New head of the Energy and Environmental Management programme

12. January 2026

From left: Managing Director Georg Pehm, Department Head Christian Wartha, Programme Director Jürgen Krail and Programme Director Werner Stutterecker

Jürgen Krail is the new head of the Bachelor's degree programme in Energy and Environmental Management at the University of Applied Sciences Burgenland in Pinkafeld.

Pinkafeld, 13 January. Long-standing university professor and researcher Jürgen Krail takes over as head of the Bachelor's degree programme in Energy and Environmental Management at University of Applied Sciences Burgenland.

Krail was born in 1974 and graduated from HTBLA Eisenstadt, specialising in mechanical engineering. He decided to study building services engineering at the University of Applied Sciences Burgenland in Pinkafeld, which he completed in 1998. After several years in industry, he completed a Master's degree in Sustainable Energy Systems while working. His professional career took him from the private sector (Aichelin Heath Treatment Systems GmbH and Herz Energietechnik GmbH) to Forschung Burgenland and then to the university.

The expert in renewable energy systems and energy process engineering has been teaching at the university since 2008 - first as an external lecturer and since 2016 as a permanent member of the Department of Energy & Environment. He has also been a member of the university council since 2014. He was awarded the UAS professorship in 2021. He succeeds Gernot Hanreich, Rector of the university who passed away in spring, in his role as head of the degree programme.

New and fulfilling task

Krail approaches the new challenge with respect and motivation, he emphasises: "I was able to learn a lot from Gernot Hanreich. He has shaped the University of Applied Sciences Burgenland and, above all, the Department of Energy & Environment strategically, ideally and interpersonally like no other. We are opening the next chapter in his spirit and I am looking forward to working even more intensively with students and colleagues."

"I am convinced that we offer study programmes in the field of energy and environment at the university that are in tune with the times. At a time when the transition to a sustainable and resource-conserving economy is becoming increasingly urgent, we provide our students not only with in-depth knowledge, but also with the practical skills they need to be successful in a dynamic and future-oriented industry."

Jürgen Krail, Head of the Bachelor's degree programme in Energy and Environmental Management at the Burgenland University of Applied Sciences

University Managing Director Georg Pehm congratulates and assures:

"In Jürgen Krail, we have been able to recruit an energy and environmental expert with a wealth of experience in practice, science and teaching for the role of programme director. Today more than ever, the colleagues in the Department of Energy & Environment are fulfilling their responsibility to train the decision-makers of tomorrow. I wish them continued success in this endeavour!"

Georg Pehm, Managing Director of Burgenland University of Applied Sciences

Department head Christian Wartha emphasises:

"Accompanying students on their path to higher qualifications, supporting them in their challenges and sharing in their successes is one of the most fulfilling tasks of a programme director. I wish my colleague Jürgen Krail every success in his new role."

Christian Wartha, Head of Department

About the degree programme

Heat waves, energy crises, natural disasters - the energy, environmental and building technology sector needs experts to work on solutions for current and future challenges. For more than 30 years, students in the Department of Energy & Environment have been receiving a practice-oriented education with the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the field of applied research and development. Graduates can look forward to crisis-proof jobs in a growing industry.

The Bachelor's degree programme in Energy and Environmental Management can be completed as a 6-semester full-time version (Tuesday to Friday) or part-time (every fortnight: Friday half-day, Saturday full-day) as well as in an extended part-time version (extended to eight semesters, thus reducing the semester load). Students graduate with the academic degree "Bachelor of Science in Engineering, BSc". The study location at the university campus in Pinkafeld has one of the most modern laboratories in the Austrian university sector and thus stands for a practice-orientated education at an academic level. Admission requirements for the bachelor's degree programme are a school-leaving certificate, a university entrance qualification or a vocational qualification examination or a preparatory course with an additional qualification examination. As with all degree programmes at the University of Applied Sciences Burgenland, no tuition fees are charged.

Registration for the 2026/27 academic year is already possible. www.hochschule-burgenland.at

Press release

Press image

Enquiry notes:

Mag.a Christiane Staab │ Marketing and Communication │ University of Applied Sciences Burgenland GmbH │ Tel: +43 (0)5 7705 3537 │ E-Mail: christiane.staab(at)hochschule-burgenland.at

# Gepostet in:
News, Presse, Aktuelles