Thomas Königshofer, BSc MSc

Key data:

Job description: Energy certification auditor and environmental metrology expert

Company: TÜV SÜD Landesgesellschaft Österreich GmbH in Bruck an der Mur (TÜV SÜD Österreich - Mehr Wert. Mehr Vertrauen. | TÜV SÜD Österreich)

You studied Energy, Mobility and Environmental Management. When did you start your studies?

I started studying Energy, Transport and Environmental Management in 2012 and then enrolled on the Master’s degree programme in Energy and Transport Management in 2015.

How did you like your studies at FH JOANNEUM? And what did you like in particular?

I’d like to emphasise that both the Bachelor’s and the Master’s course are in tune with the times. The key subjects of energy and mobility, and the environment in particular, are ideal for preparing students for the job market. What I liked in particular was the combination of engineering and management. The education in industrial engineering and of course the large proportion of practical training are major plus factors of this programme.

How would you describe the course in one sentence?

The course provides the basis for coping with future challenges such as decarbonisation and the Green Deal.

Did you plan to study this subject area from the beginning? What were your interests when you were in school?

I was fascinated by these exciting and future-oriented topics from an early age and therefore decided to specialise in plastics technology and environmental engineering when I was at HTL Kapfenberg technical secondary school. I then went to Graz to study mechanical engineering and business economics at TU Graz. After a short time, I realised that these were not fields in which I wanted to spend my working life. I therefore decided to study Energy, Transport and Environmental Management and Energy and Transport Management at FH JOANNEUM Kapfenberg. Looking back I can say that was definitely the right decision to make.

How did this course prepare you for your career? What skills and expertise did you acquire?

My education in the fields of energy generation and energy management, and the knowledge I acquired about the impact different processes have on the environment are a sound basis for my professional activities. The course also offers a wide range of options for gaining additional qualifications, such as environmental manager, internal environmental auditor or energy consultant among others, which provide real benefits for your future career.

What is your current job about? Could you give us an insight into your work?

I am currently working as an energy certification auditor and environmental metrology expert at the Department for Climate Protection and Environmental Engineering of TÜV SÜD Landesgesellschaft Österreich GmbH. In my job as an auditor I focus on the certification of renewable energy products such as green electricity and hydrogen. I am also involved in work concerning the EU Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS).

In addition to my job as an auditor for TÜV SÜD, I also specialise in emissions measurements for industrial facilities and biomass heating and CHP plants. An issue of great importance to me is being able to pass on my knowledge, and this is why I am also a guest lecturer on the Bachelor’s course in Energy, Mobility and Environmental Management at FH JOANNEUM Kapfenberg and the Master’s programme in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Management at UAS Technikum Wien.

What does your typical working day look like? What projects are you currently working on?

There is no such thing as a typical working day in my profession. The projects on which I work are very diverse and also very exciting. I am currently dealing intensively with the certification of green hydrogen in Austria and abroad and the assessment of greenhouse gas emissions. These topics are now more pressing than ever, which is very clear to us all not least from the broad media coverage they are now receiving.

How did your studies change your career?

I’d say it was my studies at FH JOANNEUM that enabled me to take up this career in the first place.

What do you like most about your job? What do you find particularly interesting? What are the main challenges in your job? The fascinating thing is that you have the chance to work on a variety of exciting problems and that you must always remain at the cutting edge of technology and constantly develop your professional knowledge.

What knowledge and skills do you need to work in this profession?

What you mainly need is a good technical understanding of industrial facilities and processes and, of course, energy production in general. Working in environmental metrology requires knowledge and skills in the relevant measurement and analysis methods and a basic knowledge of chemistry. In addition to these technical skills, an auditor in particular needs soft skills in the fields of communication, such as oral presentation and discussion techniques, and project management.

What tips do you have for those about to start their career?

Just because you graduated does not mean that you know everything, but the programme gives you a sound basis for entering the world of work, and with sufficient motivation and ambition, there’s nothing you can’t achieve.

Are you still in contact with your former fellow students?

Of course. The programme is so broad-based that I meet many of my former fellow students in different positions in the energy, environment and mobility sector. It is very exciting to exchange experiences with them and keep up to date with the latest news from the different sectors.

What are your wishes for the future? What would you like to achieve in your career?

There must be a fundamental rethink in the entire population in the direction of more environmental protection and sustainability in future. I personally want to continue promoting these issues and to do further work in this field.

Would you recommend this programme? Why would you recommend secondary school leavers to study Energy, Mobility and Environmental Management at FH JOANNEUM?

I would definitely recommend the programme because, as I’ve already said, it is essential to raise greater awareness about these topics. We all need to do our share to be able to create a more sustainable future – because “environmental expertise brings clear benefits” (TÜV SÜD, 2021).

TÜV SÜD, 2021

TÜV SÜD Landesgesellschaft Österreich (2021): Umwelttechnik und Klimaschutz, Umwelt-Know-how bringt klare Vorteile, https://www.tuvsud.com/de-at/dienstleistungen/umwelttechnik-klimaschutz, accessed on 13 May 2021, 14:30