor’s program in Business Informatics at FERNFH optimally prepares students for the digital transformation of businesses. Program Director Prof. (FH) DI Dr. Martin Staudinger explains what makes this program special.
In a world where digital technologies and business processes are increasingly converging, interdisciplinary education in the field of business informatics is rapidly gaining importance. TheBachelor’s program in Business Informatics (WIBA) at the Ferdinand Porsche FERNFH responds precisely to this trend—with an innovative curriculum that emphasizes technical and business skills in equal measure. Program Director Martin Staudinger explains what matters most.
Business Informatics – Interdisciplinary & Practical
“Skills are not interdisciplinary in and of themselves, but their combination is,” says Martin Staudinger. What’s particularly noteworthy is that in the Bachelor’s program in Business Informatics (WIBA), economic and non-technical content is given at least equal weight—and in some cases even priority—over traditional computer science content. This balance forms the foundation for a deep understanding of complex digital transformation processes—a clear advantage over purely technical programs.
Despite the online format, hands-on practice is not neglected. While traditional programming activities—such as those in R or Python—play only a supplementary role, they are embedded in a pedagogical framework designed to foster long-term learning. Students work in their own digital environment—an environment they will also use in their professional lives. This fosters not only technical knowledge but also practical skills.
The course content reflects current challenges in business practice. Terms such as “digital transformation,” “data and information literacy,” and “human-computer interaction” are an integral part of the curriculum. The focus is not only on technology, but above all on practical business applications: How can information processes be designed efficiently? What role does data literacy play? Students find answers to these questions throughout the program and develop an understanding of IT as an integral part of corporate strategy.
Higher education can also be tailored to individual needs and truly fit around a full-time job
The program offers an unusually high degree of flexibility: About one-third of the curriculum can be tailored to students’ own interests, and part of that can be chosen entirely at their discretion. In addition, there is the professional internship and the bachelor’s thesis, which further deepen students’ individual areas of focus. “Our part-time students usually make very targeted use of these freedoms to directly link their studies to their everyday professional lives,” Staudinger emphasizes.
The fact that many students study while working is firmly embedded in the program’s design. With just a few days of in-person classes and clearly structured online phases, the program can be easily integrated into students’ daily work routines. In addition, counseling services are available to help students balance their careers, studies, and personal lives.
Career opportunities after graduation are diverse, ranging from in-house IT services to consulting roles in the external market. According to Staudinger, what matters most is that graduates not only work with standard solutions but are also able to think and act critically and reflectively. This is a skill set that is in high demand in an increasingly interconnected world of work.
You can find more information about the bachelor's programhere.
