The International Welcome Center Wins the 2024 Integration Award

International students make up nearly 20% of the JKU study body and the International Welcome Center is there to provide information and support services.

2024 Integration Award ceremony at Lentos Linz; photo credit: LandOÖ/Team Fotokerschi
2024 Integration Award ceremony at Lentos Linz; photo credit: LandOÖ/Team Fotokerschi

In addition to providing information and support services to settle into a new environment, the JKU's International Welcome Center (IWC) also organizes a “Job Matching Day” program. Out of approximately 60 submissions - and in recognition of its “Job Matching Day” program - the state of Upper Austria presented the IWC with the 2024 Upper Austrian Integration Award in the category of “Language and Work”. Endowed with € 3,000 in prize money, the IWC team and JKU Rector Stefan Koch proudly accepted the award at the Lentos Art Museum in Linz.

IWC director Sonja Falkner-Matzinger, BA MSc., spoke about the program’s objective: “The award acknowledges our efforts on Job Matching Day to bring international students together with representatives from Upper Austrian companies. We have created a space where international students can meet with company representatives and bridge language and cultural barriers.”

In an effort to bring international students together with representatives from Upper Austrian companies, the JKU’s International Welcome Center has been organizing Job Matching Day since 2022. On the actual day, the international students interview briefly with company representatives for potential job openings (part-time, full-time, internships, thesis topics, etc.). To date, the IWC has arranged approximately 120 job interviews with a number of companies taking part regularly, such as Fronius, Palfinger, and B&R Industrial Automation.

Falkner-Matzinger strongly believes in the concept and added: “When it comes to our activities, building bridges and working together to create a more inclusive and future-oriented society is important to us. ‘Job Matching Day’ is not only a unique opportunity for international students, but also a start for companies to promote integration and enhance company diversity.”