As part of the Legal Perspectives of the EU course taught by Marcella Krawinkler, the ACT track had the opportunity to visit the Upper Austrian Chamber of Commerce (Wirtschaftskammer Oberösterreich (WKOÖ)). After a warm welcome by Heike Lang and Theresa Stingeder, the students learned all about Upper Austria’s economy and the role of the WKOÖ. As the voice of the Upper Austrian economy, the Chamber represents business interests and focuses on three key pillars: business advocacy, service provision, and fostering social partnerships to maintain a balanced economic environment.
Next, Martin Seidl from the Chamber of Labour (Arbeiterkammer (AK)), guided the cohort through a presentation on the institution’s mission of protecting employees’ rights. With 696.000 members in Upper Austria and 620 dedicated professionals across 14 branches working in Linz, the Chamber plays a crucial role in providing legal assistance, conducting economic and social research, and regulating aspects of healthcare and the labour market.
The visit concluded with a tour of the WKOÖ’s Talent Space, where the ACT students had the opportunity to discover innovative workforce development initiatives. This final stop not only highlighted the importance of identifying and fostering different personalities and abilities, but also demonstrated how valuable such initiatives are for the development of young professionals.
Written by student assistant Chiara Paprotny