Kira Sanzenbacher Shapes Student Life at HOK

Kira Sanzenbacher and her team plan events for students at the HOK | University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol and oversee them from the initial idea to implementation. Her responsibilities range from concept development and organization to execution. She also collaborates with other departments of the Austrian Students' Union (ÖH), particularly the sports department.

Direct interaction with students is a key aspect of her work. Ideas and suggestions from the student body are incorporated into the planning of new events. "Our goal is to bring students together, offer them opportunities for networking and exchange, and provide them with enjoyable and varied experiences outside of their studies," says Kira Sanzenbacher.

For Kira, student life is paramount. Events are designed to create opportunities to forge new connections and experience university life together.

The collaboration between the Austrian Students' Union (ÖH) and the HOK is a regular occurrence in their daily work and includes exchanges with various departments of the university. This encompasses organizational matters as well as student feedback and joint projects. "I experience the collaboration as very open, constructive, and solution-oriented," she says. 

Kira directly applies content from her studies to her work in the event sector. She finds project management content particularly helpful, for example, in time management, task coordination, and structured work. Courses in communication management also support her—for instance, in teamwork, coordination with other departments, and communication with students.

WHEN IDEAS BECOME CONCRETE EVENTS

While her studies teach models, strategies, and theoretical foundations, Kira can apply much of this directly to her work for the ÖH. Ideas are not only discussed there, but also immediately planned, organized, and implemented.

Organizing the first Spritzer stand was a particularly memorable moment for her. Initially, the collaboration within the newly formed team involved a lot of planning and some uncertainty. During the event, it became clear how positively the students received the program. 

TWO PERSPECTIVES, ONE ROLE 

Through her dual role, Kira understands both the student perspective and the organizational processes within the Austrian Students' Union (ÖH). As a student herself, she knows the students' needs, interests, and challenges firsthand. Her work also gives her insight into how organizational processes function and to whom to forward concerns. 

This role is also valuable for her personal networking: Kira meets students from various degree programs and comes into contact with diverse interests and perspectives. Common inquiries include events, leisure activities, and networking opportunities. Students seek information about upcoming events and look for ways to quickly connect with others. They also contribute their own ideas and feedback on existing events. This feedback, in turn, informs the further development of the programs. 

TAKING RESPONSIBILITY AND LEARNING

Through her work, Kira gains practical experience, develops her organizational skills, and takes on responsibility. She also learns to work in a team and respond flexibly to new situations. Challenges arise primarily from coordinating diverse tasks, time pressure, and last-minute changes to plans. It is precisely through these experiences that Kira has learned to remain flexible and develop solutions together with her team.

"I've learned to take responsibility, collaborate effectively within a team, and react flexibly to new situations," she says. For Kira, the combination of her studies and her work at the Austrian Students' Union (ÖH) connects theoretical content with practical application. At the same time, she is gaining experience in event organization, communication, and collaboration within the university environment.

Links:

• Marketing & Communication Management | ft
• Our new brand - HOK | University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol

This article was written by students of the Marketing & Communication Management program as part of a practical project.