Banking, Insurance and Finance

Modern learning environment and digital infrastructure

Our university has state-of-the-art laboratories that enable practice-orientated learning. These laboratories are equipped with the latest technology to provide students with practical experience in realistic environments. In addition, project rooms are available for group work and project development. For creative processes, our creative rooms offer a wide range of opportunities for organising workshops and promoting innovative ideas.

Quiet learning environment in the library

Our library offers a quiet and concentrated learning atmosphere, ideal for individual study and research work. With over 76,000 physical media and access to numerous electronic resources, it provides a comprehensive basis for academic work.

Digital infrastructure and access to leading databases

FH JOANNEUM attaches great importance to an efficient digital infrastructure. Students and academics have access to a large number of leading scientific databases that are essential for research and study. These include, among others:

• TOPSIM Bank Simulation: Realistic bank management simulation, with which students learn strategic bank management with computer support and even manage stress scenarios.
• TOPSIM Insurance Simulation: Realistic insurance management simulation with which students learn strategic insurance management with computer support and even manage stress scenarios.
• i28Pro Finance Trainer: Realistic interest rate risk management simulation from Finance Trainer.
• Investment Simulator: Simulation-supported investments including analysis and trading simulation.
• Eikon: A comprehensive financial database that provides real-time data, news and analyses from the global financial markets.
• Sustainalytics: Provides detailed ESG ratings and analyses of companies worldwide, supports sustainable investment decisions.
• ImmoMarktAnalyse.at: Specialises in data and analyses of the Austrian real estate market, valuable for studies in the real estate sector.
• Aurelia – Company Database: Contains comprehensive information on companies, their financial figures and market positions.
• Preqin: Provides data and analyses on alternative investments such as private equity, hedge funds and real estate.
• OECD iLibrary: Access to OECD publications and statistics that are relevant for economic research.
• ScienceDirect College Edition and SpringerLink: Provide access to scholarly articles and books from a variety of disciplines.

These resources support our students and researchers in making informed, data-based decisions and successfully completing their academic projects.

The Digital Finance Lab – innovation meets practice

A particular highlight at the institute is the Digital Finance Lab – a modern learning and research space that provides students and lecturers with state-of-the-art digital infrastructure to work on innovative topics at the interface of technology and finance.

The Digital Finance Lab serves as a platform for:

• Simulations and scenario analyses on financial and capital market topics
• Blockchain and crypto use cases, e.g. through smart contract modelling or tokenisation
• AI-based models for financial analyses, e.g. risk forecasts or credit ratings
• FinTech innovations, for example in the areas of Robo Advisory, RegTech or InsurTech
• Data analysis with Python, R or Excel Power BI, based on real data sets from Eikon, Preqin or Sustainalytics
• Workshops with external partners from the finance and tech industry

The lab not only promotes the transfer of knowledge, but also strengthens students’ practical problem-solving skills. In lectures, research projects and group work, the future of the financial world is not only understood here – but actively shaped.