Green Transition Engineering - bachelor degree program
Transforming the Future with Data-Driven Sustainability
Are you ready to pave the way for a greener future? At Green Transition Engineering, we believe that achieving the goals of the green transformation requires effi cient and well-informed decision-making. That‘s why we emphasize the power of data in our approach. Data holds the key to understanding the current state of aff airs and identifying eff ective sustainability measures.
With expertise in data engineering and understanding of global connections across ecological, economic, and social realms, our graduates are uniquely positioned to shape the future of sustainable development.
The bachelor degree program "Green Transition Engineering" provides a broad and application-oriented basic education in the various transition disciplines (society, economy, ecology), the basic competences in the natural sciences and their technical possibilities, digitalisation and data engineering with relevant sensor, environmental and climate data, as well as fields of application. Accordingly, the curriculum is divided into nine focus areas in which specific competences are acquired and the Bachelor Thesis for completing the studies.
Each focus area comprises a series of modules corresponding to 5 ECTS. The clear structure of the curriculum based on focus areas and modules gives a clear overview of the teaching content and development of competencies.
The following figure shows the semester-by-semester sequence of the modules as well as the assignment to the focus areas by different colours.
The module courses are designed in such a way that the focus is on the students' acquisition of skills. Diverse learning activities, which include on-campus and outdoor units, are combined with individual or group activities for self-directed learning.
The 1st year of study starts with the module "Orientation and Outdoor Project". In this introductory phase, students get to know each other, learn to reflect on their own expectations, to set goals and achieve them. Furthermore, a topic from practice will be investigated “in the field”, to show which main topics will be dealt with in the course of the study program and how digitalization and data engineering can be used to efficiently answer questions. This motivates students to acquire essential basic competences of the natural sciences in the modules of the focus area "Methodical and Scientific Fundamentals". Additionally, the acquisition of specific competences regarding the focus areas "Social Transition", "Ecological Transition" and "Data Engineering", will start from the 1st semester in the dedicated modules and courses.
In the 2nd year of study further modules and courses of the focus areas "Social Transition", "Ecological Transition" and "Data Engineering" deepen the specific knowledge and allow interdisciplinary references between the focus areas. Widening the scope of Green Transition, in the 3rd semester the focus areas on "Technological Transition" and "Ecological Transition" are started, which are continued in the 4th semester. In this semester, also the first phase of the "Interdisciplinary Project" begins, where students work together in teams on practice-relevant topics. The joint project allows students to apply the competences they have acquired up to that point or to expand their knowledge in specific application fields and to practice project management.
The 3rd year of study is particularly dedicated to the development of practical relevant competences and the deepening of knowledge and competences in fields of application. In the module "Interdisciplinary Project 2", project work is continued, implementations finalised and the results are presented at the end of the semester. In the focus area "Application Fields", students can choose four compulsory elective modules from several offered modules based on their individual interests. In the 6th semester, the acquisition of practice-relevant competences is promoted within the framework of the 12 week compulsory internship. Furthermore, a Bachelor paper will be written on a relevant topic that is for example related to the interdisciplinary project. The degree program ends with the Final Bachelor examination.
Information Green Transition Engineering
Contact
Please contact us if you have any questions about your studies:
Head of Degree Program
Level of qualification
Bachelor
ECTS Credits
180
Tuition fees
€ 363.36 / semester
Qualification awarded
Bachelor of Science in Engineering
Duration of study
6 semester
ÖH (Austrian Student Union) fee
€ 22.70 / semester
Language of instruction
English
FH Campus
Villach
Curriculum
Profile
The graduates of the degree program "Green Transition Engineering" will
- possess subject-specific fundamental knowledge in the field of ecology, climate change, transition processes, renewable energies and transport,
- can view global sustainability goals holistically and break them down to regional issues,
- are familiar with the basic concepts, principles and methods of collecting, storing, processing, integrating, interpreting and visualizing (environmentally) relevant data and digitalization, and know the most important strategies for solving application-specific problems,
- are able to prepare evidence-based decision-making principles for the selection of measures to achieve sustainability goals or adaptation measures from (environmentally) relevant data, communicate these and document the results,
- are able to deal with subject-specific issues in a complexity appropriate to the bachelor's level.
- General university entrance qualification (Matura,...) OR
- University Entrance Qualification Examination, which includes at least the following examinations: Written paper on a general topic, Living foreign language English (E1), Mathematics (M1,) Physics (Ph1)
The main qualification objective of the Bachelor Degree Program in Green Transition Engineering is the ability to provide data-based and thus evidence-based information to various stakeholders in order to consciously choose measures to achieve sustainability goals and to document and communicate their effects.
