Graduation ceremony in Pinkafeld: Graduates receive their degrees, first CAS qualifications awarded and a new professor appointed

Pinkafeld, 17 July 2026. 48graduates from various degree programmes at Burgenland University of Applied Sciences have successfully completed Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes in the Departments of Energy & Environment and Health & Social Sciences. For the first time, students on the Bachelor’s programme in Health Management and Health Promotion also had the opportunity to obtain internationally recognised CAS (Certificate of Advanced Studies) qualifications in addition to their degree. Sixteen graduates can now apply certified expertise in the fields of social media content management, care home management and hospital management. “Thanks to the targeted further training we offer our students across several subject areas, they can stand out from other job applicants,” emphasises Erwin Gollner, programme director and head of the Department of Health & Social Sciences at Burgenland University of Applied Sciences in Pinkafeld. The additional qualifications are offered to students with minimal extra effort and, above all, free of charge.

Alongside the university management, friends and family, Adrian Kubat, Deputy Mayor of Pinkafeld, offered his congratulations.

New professor honoured

The honorary title of Professor (FH) was conferred on long-serving lecturer Sarah Aldrian during the graduation ceremony. One cannot apply for this title; one must be nominated for it. The requirements for the FH professorship include academic training, teaching at Burgenland University of Applied Sciences, relevant professional experience, applied research and development activities, and outstanding contributions to the development of the university.

Sarah Aldrian, born in 1989, studied Sociology at the University of Graz and Applied Knowledge Management at Burgenland University of Applied Sciences. Since 2023, she has been working on her PhD in Educational Science at the University of Graz. Professionally, she has been working as a lecturer at Burgenland University of Applied Sciences in the Department of Health & Social Sciences since 2020. There, she teaches subjects including gender health, psychosocially oriented health promotion and empirical research methods, and is also involved in research projects. Previously, she worked, amongst other roles, as a university assistant at the University of Graz and as a member of staff at the Centre for Higher Education Didactics at FH CAMPUS 02. She was awarded the Teaching Award for innovative teaching in 2020 and the International Award by Burgenland University of Applied Sciences in 2026.

Student-friendly university still has a few places available

A positive atmosphere, student-friendly conditions and support on an equal footing – these are the advantages of studying at Burgenland University of Applied Sciences, which graduates consistently highlight after completing their studies. In terms of content, the degree programmes stand out for their strong practical focus and expert teaching staff.

For those ready to make a quick decision, there are still a few remaining places on some degree programmes. For information and enrolment, visit www.hochschule-burgenland.at.

For further enquiries: Mag.a Christiane Staab │ Marketing and Communications │ Burgenland University of Applied Sciences GmbH │ Tel: +43 (0)5 7705 3537 │ Email: christiane.staab(at)hochschule-burgenland.at