On 2 October 2020, the University for Continuing Education Krems celebrated its 25th anniversary in the auditorium in Grafenegg. Among others, Alexander Van der Bellen, the Austrian Federal President, Heinz Faßmann, the Austrian Federal Minister for Education, Science and Research, and the Governor of Lower Austria, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, took part in the top-class ceremony entitled "Reflections & Perspectives". Helga Nowotny, the renowned science researcher, held the keynote speech.
Since its opening in 1995, the University for Continuing Education Krems has developed into the leading public university for continuing education throughout Europe. As the only public university for continuing education within the German-speaking world, it specializes in part-time, academic continuing education. In teaching and research, the university draws on its expertise to address challenges society faces.
review of the festive event
Here you find a summary of the ceremony's speeches.
In the following video you can see impressions of the inspiring campus of the University for Continuing Education Krems as a place of teaching and research as well as voices about the university.
Click here to view the picture gallery of the ceremony.
Here you find the full version of the event (available in German).
Here you find all the speeches of the ceremony.
Keeping pace with the times since 25 years
With 25 years of experience, the University for Continuing Education Krems is one of the European pioneers in the field of university continuing education. In 1995 the university opened its doors to the students by which a future-oriented model project for scientific continuing education was created, significantly contributing to addressing current and future societal challenges.
The university is well familiar with handling the specific requirements of part-time teaching. The University for Continuing Education Krems' strenght is to carry out university courses that have their finger at the pulse of time. Close to 8,000 students from 85 countries make the University for Continuing Education Krems the leading public university for continuing education in Europe. Usually, the students of the University for Continuing Education Krems have gained several years of professional and management experience, which is taken into teaching and research and subsequently leads to a knowledge and competence transfer at a high level.
The University for Continuing Education Krems is committed to application-oriented research with a high degree of transdisciplinarity. Bridges are built between basic and applied research as well as between the different disciplines - an approach that generates dynamics and innovation.
25 years - drawing the university's timeline
Opening of the University for Continuing Education Krems (1995)
The University for Continuing Education Krems opens its doors in the autumn of 1995. The on-campus operation starts just a few weeks after the opening with 93 students attending three study courses for European Integration and Journalism. The federal law on foundation came into force on April 8, 1994.
First MBA graduation (1998)
For the first time in Austria, the title "Master of Business Administration" (MBA) is awarded as an academic degree.
Launch of the art and culture program "Campus Cultur" (2000)
“Campus Cultur” is the first art and culture program of its kind at the University for Continuing Education Krems. The photo depicts the wall installation by Peter Kogler and Marcus Geiger in the old building's stairway from the year 2000.
The campus expansion marked by the foundation stone (2003)
The foundation stone is laid for the expansion of Campus Krems (new building).
Federal law on the University for Continuing Education comes into force (2004)
The Federal Law on the University for Continuing Education comes into force. In the picture are (from left to right): Elisabeth Gehrer, the Minister of Education; Prof Werner Fröhlich, the then President of Danube University Krems, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, today’s State Govenor of Lower Austria, former State Councillor.
Opening Campus Kids (2004)
The childcare facility on Campus Krems, "Campus Kids", opens.
Opening of the new Campus Krems (2005)
On 7 October 2005, the new buildings of Campus Krems are taken into operation.
Opening of the Archive of Contemporaries (2010)
The Archive of Contemporaries, holding a collection of bequests and premature legacies of outstanding personalities in literature, music and other fields of art, opens at Campus Krems.
The University for Continuing Education Krems obtains the right to award doctorates (2014)
In 2014, the University for Continuing Education Krems is granted the right to award doctorates, and the first two PhD studies, "Regenerative Medicine" and "Migration Studies", were accredited by the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria in the spring 2015.
Opening of the Core Facility (2018)
Opening of the "Core Facility" at Campus Krems – which is a joint research infrastructure with Karl Landsteiner Private University for Health Sciences and the IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems participating - in the presence of State Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (2nd from right) and Rector Friedrich Faulhammer (on the left).
First graduation ceremony for PhD graduates (2019)
In March 2016, three graduates start their first round of the PhD program "Regenerative Medicine" and successfully complete their studies in April 2019.