Graduates acquire program-specific skills and qualification and will be able to
- take a holistic view of global sustainability goals and break them down into regional issues
- combine specialist knowledge about ecology, energy systems, resources and the economy as "overall system thinkers" and implement this knowledge using the appropriate methods, technologies and processes and integrate it into the management of various companies and organizations,
- analyse environmental problems and expected challenges due to climate change and evaluate options for action,
- recognize the interrelationships between ecosystems and climate change and to observe and describe them by selecting suitable indicators,
- apply the principles of structured and object-oriented programming,
- apply methods for storing, managing and querying data in databases (systems), as well as methods for integrating heterogeneous data sources,
- apply methods and workflows for data processing, analysis and visualization of data (e.g. also using machine learning methods),
- collect environmental data with tools, post-process it and integrate with available data from other sources,
- use (environmentally) relevant data to obtain evidence-based decision-making principles for the selection of measures to achieve sustainability goals or adaptation measures, communicate these and document the results.
- apply strategies to mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis and implement participation concepts to involve stakeholders and the population,
- apply sustainable project management methods and tools, including the creation of a sustainability plan,
- incorporate critical thinking and an understanding of values and ethics into projects,
- communicate and convey scientific findings to different target groups using suitable media.
Current courses - Green Transition Engineering
| Lecture | Type | SPPS | ECTS-Credits | Course number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Mathematics | ILV | 3,0 | 5,0 | B2.09090.10.031 |
| Climate Zones, Climate Types and Climate Change | VO | 2,0 | 2,5 | B2.09090.10.051 |
| Concepts and Principles of Sustainability | ILV | 2,0 | 2,5 | B2.09090.10.041 |
| Environmental Data Sources and Data Integration | ILV | 3,0 | 5,0 | B2.09090.10.071 |
| Introduction to Programming and Computer Science | ILV | 3,0 | 5,0 | B2.09090.10.061 |
| Orientation and Outdoor Project | UE | 3,5 | 5,0 | B2.09090.10.011 |
| Tree of Life: Biology and Biodiversity | ILV | 3,0 | 5,0 | B2.09090.10.021 |
| Lecture | Type | SPPS | ECTS-Credits | Course number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Databases and Data Structures | ILV | 3,0 | 5,0 | B2.09090.20.071 |
| Ecosystems Energy and Material Flows and Cycles | VO | 2,0 | 2,5 | B2.09090.20.061 |
| Environmental Ethics | ILV | 2,0 | 2,5 | B2.09090.20.031 |
| Fundamentals of Natural Sciences | ILV | 3,0 | 5,0 | B2.09090.20.011 |
| Introduction to Digital Modelling of the Environment | ILV | 3,0 | 5,0 | B2.09090.20.081 |
| Introduction to Statistics and Empirical Social Research | ILV | 3,0 | 5,0 | B2.09090.20.021 |
| Landscapes and Ecosystems of the Earth | ILV | 2,0 | 2,5 | B2.09090.20.051 |
| Science Communication | SE | 2,0 | 2,5 | B2.09090.20.041 |
| Lecture | Type | SPPS | ECTS-Credits | Course number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data Acquisition Tools and Methods | ILV | 3,0 | 5,0 | B2.09090.30.031 |
| Data Intelligence | ILV | 3,0 | 5,0 | B2.09090.30.041 |
| Ecosystem Services and Life Cycles Assessment | ILV | 3,0 | 5,0 | B2.09090.30.071 |
| Energy Transition | VO | 3,0 | 5,0 | B2.09090.30.051 |
| Integrative Alpine Excursion | UE | 2,0 | 2,5 | B2.09090.30.021 |
| International Policies, Environmental Law and EU Green Deal | ILV | 3,0 | 5,0 | B2.09090.30.061 |
| Project Management | SE | 2,0 | 2,5 | B2.09090.30.011 |
Job & Career
In principle, graduates of the "Green Transition Engineering" program will find employment in all economic sectors and industries. There is no area in the economy, politics and society that does not have to deal with sustainable development and digitalization now or in the future. Sustainable development will become relevant for all areas of life and work in order to be able to achieve the agreed sustainability goals of the United Nations.
Numerous new occupations and fields of activity will develop in the area of Green Transition. Especially the handling of the multitude of available data, for example from research or monitoring and verification of set sustainability measures, as well as the preparation of these data for different target groups and applications etc. are key competences due to the increasing digitalization. For this reason, all economic sectors and industries as well as the broad public sector can be considered as a job market for graduates of the bachelor's degree program "Green Transition Engineering".
New professional fields can be foreseen through the current rapid developments.
The following sectors are particularly relevant for future graduates:
- Environmental economics
- Sustainable mobility
- Sustainable urban and regional planning
- Environmental and resource management
- Industrial companies
- Public administration (environmental protection, nature conservation), federal, state, district and municipal levels and international institutions
- Interest groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
- Engineering and specialist offices (ecology, urban and regional planning, water management, cultural engineering, etc.)
- Specialist and research institutions, research companies, clusters and networks
- Energy industry, especially renewable energies
Within these sectors graduates will work as
- Assistant to the management
- Assistant position as project engineer
- Assistant position as process engineer
- Support of companies in transformation processes
- Calculation of climate balances
- Supervision of projects in the field of sustainability
- Evaluation of green transformation activities
- Climate protection officer
- Communication with different stakeholders
- Sustainability officer (for the green annual report or for further training in the company on the topic of "green")
- Process consulting
- Project coordinator
- Project manager
- Project management for investment projects or for small research projects
- Project collaboration
- Reporting
- Interface position between different departments
- Staff position in the environment of the management
- Technical assistance
- Website apps support
The successful completion of the Bachelor Degree Program “Green Transition Engineering” entitles the holder to the
- Master Degree Program “Applied Data Science” (MSc) or the
- Master certificate program for further education “Management of Conservation Areas” (MSc).
