Burgenland University Prize 2025 awarded
From left to right: Maria Aima Labra Makk, Deputy Head of the Oberschützen Institute. Head of Department Oberschützen, University of Art and Design Graz; Herbert Gabriel, Vice Rector PPH Burgenland; Sabine Weisz, Rector PPH Burgenland; Michael Gerbavsits, Managing Director Joseph Haydn Private University; State Councillor Daniela Winkler; Gerhard Krammer, Rector Joseph Haydn Private University; Prize winner in the dissertation category Rainer Partl, University of Applied Sciences Burgenland; Prize winner in the bachelor thesis category Larissa Fink, University of Applied Sciences Burgenland; Winners in the Master's thesis category Thomas Ederer, Burgenland University of Applied Sciences; Dagmar Fenninger-Bucher, interim Head of the Social Work programme, Burgenland University of Applied Sciences; Bettina Schauer-Frank, Rector of Burgenland University of Applied Sciences; Igor Ivkić, Head of the Cloud Computing Engineering programme, Burgenland University of Applied Sciences; Georg Pehm, Managing Director of Burgenland University of Applied Sciences; Christian Heschl, Head of the Building Technology and Facility Management programme, Burgenland University of Applied Sciences.
Eisenstadt, 13 November 2025 - A total of 24 research papers were submitted for this year's Burgenland University Prize. These included seven bachelor's thirteen master's theses and four dissertations from a wide range of subject areas.
Applications from nine universities
Graduates from all four Burgenland universities, the Burgenland University of Applied Sciences, the Private University College of Teacher Education Burgenland, the Joseph Haydn Private University of the Province of Burgenland and the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz - Institute Oberschützen sent in their applications. In addition, Burgenland residents who have completed their studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, the University of Vienna, the St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences and the Technical Universities of Vienna and Graz also applied.
A high-calibre jury made the decision. Prize money of € 500 was awarded for the bachelor's thesis, a prize worth € 1,000 for the master's thesis and € 1,500 for the dissertation. The award ceremony took place on 12 November 2025 at the Joseph Haydn Private University of the Province of Burgenland and was accompanied by music performed by students.
Provincial Councillor Daniela Winkler congratulates
"The Burgenland University Prize shows the high scientific potential in our province and that the students and researchers approach their topics with a great deal of passion, curiosity and social awareness. The award-winning work emphasises the social relevance of the topics and provides innovative solutions that not only benefit society in Burgenland. I would like to congratulate the award winners and thank all those who have contributed to strengthening Burgenland as a centre of research with their submissions and commitment. I am also grateful that our universities offer young people the opportunity to realise their ideas and thus make an important contribution to our society," emphasised the responsible Provincial Councillor Daniela Winkler.
Bachelor's thesis: Focus on women and migration
Larissa Fink, BA, completed the Bachelor's degree programme in Social Work at the Burgenland University of Applied Sciences and wrote her thesis on the topic of "Women affected by violence with migration or refugee experience. An intersectional perspective".
The jury's opinion: The research results show, among other things, that the culturalisation of relationship violence leads to its trivialisation, blocks support systems and reinforces lines of difference between the dominant society and the migrant population and can lead to the legitimisation of institutional violence. Furthermore, it is emphasised that the portrayal of women as victims of their origin hides individual perspectives and options for action, which reproduces and reinforces inequalities to the detriment of those affected. The work is sociologically and textually sound, concise, in-depth and thematically highly relevant.
Master's thesis: Observation of octopuses
Thomas Ederer, BSc MSc, completed the Master's degree programme in Cloud Computing Engineering at the Burgenland University of Applied Sciences and wrote his Master's thesis on the topic of "OctoWatch: Implementation and evaluation of a low-cost underwater camera for observing octopuses".
The jury's opinion: "The master's thesis presents a specially built and evaluated underwater camera that can be used to observe octopuses. The camera was designed in such a way that inexpensive and freely available components were used in the construction, including the development of software to generate two different video streams. This allows researchers on land to observe octopuses in the sea without disturbing them in their natural habitat - a real contribution to science.
Dissertation: Optimised planning processes in building services engineering
DI Dr.techn. Rainer Partl, BSc, graduate and employee of the University of Applied Sciences Burgenland was awarded a prize for his dissertation submitted to Graz University of Technology on the subject of "Ontology for the description and formal representation of project-organisational relationships in the planning process of building services engineering".
The jury's opinion: "The dissertation addresses the fundamental challenge of inadequate coordination between building services engineering trades, which leads to considerable economic inefficiencies in the construction industry. With the development of the MEPCO ontology, the author has made a substantial scientific contribution to the digital transformation of the construction industry, the findings of which are of considerable importance for both academic research and practical application.
High-calibre jury made the decision
A jury from the various faculties scrutinised the entries and ultimately decided on the winners. The prize money is provided in equal parts by all four universities.
