There is an increasing demand for continuing education of high quality. This is proven by the growing number of students at Danube University Krems. During the winter semester the University again increased its student count by about 5.5 percent compared to the preceding year: from 4,776 to 5,049. Thus, for the first time, more than 5,000 persons are studying at the University for Continuing Education. The demand for deepening one's know-how in the field of management as well as extending one's specialized knowledge in the fields of health, knowledge management, communication, IT and economic sciences is especially high. Currently, 52 percent of the students have registered in the field of medicine and health, 31 percent in management and communication, and 16 percent in education, technology and culture. Since the time the University was found 15 years ago, more than 10,000 students have completed at least one course at Danube University Krems.

 

A recently concluded survey among graduates of the University also a positive result. In all 5,526 alumni who had completed a course at Danube University Krems between 2004 and 2008 were invited to participate in a study. About 1,000 graduates participated in the survey. 71 percent of the surveyed persons, aged on average 43 years, rated the University’s services as very good. 73 percent would study at the University again and 83 percent would recommend it to others. The main determinant of the high degree of satisfaction with Danube University Krems was the quality of teaching and, simultaneously, the innovative and practice-oriented course curricula, the fact that continuing education can be combined with employment, the lecturers, care of students, and the University’s client-oriented approach.

 

Asked about the value of continuing education, 82 percent mentioned personal development as the most important outcome of study, in addition to enhancement of competence in one’s specialty (80%), the ability to apply the acquired knowledge in various contexts (60%), and the interdisciplinary approach (54%). The least pursued goals were occupational re-orientation, setting up a second foothold, changing one’s job, and switching to self-employment.

 

As the study shows, employers supported their staff, primarily financially, by contributing to the tuition fees. The employers enabled their staff members to complete a course in continuing education by permitting them to take time off or by flexible working hours. During the period of investigation 67 percent of the tuition fees were paid by the attendees, 28 percent by employers, and 5 percent through scholarships and aids.