MCI to Establish Center for Family Enterprise

2015-06-25

Entrepreneurial School® to strengthen mainstay of Austrian economy I Joint project together with the Tyrol Chamber of Commerce I Speech by Harvard professor John A. Davis sets the ball rolling

The illustrious Harvard professor John A. Davis, Faculty Chair for Families in Business and Chairman of the Cambridge Institute for Family Enterprise, has launched a highly promising new initiative at the MCI. “Family businesses are the mainstay of the economy and possess some special strengths,” he said in his widely acclaimed speech at the Entrepreneurial School®. “These include outstanding dedication, solidarity, loyalty, a long-term vision, and a commitment to their local community. We need to focus our work on expanding these strengths in particular. At the same time, family-run companies need to be protected against potential risks and made more competitive.”

“That is precisely what we’re aiming to do,” confirmed MCI Rector Andreas Altmann. “We’re working toward establishing a center for family enterprise that will support this key pillar of the economy with professional expertise in research, teaching, and continuing education, create a focal point and meeting place for family businesses, and promote networking, exchange, and dialog between them,” he said, outlining his vision for the new center, which will be set up in stages in partnership with the Tyrol Chamber of Commerce. Its President Jürgen Bodenseer welcomed the joint project: “In Tyrol especially, family-owned enterprises are the lifeblood and driving force of economic growth, employment, and social responsibility. Having the Tyrol Chamber of Commerce and the Entrepreneurial School® work together in this area in particular is an obvious move and allows us to pool the forces of both institutions.”

Someone who has played a starring role in the preparations is Harvard graduate Dr. Bernhard Baumgartner, himself an accredited expert on family businesses and a longstanding friend of Harvard professor John A. Davis, who brought him to the MCI to support the creation of the Center for Family Enterprise with his expertise and his contacts. “That some 90 percent of the companies in Austria are family-owned says all you need to know about the importance of this sector, which generally receives far too little attention.” He continued: “We need to do all we can to make these businesses stronger. If I can do my bit in this regard, then I’m happy,” said Bernhard Baumgartner, a keen supporter of the joint undertaking.

The center will commence its activities in the 2015/16 academic year, before going on to add new services according to a set plan. Alongside traditional issues relating to family businesses, it will focus on matters of innovation, strategy, globalization, leadership, and growth. The center will thus take on national significance and will gradually expand the scope of its activities to cover other Austrian Federal States and neighboring countries. Companies, politicians, and associations have already expressed a genuine interest in working together.

Cooperation enquiries:
Mag. Bettina Stichauner
Büro des Rektors
+43 512 2070-1710
bettina.stichauner@mci.edu

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Press contact:
Mag. (FH) Ulrike Fuchs
Leiterin
Marketing & Communication
+43 512 2070-1510
ulrike.fuchs@mci.edu

Sensational result for the MCI

FIBAA Premium Seal double for the Entrepreneurial School® In 2014, the MCI underwent the regular university audit and had an additional voluntary audit performed for institutional accreditation. In both cases, the impressive result was the award of the internationally recognized and highly prestigious Premium Seal. The two Premium Seals are convincing proof of academic quality at Management Center Innsbruck and show that the MCI maintains quality standards that are well above the international average. Brigitte Auer, as head of Quality Management at MCI, confirms the wisdom of the strategy pursued by the MCI from the very beginning: "Thanks to our consistent quality-first policy, Management Center Innsbruck was able to position itself with the leaders in the Austrian university education scene from the start. The two Premium Seals awarded are a mandate to continue to do everything possible to further develop our products and services and satisfy international quality requirements to the full.” The MCI’s Rector Dr. Andreas Altmann adds: “MCI Management Center Innsbruck was founded in 1995/96. In the meantime almost 3000 students, 1000 teachers, 200 partner universities and countless companies and graduates all over the world place their trust in the MCI. The two Premium Seals are a source of motivation and strengthen our resolve for our future work." The audits were carried out by the international FIBAA Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation, which has offices in Bonn and Zurich. {phocagallery view=category|categoryid=962}Press contacts and queries:{mcicontact view=presse|id=1}

