Welcome to the Institute for Higher Education Management
The Institute for Higher Education Management is part of the Department of Strategy and Innovation at WU and is led by Univ. Prof. Dr. Barbara Sporn.
IHM activities include research, teaching, policy advising and external engagement with different stakeholders, as well as involvement in international associations. Areas of interest at IHM combine theories of business and management applied to the complex organization of universities. With this focus, IHM provides insights for higher education scholars and practitioners but also beyond that for research and practice interested in expert and nonprofit organizational settings.
NEWS
We are hiring!
The Institute for Higher Education Management is currently looking for one or two student tutors (to be decided) for the winter term 2026-27.
Eligible to apply for a tutor position are students enrolled in a Master’s program who haven’t completed their degree yet.
If you already have an employment contract with WU, please be aware that you are not allowed to work more than 20 hours per week.
The position will officially start on September 16th, 2026, runs until the end of the semester and entails a commitment of up to 10 hours per week (the exact number of hours to be confirmed later).
Your primary duties will include (but are not limited to):
• Editing of course materials in connection to the related course from the Institute (e.g. PowerPoint slides, handouts, written exams & assignments)
• Preparing group work and answering student questions about the courses
• Active participation in course-related agendas (group activities, Zoom sessions, etc.)
• Supporting the set-up of online and offline sessions
• Supporting lecturers’ assignment feedback
Our institute offers you:
• Interesting tasks connected to the Institute’s offered course portfolio
• A warm, welcoming team atmosphere
• Insights in the academic world (research- and teaching-wise)
• Networking possibilities for your own, possible PhD-path
If you are interested in the position, please submit your CV by June 15, 2026 by email to: verena.herbsthofer@wu.ac.at.
For further information about the tutor position, do not hesitate to contact us.
Cooperation with WFP: Together Against World Hunger
© WFP / Carita Marsili
WU students are taking action. In partnership with the UN World Food Programme (WFP), master’s students from the Strategy, Innovation and Management Control (SIMC) program are driving innovation that directly supports humanitarian operations across the world. More about the (global) impact of this collaboration can be found here.
new publication
We are pleased to announce that the book Organisational and Management Theories in Higher Education has been published, featuring a chapter by Prof. Barbara Sporn. This insightful book offers forward-looking conceptual tools and a practice-oriented guide for navigating rapid change in higher education amid accelerating technological, economic, and social transformation.
interesting publication
We are pleased to present an interesting publication on the topic "Mergers of Higher Education and Research Institutions: Possible Effects on Research, Teaching, Knowledge Transfer, and International Visibility."
What effects can arise from mergers or other forms of integration, such as institutionalized cooperation between higher education and research institutions? This position paper (White Paper) reviews the international evidence on this question against the backdrop of the highly fragmented Austrian higher education and university sector compared to other European countries, as well as the numerous non-university (basic) research institutions. It highlights various current trends that favor larger entities and provides international examples from European countries.
new publication special issue
We are pleased to announce the publication of the Special Issue (SI) “New Models of the University – Innovative Structures, Adaptive Responses, and Strategic Behavior”, by Barbara Sporn et al. You can find the article here.
Save the date: We will organise a talk on the topic on February 12, 2026 from 1 to 2.30 pm. More detailed information will follow.
Bachelor-/Masterthesis
The Institute for Higher Education Management welcomes interest from students who would like to write their thesis under our supervision. We especially welcome interest in a topic related to universities/non-profit organizations. The following topics are available for Bachelor’s and Master’s theses:
Sustainability and impact assessment
Leadership and strategy
Governance and performance management
If you are interested in any of the above or related topics, please contact Professor Barbara Sporn - barbara.sporn@wu.ac.at.
You can find more information and the guides to your thesis here.
Courses Summer Term 2026
During the upcoming summer term we offer the following courses with interesting (guest-)lecturer:
LV 5155: Business Planning and Performance Management
LV 6074: Strategic Leadership
LV 6073: Fundamentals of Strategic Management and Leadership
LV 4342 + 4699: Professional Development Workshop
LV 6366: Research in Higher Education Science and Management
The WU Course Catalogue for the summer term with dates and details can be found here.
CHER Conference 2026
The CHER 38th Annual Conference will take place at the University of Catania, Italy, from August 31st to September 2nd, 2026. More information about the conference theme and call for proposals will be available soon on the CHER website.
Institut für Hochschulmanagement
Building D5, 6th floor
Welthandelsplatz 1
1020 Vienna
Österreich
Tel: +43 1 31336 5522
E-Mail: barbara.sporn@wu.ac.at