The jury consisted of:
For the Bachelor theses
Prof. Dr MA Klaus Aringer - University of Art and Design Graz, Institute Oberschützen
Prof. (FH) Dagmar Fenninger-Bucher, MA - University of Applied Sciences Burgenland
Prof. (privH) Dr Günther Kleidosty, MAS - Joseph Haydn Private University
Prof. (privH) Vassos Nicolaou - Joseph Haydn Private University of Applied Sciences
Prof.in Mag.a Dr.in Karin Schmidtbauer, MSc DSAin - Private University of Teacher Education Burgenland
Prof. (FH) DI Dr. Christian Wartha - University of Applied Sciences Burgenland
Doz. (privH) Florian Wilscher - Joseph Haydn Private University of Applied Sciences
For the master theses
Prof. (privH) MMag. Martin Bramböck - Joseph Haydn Private University of Applied Sciences
Mag.a Constanze Euler - Burgenland University of Applied Sciences
Prof.(FH) Mag.a(FH) Barbara Geyer, PhD - Burgenland University of Applied Sciences
Ing. Igor Ivkić, BSc MSc - Burgenland University of Applied Sciences
Prof.in(FH) Mag.a(FH) Bettina König - Burgenland University of Applied Sciences
MMag. DDr. Martin Krenn, MA LL.M. - Private Pädagogische Hochschule Burgenland
Prof.(FH) DI Dr. Richard Krotil - University of Applied Sciences Burgenland
Univ.Prof. Joachim Murnig, BA, MA - University of Art and Design Graz, Institute Oberschützen
Prof.(FH) Mag. Robert Pinzolits, Ph.D. - University of Applied Sciences Burgenland
Prof.(FH) DI Gerhard Piringer, Ph.D. - University of Applied Sciences Burgenland
DI Wolfram Rinke - University of Applied Sciences Burgenland
Prof.(FH) Assessor iur. Dipl.-Jur. Friedrich E. Seeber - Burgenland University of Applied Sciences
Viktoria Stifter, BA MA - Burgenland University of Applied Sciences
For the dissertations
Dipl.Ing. Dr Lukas Gnam - Burgenland University of Applied Sciences
Prof.(FH) DI (FH) Dr Christian Heschl - Burgenland University of Applied Sciences
Prof.(FH) DI (FH) DI Werner Stutterecker, PhD. - Burgenland University of Applied Sciences
Prof.(FH) DI Dr. Christian Wartha - Burgenland University of Applied Sciences
Background information
Founded in 2013, the Burgenland University Conference consists of the Burgenland University of Applied Sciences, the Private University College of Teacher Education Burgenland, the Joseph Haydn Private University of the Province of Burgenland and the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz - Oberschützen Institute. It is an independent platform of the universities in Burgenland and is also non-partisan and non-denominational. The aim is to promote networking and co-operation between these universities and thus enable a better exchange between the institutes. This opens up new perspectives and strengthens Burgenland as an educational region.
Submissions for the Burgenland University Prize 2026 can be made until the end of May 2026 at hochschulpreis@hochschule-burgenland.at
More about Burgenland University of Applied Sciences at www.hochschule-burgenland.at
Caption: From left: Maria Aima Labra Makk, dept. Head of Institute Oberschützen, University of Music and Performing Arts Graz; Herbert Gabriel, Vice Rector PPH Burgenland; Sabine Weisz, Rector PPH Burgenland; Michael Gerbavsits, Managing Director Joseph Haydn Private University; Provincial Councillor Daniela Winkler; Gerhard Krammer, Rector Joseph Haydn Private University; Prize winner in the dissertation category Rainer Partl, University of Applied Sciences Burgenland; Prize winner in the bachelor thesis category Larissa Fink, University of Applied Sciences Burgenland; Winners in the Master's thesis category Thomas Ederer, Burgenland University of Applied Sciences; Dagmar Fenninger-Bucher, interim Head of the Social Work programme, Burgenland University of Applied Sciences; Bettina Schauer-Frank, Rector of Burgenland University of Applied Sciences; Igor Ivkić, Head of the Cloud Computing Engineering programme, Burgenland University of Applied Sciences; Georg Pehm, Managing Director of Burgenland University of Applied Sciences; Christian Heschl, Head of the Building Technology and Facility Management programme, Burgenland University of Applied Sciences.
From left: Maria Aima Labra Makk, Deputy Head of the Oberschützen Institute, University of Art and Design Graz; Sabine Weisz, Rector PPH Burgenland; Gerhard Krammer, Rector Joseph Haydn Private University; Provincial Councillor Daniela Winkler; prizewinner in the bachelor thesis category Larissa Fink, Burgenland University of Applied Sciences; Bettina Schauer-Frank, Rector of Burgenland University of Applied Sciences; Dagmar Fenninger-Bucher, interim Head of the Social Work programme, Burgenland University of Applied Sciences.
From left to right: Maria Aima Labra Makk, Deputy Head of Institute Oberschützen, University of Art and Design Graz; Sabine Weisz, Rector PPH Burgenland; Gerhard Krammer, Rector Joseph Haydn Private University; State Councillor Daniela Winkler; Award winner in the Master's thesis category Thomas Ederer, Burgenland University of Applied Sciences; Bettina Schauer-Frank, Rector of Burgenland University of Applied Sciences; Igor Ivkić, Head of Cloud Computing Engineering programme, Burgenland University of Applied Sciences.
From left: Maria Aima Labra Makk, Deputy Head of Institute Oberschützen, University of Art and Design Graz; Gerhard Krammer, Rector Joseph Haydn Private University; Sabine Weisz, Rector PPH Burgenland; Provincial Councillor Daniela Winkler; Prize winner in the dissertation category Rainer Partl, Burgenland University of Applied Sciences; Bettina Schauer-Frank, Rector of Burgenland University of Applied Sciences; Christian Heschl, Head of the Building Technology and Facility Management degree programme, Burgenland University of Applied Sciences.
Enquiry notes:
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