Students at the International Week in Heerlen

The FH Kufstein Tirol focuses on international and practical training - even across national borders. A group of students from the Facility & Real Estate Management bachelor's degree program took part in this year's International Week in Facility Management at the Zuyd University of Applied Sciences in Heerlen (Netherlands). The students were accompanied by Asc. Prof. (FH) Dipl.-Ing. Christian Huber, Head of the Sustain & Estate Institute at Kufstein University of Applied Sciences. The exchange was funded by ERASMUS+. The intensive block week, organized in cooperation with the European network EuroFM, brought together around 180 participants from Austria, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. One of the main objectives was to jointly develop new perspectives on urban quality of life and university locations. In international teams, students developed creative approaches to make cities more liveable and student-friendly, for example through affordable housing, communal learning and working spaces or cultural impulses in public spaces.

FACILITY MANAGEMENT IN THE EUROPEAN CONTEXT

“Our students have experienced what it means to work with colleagues from other countries on real issues for the future,” emphasizes Huber. "It's not just about specialist knowledge, but above all about intercultural skills, teamwork and thinking outside the box. Such experiences shape and expand our understanding of facility management in a European context."

Participation in the International Week strengthens the long-standing partnership between FH Kufstein Tirol and Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, which have been working closely together for many years. This format offers students the opportunity to combine theoretical knowledge with practical international experience and to deepen their English-language communication and project skills. In addition to the specialist input, the program also included excursions and discussions on urban development in Heerlen. The region, which has transformed from a former mining town to a creative and future-oriented location in recent decades, provided an inspiring environment for the joint work.

PERSONAL EXCHANGE AS A DRIVER OF INTERNATIONALIZATION

“Internationalization thrives on personal exchange,” continued Huber. “Our students not only made new friends, but also understood how differently European cities react to challenges such as affordable housing, mobility and sustainability.”