At higher education institutions (HEIs), regional commitment that is not profit-oriented often suffers from neglect. At the same time, sustainable regional development is becoming an increasingly important factor. As current studies show, there is still a lot of work to be done if HEIs are to be more of a driving force at regional level. Continue reading “Regional is not banal”
In a 19-volume edition, a research team from Graz led by the German Studies scholar Klaus Kastberger presents a comprehensive and informative picture of Ödön von Horváth. The critical historical edition sheds a more ambivalent light on the writer than in the past. Continue reading “Ödön von Horváth: highly modern and quite ambivalent”
A team of researchers from Innsbruck has compared the historical development of yodeling as between Switzerland and Tyrol thanks to funding from the Austrian Science Fund FWF. This is the first study of the eventful history of yodeling and yodel songs from the Alps in the 19th century to their urban popularity today. Continue reading “The history of yodeling and how it survived”
Social media engender new forms of religious and social life among the Indonesian middle class, a circumstance that particularly benefits Muslim women. Poorer strata, on the other hand, have limited digital access, which creates an “Islamic digital divide”, as is shown by a research project funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF. Continue reading “Social media change religious practice”
The dominant impression we have of the Byzantine Empire is that it was a rigid, traditional and luxurious culture. A project on marginalization funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF now shows there were also phases of tolerance towards marginalized groups. This throws a new light on the historical development of this culture in terms […] Continue reading “Byzantium: new insights into marginalized groups”
The assets that refugees who fled Austria during the Second World War were able to take with them were mostly just experience and a good education. Combined with the pioneering spirit of these individuals, these qualities have made a lasting impact on the culture and economy of many countries, as contemporary historian Philipp Strobl demonstrates […] Continue reading “The cultural capital of refugees”
Martin Dolezal is the first researcher to investigate forms of political protest on a variety of issues in Austria between 1998 and 2016. The political scientist is screening press releases published by the Austrian Press Agency. In an international comparison, Austrian society is less sluggish than its reputation would suggest when it comes to protests. […] Continue reading “What makes Austrians raise a protest”
A research group from Vienna developed a detailed model to identify impacts of different factors on regional knowledge creation and thus on the innovative capacity of regions. The results are intended to assist policymakers in their decisions. Continue reading “Where innovation develops”
Learn history by heart or challenge accepted truths? Funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF, a project on history education shows that history lessons in grades 6 to 8 still aim at teaching content rather than skills. What is more, the full potential of history textbooks often remains untapped. Continue reading “History skills need more fostering”
In a project financed by the Austrian Science Fund FWF, a research group from Innsbruck investigated how companies involve employees and also outsiders in their strategy development and what effects such involvement has. It speeds things up. Continue reading “Businesses benefit from more democracy”