FH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences
FH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences is one of Austria’s leading universities of applied sciences, with campuses in Graz, Kapfenberg and Bad Gleichenberg. Founded in 1995, it offers practice-oriented education, applied research and innovation across a broad range of disciplines, including engineering, information technology, health sciences, media and design, management, and sustainability. Through close collaboration with industry, public institutions and international partners, FH JOANNEUM develops innovative solutions to societal and technological challenges. As an active participant in European research and education initiatives, the university is committed to excellence in teaching, interdisciplinary cooperation and the internationalisation of higher education.
FH JOANNEUM contributes its expertise in dual higher education, work-based learning, and university/industry collaboration to support the development of innovative “Dual Higher Education (DHE) models” in Albania and Kosovo. Drawing on Austria’s well-established dual education system, FH JOANNEUM supports the adaptation of European best practices to local contexts, contributes to the design of flexible DHE frameworks, delivers capacity building activities for academic staff and industry mentors, and promotes sustainable cooperation between higher education institutions and the business sector. Through its experience in Erasmus+ projects, FH JOANNEUM also contributes to quality assurance, knowledge transfer, and the long-term sustainability of the project’s outcomes.
Elizabeta Valentic is a lecturer and researcher at FH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences, Graz, where she has been working since 2015. She holds degrees in Business Administration, Global Studies, and European Public and Project Management. At the Institute of International Management, she teaches courses in accounting, finance, entrepreneurship, and international management in both Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes. Her research focuses on entrepreneurship, internationalization, and entrepreneurship education. She has extensive experience in Erasmus+ and Interreg projects, collaborating with academic and industry partners to promote applied search, project based learning, and international knowledge transfer.
Ingrid Kienberger is a Researcher and Project Manager at FH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences, Graz, with extensive experience in the management and implementation of international higher education projects. She has coordinated and contributed to numerous Erasmus+ initiatives, particularly in the fields of internationalisation, entrepreneurship, innovation, and university/business cooperation. Her expertise includes project management, stakeholder engagement, dissemination, quality assurance, and the development of sustainable partnerships between higher education institutions and industry.
Irina Foret is a lecturer and International Coordinator at the Institute of International Management and Entrepreneurship at FH JOANNEUM. She teaches Intellectual Property Law and International Business Law and manages international academic partnerships.
She holds a PhD in History, degrees in History and Law, and specialised expertise in intellectual property law. Since beginning her academic career, she has worked across higher education, legal practice and the private sector.