How it all started

The year is 1995. 91 students are sitting in their first lectures at the new university. This is preceded by a new legal basis for the establishment of universities of applied sciences in Austria. In Salzburg, too, they are putting themselves in place. The LH-Stv. Arno Gasteiger, at that time responsible for the economic department, sees a unique opportunity:

"For many years, the business location had one major shortcoming: the lack of technical and economic education at university level. When the opportunity arises to remedy this deficiency, we will pull out all the stops".  Arno Gasteiger

With success and lasting effect, as it should be shown. Parallel also the association wood technical center Kuchl with the professional association of the wood industry for the new training system makes itself strong and to the conception of its own course of studies.

These two initiatives lay the foundation for today's university of applied sciences and are trend-setting for the business location. Just like the focus on technology, business and media at the time. Thanks to well-trained specialists and managers, companies can keep pace with change. After all, the past decades have been characterised by digitalisation progressing at a sprinting pace, triggering disruptive upheavals in the economy and society.

Two degree programmes are being launched. ‘Telecommunications Technology & Systems’ at the Techno-Z in Itzling. ‘Wood Technology & Wood Industry’ connects to the Kuchl Wood Technology Centre. In 1999, the Salzburg Chamber of Commerce (WKS) finally takes over the organisational responsibility for the three training courses now offered at Techno-Z. As the largest private education provider, it is able to better fulfil its responsibility to the region. It is also the WKS that sets the course for the further development and growth of the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences.

The training system strikes a chord with the times and demand is high. In 2000, the idea of building a new, large campus in Puch-Urstein was born. It was driven forward with a great deal of personal commitment from the then WKS Director Wolfgang Gmachl. He was convinced by the location with its infrastructural connections and the possibilities for further expansion - but faced enormous headwinds. Nevertheless, thanks to intensive persuasion, he managed to change the minds of even the toughest critics.

Operating under one roof

The year 2005 marks a high point in its history. Firstly, the Urstein Campus goes into operation. At the same time, a structural reorganisation of the sponsorship takes place. After intensive preparatory work, a joint university of applied sciences for the province of Salzburg finally becomes a reality - with WKS and AK Salzburg as equal partners, with AK contributing its ‘Social Work’ degree programme and the ‘Centre for Future Studies’.

Integration of the health professions

The technical and business orientation is an essential pillar of the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, but to reduce it to this is not enough. The range of academic programmes in various healthcare professions has been continuously expanded for many years. Seven bachelor's degree programmes in health sciences are currently offered

The Salzburg University of Applied Sciences has also made significant progress in various areas in recent years. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the university was able to successfully continue and even expand its teaching and research. The switch to digital teaching formats and hybrid models enabled students to continue their education without major interruptions.

The range of courses on offer is being expanded: the introduction of new degree programmes, including English-language Master's programmes such as Realtime Art and Visual Effects, further increases the international appeal of FH Salzburg. Specialised Master's programmes in the field of IT are successfully launched.  The university also continues to focus on promoting start-ups and supporting graduates in founding their own companies.

The reorganisation of the degree programmes into departments comes into force on 1 September 2022: the teaching and research agendas are now structured into six departments, each covering specific degree programmes and research areas.

The reorganisation of the shareholders represents an important milestone in the recent history of FH Salzburg. Since 1 September 2023, the Province of Salzburg, the social partners Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Labour have each been equal shareholders of Salzburg University of Applied Sciences GmbH.

More than 15,000 graduates, 3,200 students, 450 employees and 1,000 external lecturers: The development of FH Salzburg has been dynamic. It is heading into the future with just as much vigour. Technologisation and digitalisation have rapidly changed the world of work and society and will continue to do so in the future. The UAS always has an ‘ear to the ground’ and continuously synchronises teaching content with the requirements of the market. However, in order to adequately meet the challenges of our time, more than just specialised skills are needed.

Setting interdisciplinary impulses

The focus will remain on interdisciplinarity and internationalisation in the coming years. The Salzburg University of Applied Sciences stands for diversity in terms of content: diversity that ranges from technology and wood to media and business to health and social issues. Interdisciplinary work and research projects at the interfaces between different degree programmes are common practice. In view of the increasingly complex issues of modern times, interdisciplinary approaches will continue to gain in importance.