“Digital Transformation in Learning”: The JKU and the new IT:U Interdisciplinary Transformation University Austria have jointly launched an English-language PhD program focusing on how AI and digital resources can take university learning and education to new heights. The application deadline is September 20.

As part of a partnership agreement, the new IT:U University of Technology and the Johannes Kepler University Linz aim to not only pool their key skills and expertise, but also take advantage of their geographical proximity and offer a completely revised doctoral program, “Digital Transformation in Learning”.

Under the academic direction of Assistant Professor Sebastian Dennerlein (recently appointed to the IT:U), and Professor Markus Hohenwarter (a professor at the JKU Linz School of Education and, among other things, creator of the dynamic geometry software GeoGebra), the program begins at the start of the 2024 Winter Semester. Graduates in the new program earn a PhD degree.  Assist. Prof. Dennerlein most recently conducted research and taught at the Institute for Educational Science and Technologies at the University of Twente (Netherlands) and is considered one of Europe’s leading minds in the field of “new learning” and the digital transformation in education.

JKU Rector Stefan Koch remarked: “As Upper Austria's largest institution for education and research serving over 24,000 enrolled students, the JKU is committed to teacher education studies and training future teachers. The JKU’s School of Education has been involved in teacher education studies and conducting groundbreaking research since 2016, focusing strongly on technology and the university-wide priority of digital transformation. We intend to support the new joint doctoral program by bringing in our expertise and continuing to build on our strengths.”

Stefanie Lindstaedt, the IT:U’s founding President, adds: “The IT:U is launching its first full-fledged program, ‘Digital Transformation in Learning’, just one year after the university’s inception. This program will revolutionize higher education by not only harnessing AI and digitalization's enormous potential, but also by exploring innovative educational methods that can support active learning during projects, become more individually tailored, and improve educational scalability.”

Doctoral candidates in the new program will be supervised by an interdisciplinary team of faculty members from both universities, benefitting from cross-campus advantages and infrastructure which has been designed to ultimately create a strong hub to support innovation and advancements in higher education at universities in Linz's university quarter.

The JKU and the IT:U: A Strategic and Operational Partnership

Launching the doctorate program coincides with the JKU and IT:U’s long-term strategic partnership agreement. The universities will establish an interdisciplinary, high-profile “Strategy Board” to identify and support potential advancements and synergies in academic operations and in research. Infrastructure synergies – including sharing a new computing center, the university cafeteria, and access to libraries - are additional core elements outlined in the partnership agreement.

Stefanie Lindstaedt and Stefan Koch both emphasize: “Both universities are committed in their efforts to transparently further advance and strengthen Linz as a university location. By being on equal footing, we can sustainably drive progress in Austria’s research and educational landscape forward.”

See: https://it-u.at/en/study-program/doctoral-school/phd-digital-transformation-in-learning/, opens an external URL in a new window to learn more.