Expanding Educational Horizons
In February 2026, FH JOANNEUM hosted its first EU4Dual Microcredential in Sustainable Production Engineering, a four-day program designed to equip participants with practical skills in sustainable manufacturing. This microcredential is a testament to the alliance’s focus on addressing real-world challenges through targeted, short-term educational offerings.
The EU4Dual Spring School on Green Business Transformation, held from April 13–17, 2026, brought together 74 students from over 20 countries in Graz. This Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Program (BIP) provided a platform for interdisciplinary learning, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas on green business practices. Furthermore, the Spring School was covered in a feature of ORF Wissenswert, showing the students’ work during their stay in Graz.
Student involvement remains a cornerstone of EU4Dual’s success. The EU4Dual Student Council welcomed two new representatives from FH JOANNEUM: Bastian Phillips and Werner Mittmannsgruber. Both students, enrolled in the dual master’s program in Engineering and Production Management, bring valuable industry experience to their roles. Their election underscores the alliance’s commitment to ensuring that student voices are integral to shaping the future of dual higher education.
Strengthening Industry Collaboration
The Industry Forum on Pioneering Dual Education, held on November 24, 2025, marked the beginning of a new event series aimed at fostering dialogue between universities and industry partners. The forum brought together leading company representatives, graduates, and program directors to discuss the advantages, challenges, and future needs of dual higher education. The second event, focused on regional impact, took place in the facilities of Pankl Racing Systems in Kapfenberg, which is now one of EU4Dual’s key industry partners. In the coming year, industry events are planned to be held every quarter.
Global Exchange and Community Building
EU4Dual’s Staff Week on Energy, Security, and Society, held from May 18–22, 2026, was another standout event. The week-long program hosted 30 participants from five continents, fostering intercultural exchange, collaboration, and the sharing of best practices in dual education. The event emphasized the importance of addressing global challenges through a multidisciplinary lens, with a particular focus on the intersection of energy, security, and societal needs.
Furthermore, 11 papers from FH JOANNEUM’s researchers were presented during the EU4Dual Annual Conference at Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg in Heilbronn. The conference was a valuable chance to exchange ideas and network with other researchers and staff members from the EU4Dual Alliance.
Recognized for Excellence
After a successful national EFQM assessment last year, EU4Dual underwent its first international EFQM assessment in March 2026 with great results. The alliance was awarded the 4 star “Recognised by EFQM” level for Sustainable Performance, achieving an overall score of 422 points. Furthermore, EU4Dual was a finalist in the prestigious Quality Austria Quality Team Award. As part of this achievement, the FH JOANNEUM team was invited to attend the 31st Quality Austria Forum where the award was presented. This event provided a valuable platform for networking and sharing best practices with other leaders in quality management.
Looking Ahead
The first EU4Dual funding period ends with 31.12.2026. Fortunately, the Alliance has managed to secure funding from the European Commission for the following 2 years, ensuring that the initiatives and programmes started can be kept up.
Furthermore, the Alliance is excited to launch its first Joint Dual Master Program Digital and Sustainable Manufacturing Engineering in the coming winter semester. Two additional Joint Master programmes in Green Economy and Sustainable Future and Integrated Health and Social Care Innovation are planned to launch in 2027. And last but not least: FH JOANNEUM will host the EU4Dual Annual Conference 2027 in Graz!