Unesco Chair
The Carinthia University of Applied Sciences has been awarded a UNESCO Chair for 'Sustainable Management of Conservation Areas' (MCA). The chair is held by Dr. Michael Jungmeier, Professor of Nature Conservation and Sustainable Development.
The UNESCO Chair is intended to promote and advance special research projects and educational programmes relating to nature conservation in the 21st century. Above all, the Chair is intended to provide individuals, institutions and societies with the necessary tools to successfully master future challenges relating to the management of protected areas.
Statements
Faculty and Staff - Green Transition Engineering
FH-Prof.in DI Dr.in
Ulla Birnbacher
Mag.a
Elizabeth Maggauer-Hoffmann
Alexandra Reithofer
Tamara Penker
FH-Prof.in Priv.-Doz. DI Mag.a Dr.in rer. nat.
Anita Kloss-Brandstätter
FH-Prof. Dr. habil.
Pascal Nicolay
FH-Prof. Dr.-Ing.
Karl-Heinrich Anders
FH-Prof.in Dipl.-Ing. Dr.in techn.
Adrijana Car
FH-Prof. Mag. Dr.
Gernot Paulus, MSc. MAS
FH-Prof.in Dipl.-Ing. Dr. techn.
Daniela Elisabeth Ströckl, BSc
Gerlinde Koppitsch, BA MA
Lilia Maria Schmalzl, M.Sc.
FH-Prof. Dr. phil.
Colin Heller, M.A.
Stefanie Steiner, BA B.Ed M.A.
Monika Auinger, MSc.
Vanessa Berger, MSc
Ilja Svetnik, MSc
FH-Prof. Mag. Dr.
Michael Jungmeier
Dr. rer. nat.
Vid Svara, MSc
Elisabeth Wiegele, BSc MSc
Mag. rer. nat.
Klaus Steinbauer
Ing.
Ulf Erich Scherling
Mag.a
Eva Maria Stefaner, BA
Campus & Arrival
Villach
The Villach region combines tradition, cosmopolitanism and quality of life with the advantages of an innovative business location. Villach, a small town with about 60,000 inhabitants, is an international high-tech location with groundbreaking cooperation between science and industry and is also increasingly developing into a start-up town.
Situated directly at the intersection of three cultures, Villach, situated on the Drava river, is an important traffic junction in the Alps-Adriatic region. This special geographical location and the beautiful landscape around Villach and in the federal state of Carinthia have made the region a popular holiday destination for generations, further beyond the borders. The drinking water quality of the lakes and the particularly clean air make Villach and its surroundings an environmental paradise.
In addition to its geographical advantages, Austria also leads the world in terms of its social and health care system and is considered a particularly safe, prosperous and liveable country.
Despite the above-average prosperity and the comprehensive state social benefits, Villach compares favourably with many international destinations. The "small town bonus" comes into its own here and makes everyday life affordable.
Explore Campus Villach on a 360° Tour.
Make a virtual walk through the Science & Energy Labs – T10.
Motorway exit Wernberg, then on the B 83 approx. 2 km in the direction of Villach, after the Villach town sign the B83 passes under the A2 motorway, and then immediately right the first exit in the direction of MAGDALENEN SEE. Following the signs for Magdalenen See, the road leads through a small wooded area, always follow the road, after an S-curve past Magdalenen See (left) always straight ahead, cross the southern railway line and go uphill directly into the centre of St. Magdalene. Turn right at the top of the hill, down the road, the grounds of the technology park are already visible to the south, the chimney of the combined heat and power plant, and directly in the sharp right-hand bend turn left onto the grounds of the technology park.
Motorway exit Villach/Ossiacher See, then approx. 2 km in the direction of Villach, on the right is Gasthof Seehof, on the left is Lake Vassach, continue on the B33 left in the direction of east, Wernberg, Klagenfurt, always follow the B33, after approx. 4 km turn right in the direction of Magdalenen See. The road leads through a small forest, always follow the road, after an S-curve past Lake Magdalenen (left) always straight ahead, cross the southern railway line and go uphill directly into the centre of St.Magdalen. Turn right at the top of the hill, down the road, the grounds of the technology park are already visible to the south, the chimney of the combined heat and power plant, and directly in the sharp right-hand bend turn left onto the grounds of the technology park.
The bus company Dr. Richard runs from Villach city to the FH in about every 15 minutes. The timetables are coordinated with the timetables of the ÖBB.
Contact
Europastraße 4
9524 Villach, Austria
+43 5 90500 7700
villach[at]fh-kaernten[dot]at
Explore Campus Villach on a 360° Tour.
