The University for Continuing Education Krems () is an Austrian university specializing in further education for working professionals. It is located in Krems an der Donau, Lower Austria. In 2019, the University for Continuing Education Krems was fully incorporated as a public university into the Universities Act 2002 (UG 2002). The University for Continuing Education Krems Act ceased to be in force, while the institution’s specialization in postgraduate university programmes remained unchanged. More than 32,000 students have graduated from the university.
Courses
thumb|University for Continuing Education Krems, old building
The University for Continuing Education Krems has specialized in further education of working professionals. It currently offers more than 200 academic courses and degree programs (leading to Master's degrees) in the fields:
- Arts & Culture
- Building & Environment
- Digitalization & Sensors
- Economics & Business Management
- Education
- Health & Medicine
- Law & Administration
- Media & Communication
- Migration & International Affairs
- Psychotherapy & Social Services
Students
Today, more than 7,500 students (average age: 39 years) from over 100 countries study at the university. 26 percent of the students come from foreign countries.
Organisation
Faculties and departments
Faculty of Health and Medicine
Departments:
- Biomedical Research
- Dementia Research and Nursing Science
- Evidence-based Medicine and Evaluation
- Health Sciences, Medicine and Research
- Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy
Faculty of Business and Globalization
Departments:
- E-Governance and Administration
- Migration and Globalisation
- Legal Studies and International Relations
- Security Studies
- Economy and Health
- Management and Economics
Faculty of Education, Arts and Architecture
Departments:
- Building and Environment
- Higher Education Research
- Integrated Sensor Systems
- Arts and Cultural Studies
- Continuing Education Research and Educational Technologies
Vice-chancellor
On 2 February 2007, vice-chancellor Helmut Kramer resigned due to "conceptional differences on strategic leadership". In May 2007 Heinrich Kern was assigned new vice-chancellor. The interim vice-chancellor, Ada Pellert, who also had applied, was not considered on the shortlist of three by the nomination committee. This was followed by protests in the university senate claiming the decision to be gender-discriminating.
On 8 August 2007, the university issued a statement that the discussions on the vice-chancellor's nomination are based on structural problems in the university. The university decided to split the organisation into two universities. Kern and Pellert were asked to apply for the positions of the two universities' vice-chancellors.
In July 2008 deputy vice-chancellors Ada Pellert and Hanna Risku resigned. In August 2008, vice-chancellor Heinrich Kern resigned according to an agreement with the university council. Former deputy vice-chancellor Jürgen Willer was elected new vice-chancellor. Willer took office in January 2009. He resigned from the office in September 2012.
In its session held on 20 February 2013, the University Council elected Friedrich Faulhammer, former general secretary of the Federal Ministry for Science and Research, to become its vice-chancellor. In its meeting on October 15, 2024, the University Council elected Prof. Viktoria Weber as the new vice-chancellor. Weber has been in office since August 1, 2025.