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The Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien (WU Wien) or Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration is the largest University focusing on business and economics in Europe and, in terms of student body, one of the largest universities in Austria. Its current rector is Christoph Badelt.
History The WU was founded on October 1, 1898 as k.u.k. Exportakademie to provide professional training to future businessmen and thus stimulate the Austro-Hungarian economy. From humble beginnings as a professional school, it quickly grew to become an important institution, which was awarded the status of a fully-fledged Hochschule (an educational institution equivalent to a university, but specializing in a certain field such as technology or business or art) in 1919. At that time, it was renamed to Hochschule für Welthandel. The course of studies leading to the academic degree of Diplomkaufmann provided training preparing for the export and banking businesses and was very practical, comprising courses in business administration, economics, law and others. In 1930, the Hochschule für Weldhandel was granted the right to issue doctoral degrees. After World War II, the Hochschule für Welthandel increased its breadth in research. It started to become a very important institution in Austrian society at that time; most Austrian managers and many politicians received their university education here. From 1966 onward, it began to offer a more theoretical course of studies in economics. In 1975, it was renamed to Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien. At the same time, the number of students began to increase dramatically. In 1983, it moved to its current campus in Vienna's 9th district. WU Today Today, WU has more than 20,000 students and over 400 researchers and teachers, among those about 80 full professors. It increasingly draws students from outside Austria, mostly from Central and Eastern Europe. Most of the faculty are of Austrian or German nationality. Dramatic changes in the legal regulation of Austrian universities in the last few years have forced universities to compete with one another for students. To meet this challenge, WU is attempting to tailor its curricula to the needs of the market and to streamline its research program. Research Researchers at the WU work in the following fields: It should be noted that WU is not associated with the School of Austrian Economics which developed at the University of Vienna in the late 19th and early 20th century. While the University of Vienna's economics department remains particularly strong in academic research and publication in peer-reviewed journals, WU's economics department today exceeds it both in terms of faculty size and number of students. With students in Austria being free to choose at which university they enroll, WU has become the most popular business and economics university in Vienna and in Austria. Studies Due to its large size, WU is able to offer a very broad range of electives which is probably unparalleled anywhere in German-speaking countries. Beginning in Fall 2006, WU is planning to align its study programs with the Bologna process, offering both bachelor and master programs. Currently, the WU is offering the following four-year studies leading to a Magister der Sozial- and Wirtschaftswissenschaften (Master of Social and Economic Sciences) degree: WU offers the following advanced degrees: As at any Austrian or German university, scholars can also achieve a Habilitation at the WU. Furthermore, several courses in continuing education are offered (e.g. in advertising and sales, tourism management). Notable faculty members Notable alumni | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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