Many Austrians use the online application, FinanzOnline, once a year to file tax returns or employee tax assessments. Andrea Stürzlinger, head of FinanzOnline at the Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance in Vienna, is responsible for the technical execution and advancement of this online application.


As Andrea has always been passionate about technology, she decided to study Business Informatics at the Johannes Kepler University Linz. The program provided her with an in-depth, comprehensive understanding of computer sciences and business administration, which has allowed her to pursue an exciting career path. This installment of "Hörsaal Ausblicke" features JKU alumna Andrea talking about why the move from a Linz software company to the Austrian Ministry of Finance in Vienna was like culture shock, why tax returns are not an issue at family gatherings, and why she spent a lot of time in the LUI beer garden during her studies.

By studying law at the Johannes Kepler University Linz, "Zeit im Bild" anchor Tarek Leitner laid an important foundation for his career. His initial experience at the JKU came about while he was still in high school and attended a Mensafest using fake student ID number. Later, he even worked as a server at the popular "LUI" pub on campus.

Tarek Leitner began working as an ORF journalist at the Upper Austria Studio during his studies. In this episode of the podcast series "Lecture Hall Insights", he talks about the time he experienced convicted murderer Tibor Foco's escape at the JKU and how he reported on it at the same time. He also talks about how he feels about "gendering" and what writing a book chronicling his father's life was like.

JKU graduate Victoria Lunz is a molecular biologist and quality manager at Takeda, a pharmaceutical company in Linz. She is involved with the building blocks of life on a daily basis and on account of the Coronavirus pandemic, her work was suddenly the focus of public interest. This installment of the podcast series "Hörsaal Ausblicke" focuses on how she fared, what we can expect from a cancer vaccine, and why many people believed she would actually become a chef after graduation.

Victoria first earned a degree in Molecular BioSciences at the JKU, followed by the interdisciplinary graduate degree program Legal and Business Aspects in Technics. She had to balance her studies with childcare responsibilities as she also cared for her young son at the time. Victoria talks about how she managed to balance it all.

Michael Strugl earned his degree law and business administration at the Johannes Kepler University in Linz. Today, he serves as Board Chairman of the energy group Verbund. As President of the JKU Alumni Club and Vice-Chairman of the University Council, he currently plays a significant role in shaping the JKU's future. Michael Strugl fondly reminisces about his time as a JKU student where he not only made lifelong friends, but also caused quite a stir with his caricatures. On the side, he also worked a driving instructor. During this installment of the JKU's alumni podcast series, "Hörsaal Ausblicke", he talks about how he got this particular part-time job, what he thinks about the new digital university, and how universities can contribute to the energy transition.

Is it possible to use an electric wheelchair to ascend the steep Großglockner mountain road? This is exactly what JKU graduate Dominik Lorenz wanted to know. While majoring in Mechatronics at the JKU, he decided then and there to become an entrepreneur. Together with a business partner, he created hoss Mobility and since then, he has been building two-wheeled electric wheelchairs. This installment of the JKU's podcast series "Hörsaal Ausblicke" focuses on how he came up with this unique idea.

In 1975, Erika Rosendahl Huber-Groiss was one of only 15 women to graduate in mathematics and physics at the Johannes Kepler University in Linz. Her studies laid the foundation for her career, a career that took her to Holland to work for the Philips technology group as a researcher at the TV lab to develop, among other things, "half-switch plates," used for television sets at the time. She has fond memories of her time at the JKU, even though, as a woman, it wasn't always easy for her back then. During this episode of "Lecture Hall Insights", we spoke with Erika about why she once whipped out her knitting needles during a lecture in protest, why she turned down the invitation to a "Ladies Program", and why she likes the Netherlands so much.

JKU graduate Stefanie Schauer created Offisy (an advertising agency and the software company), volunteers at women's shelters, and is mom to two children.

She has very fond memories of her studies in business at the Johannes Kepler University Linz and studying for exams, even though she did not experience a lot of academic success at school. In this podcast episode of Hörsaal Ausblicke, Stefanie Schauer talks about how everything all came together in the end and why her student days at the JKU still remain "probably the best time of her life".

Just what is an economist doing at a beer brewery? JKU graduate Michael Pötscher, managing director of Craftvoll Ltd., is a driving force behind the recently re-opened "Linzer Brauerei" at the city's former tobacco and cigarette factory.


The podcast was recorded at the (in)famous JKU pub, "LUI", where Pötscher used to often enjoy a beer with fellow students. Was it back then already that he began to think of giving the old Linz beer brand a new lease of life? What does the JKU Uni Pils taste like? Pötscher gives a "lecture hall insight" into his professional career which all started with a degree in economics at the Johannes Kepler University Linz.

As part of the new JKU podcast series "Lecture Hall Insights", your hosts, Marion Draxler (JKU press speaker) and Christoph Kinast (ORF journalist in Upper Austria) invite alumni from the past and present to talk about professional success, challenges, (in)famous Mensa parties, and lifelong friendships. Their various guests share their journeys and talk about what still keeps them connected to their alma mater, the Johannes Kepler University Linz.