MCI achieves success in medical engineering

Tyrolean Economic Chamber awards Science Prize for system to minimize radiation exposure of patients For the second time in a row the Science Prize of the Tyrolean Economic Chamber goes to two graduates of the master program in mechatronics. This year, Thomas Gabloner and Michael Marek have been able to impress the jury with their master project in the field of medical engineering: In cooperation with the Innsbruck Medical University, the graduates have developed an innovative system for radiofrequency ablation, which considerably reduces the radiation exposure of patients during the treatment of tumors.The method of radiofrequency ablation relies on thermal energy created through the application of radio frequency current to treat tumors. In order to destroy the tumor tissue, the RF current is delivered directly to the diseased cells via needle electrodes. The exact location where the electrodes need to be applied is determined by use of x-ray guidance. The surgeon manually places the electrodes in the predetermined location. This procedure, during which the patient is constantly exposed to radiation, takes approximately 21,2 seconds. A method for the automated placement of electrodes, as developed by the MCI graduates Gabloner and Marek, can significantly reduce the radiation exposure of the patients during the treatment. Precise placement of the electrodes moreover guarantees that healthy tissue does not get affected. The advancement of the procedure includes the automatic generation of four images via x-rays. Once the images have been obtained, the position of the electrodes is determined within approximately 4,8 seconds on the basis of control and image processing algorithms. Thus accelerating the process of placing the electrodes, the method substantially improves the effectiveness of tumor treatment.The Science Prize of the Tyrolean Economic Chamber is awarded to acknowledge exceptional diploma and master projects as well as dissertations which display a high degree of innovation, and present small and middle-sized enterprises with immediate application possibilities. For Andreas Mehrle, Head of the MCI Department for Mechatronics, the award confirms the success of the degree program in Mechatronics offered at MCI: “The rewarded projects represent the broad and promising range of opportunities opening up by the study of Mechatronics. I wish to congratulate Thomas Gabloner and Michael Marek on their exceptional achievement.”MCI Rector Andreas Altmann emphasizes: “MCI students are trained to become academic engineers, who demonstrate their ability to break down highly complex theories into practical requirements already during their studies. The award is encouragement to further develop and expand our study program in engineering in order to meet the requirements of practice.”Project Summary{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=1039}Presscontact{mcicontact view=presse|id=1}

MCI launches double degree program with Kingston University

MCI students will be able to obtain an additional Master of Laws degree at Kingston Law School in LondonThe Entrepreneurial School® has taken another big step forward in its internationalization efforts by signing a double degree agreement with the renowned Kingston University. MCI students from the “Strategic Management & Law” Master’s program can now obtain a “Master of Laws” (LL.M.) degree in addition to their “Master of Arts in Business” (MA) degree from MCI.The new cooperation allows students to receive two reputable and internationally recognized degrees and thus adds another exclusive double degree option at an attractive location to the MCI’s range of programs. MCI has been offering double degree programs with the Università Carlo Cattaneo (LIUC) and Edinburgh Napier University and has now created a third opportunity with Kingston University. Thanks to efficient transfer of credits and well-aligned curricula, students can earn two degrees in four semesters.Prof. Dr. Ralf Geymayer, program director of the “Strategic Management & Law” Master’s program, is very pleased with the cooperation: “With an additional title, optimized language skills and a treasure trove of experience our graduates will be able to distinguish themselves even more in the job market. Kingston University is an excellent new partner not only on a professional level but also in terms of its location. With its cosmopolitan urban setting and great cultural heritage London is the perfect place for a stay abroad.”Siri Harris, BA LLB LLM, senior lecturer at Kingston Law School: “With the launch of this double degree program, our students will benefit from an international spirit, a high-quality joint study program and the ties of friendship connecting our institutions. We are proud to be able to offer our students this great opportunity to receive degrees from two recognized universities.”{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=xxx}Pressekontakt und Rückfragen:{mcicontact view=presse|id=1}