| Starting with an introductory day on February 10th, 2025, the ACT students embarked on the final leg of their journey in Austria. They were warmly welcomed by the Dean of Internationalization and Engagement at the JKU Business School, Sandra Stötzer, before familiarizing themselves with the team they will be working with at JKU, including Program Manager Edit Juhász, Dr. Werner Auer-Rizzi, and teaching faculty Marcella Krawinkler, Lisa-Maria Mair, Yuping Aistleitner, and Kathlen Exner. The students also received an overview of their upcoming schedule and got a crash course on everything related to student life in Austria, equipping them with valuable insights for their time ahead. To get an idea of the JKU facilities, the students then went with the program’s student assistants to tour the campus. In addition to getting to know the latest addition to the JKU campus, the House of Schools 1, where most of their seminars will take place. They also got to know places on campus where they can hang out or simply enjoy a coffee. During the tour, the students inquired about running tracks and were excited to learn about all the beautiful trails and lakes, such as Pleschinger See, just a short distance from campus. The tour ended at the TN Tower, where they enjoyed a stunning 360-degree view of the campus and parts of Linz. The following day, the students gathered at Hauptplatz for their guided tour of Linz. Their tour guide, Susanne Kropf, spent an hour and a half taking them around Linz to learn all about the city’s history and cultural highlights. The tour included stops at the Old Town, the Mariendom, and plenty of hidden side streets filled with tiny shops. After the official tour, the students ventured to one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Linz, the Schlossmuseum, with the student assistants. Toward the end of the evening, the students dispersed to various bars, shops, and cafés, where they rounded off their night in a casual atmosphere. With their introduction to both Linz and campus life now complete, the students are ready to jump right in and begin preparing their consulting projects. For the upcoming weekend, everyone is eager to start exploring all that Austria has to offer, with some even venturing to other countries. (Written by Chiara Paprotny and Leah Rugh, Students of the Global Business Master’s Program) |
