Developing an entrepreneurial mindset lies at the core of the School of Management’s bachelor’s and master’s curricula, with the goal of fostering creativity, helping students take initiative, and viewing challenges as opportunities for growth:  

• At the bachelor’s level, CUAS offers the innovative “Innovation, Change & Entrepreneurial Action” specialization in the fifth semester of the Intercultural Management Program, a blended program led by Professor Eithne Knappitsch and Dr. Anna Zinenko. This award-winning course (Austrian State Prize of Teaching Excellence Ars Docendi) emphasizes entrepreneurial thinking and adaptability, equipping students with the skills to navigate and drive change within complex business landscapes.  
• At the master’s level, the International Business Management (IBM) program integrates innovation through its “International Entrepreneurship Lab” and the “Management Hackathon: Solving Complex Business Challenges” as part of its Practical Business Laboratories, coordinated by Program Director Professor Dietmar Sternad. These labs provide immersive, real-world experiences where students tackle pressing industry problems and develop innovative solutions.  
• Additionally, the Business Development Management (BDM) master’s program features a “Business Model Innovation” course within its Strategic Business Development Module, coordinated by Professor Alexander Schwarz-Musch, focusing on advanced strategies in business model innovation.  

Together, these programs provide CUAS students with a rigorous, hands-on approach to innovation and entrepreneurial action across both undergraduate and graduate levels.  

“Innovation and entrepreneurship education in our curricula is dedicated to developing core competencies related to generating and designing ideas for new business opportunities and to putting such ideas into practice. With the promotion of an entrepreneurial mindset among our students and graduates, our institution is dedicated to shaping responsible future leaders that create impact in and for our region. Our new collaboration with the European Innovation Academy (EIA), which is supported by a grant from the state of Carinthia (Land Kärnten), enables us to enrich our innovation and entrepreneurial education and shift it to a global level, thus raising awareness among national and international players towards the role of Carinthia as an important educational and innovation hub.” Dr. Thomas Fenzl, Dean, School of Management, CUAS.  

These modules in the core business curriculum encourage students to move beyond conventional solutions and engage them in experiential learning through hands-on projects, case studies, and start-up simulations. The real-world approach is oriented toward skill-building and enables business graduates to take on leadership roles with a proactive, solution-oriented mindset.  

School of Management partnership with the European Innovation Academy:

To further enrich its offerings, the CUAS School of Management is proud to announce a new partnership with the European Innovation Academy (EIA), a global leader in entrepreneurial education. This collaboration, supported by a government grant from Land KÄRNTEN, will provide two students with scholarships to attend EIA Summer School in Portugal from 20 July to 8 August, 2025.  

Through this partnership, CUAS students gain access to a unique international network and immersive learning experiences that prepare them to become adaptable, innovative leaders in a globalized business environment. EIA programs are developed in collaboration with top institutions like Stanford University, U.C. Berkeley, and Google. EIA prides itself on fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment, with a vibrant multicultural network of over 25,000 alumni from more than 85 countries. Through the immersive, three-week summer school, students will earn 6 ECTS credits while engaging in hands-on training on sustainability, business prototyping, and pitching to industry mentors. Students collaborate with peers worldwide, receiving mentorship from top industry experts as they build skills in ideation, business modeling, and cross-cultural teamwork.

According to Mr. Mike Adler, University Relations Manager at EIA, “Through partnerships with universities worldwide, EIA provides students with unique, immersive experiences that bridge the gap between academic learning and practical entrepreneurship. In just 15 days, they develop skills like ideation, business model creation, and pitching—gaining real-world insights that complement their university’s curriculum. Our programs offer students a safe space to experiment, learn from failure, and tackle complex problems. Guided by a global network of mentors from top companies and supported by diverse peers, they form lasting international connections and gain essential cross-cultural and entrepreneurial skills that foster innovative thinking. These experiences prepare students not only for successful careers but also to address pressing global needs through meaningful job creation and lasting impact.”

This partnership aligns CUAS with other leading Austrian academic institutions like the University of Graz, which has seen its students benefit from EIA’s intensive program through enhanced leadership, networking, and English communication skills.

Through these initiatives, the CUAS School of Management aims to expand its already robust curriculum by connecting students to international entrepreneurial networks. As a new member of the European University Alliance ACE2, CUAS is committed to continuous internationalization and development, offering students unparalleled learning opportunities that prepare them to make meaningful impacts and tackle global business challenges.  

The selection process for the EIA Summer School scholarship at CUAS follows a structured timeline designed to ensure a thorough evaluation and preparation for participants. An open call for applicants will be launched in  mid  January, with a submission deadline of 20 February . In February, candidates will undergo an evaluation by a panel of experts, with the final scholarship recipients being announced in  March. From March to May, the selected students will participate in online onboarding sessions led by EIA managers to prepare for the program. The Summer School itself will take place in July and August in Porto, Portugal.

Funding: AMT DER KÄRNTNER LANDESREGIERUNG Abteilung 6 – Bildung und Sport UA Tertiäres Bildungswesen und Ausbildungsstätten für Gesundheitsberufe.

Implementation: School of Management, Fachhochschule Kärnten / Carinthia University of Applied Sciences.
www.fh-kaernten.at

European Innovation Academy Summer School:
www.inacademy.eu/portugal

Testimonials of participants: 
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaIXsr8qp6w
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eaCk2l51Hw