ISAE4W International Summer Academy in Engineering for Women

For the 4th time, the International Summer Academy for Women in Engineering (ISAE4W) offered an ideal opportunity for 30 highly-motivated and talented women from 15 countries to experience top-class and challenging university-level coursework.

The Academy’s intensive, two and a half week programme combined sophisticated theory with hands-on practical experience in engineering, informatics and natural sciences. In addition to knowledge transfer in these fields, social, cross-cultural and gender aspects were covered and discussed during lectures, seminars and workshops. 

Each participant choose from one of three specializations: 

• Natural Sciences
• Engineering and Technology
• Computer Science and Informatics

Natural Sciences

• Development of the natural sciences and world-view from ancient Greece to modern day physics
• Synthetic biology: promises and dangers for society
• Molecular biology: forensic DNA profiling and its computational analysis

Engineering and Technology

• Physics of ferromagnetic materials and their application in technology
• From conventional magnetism to a railgun
• Special high voltage applications in modern day technology

Computer Science and Informatics

• What computer science can learn from nature - Evolutionary optimization algorithms and data mining
• Importance of online privacy
• Human and computer interaction

The further lectures, laboratories and seminars covered following specific issues and current trends:

Applied Sciences in Theory and Practice

• Research talks: successful scientists from the FH Upper Austria introduce their research projects
• Group project: cutting-edge technologies and their impact on society
• Sustainability: the interconnections of different technological systems and considerations about how changes affect these systems

Specific Topics

• Intercultural communication
• The role of women in science and research
• Innovation management: from the first idea to a business plan to the marketing of a final product

Interesting Places to Visit

• Companies: Visit to Rosenbauer, a company producing the most sophisticated fire engines in the world
• Museums: Ars Electronica Center – museum for information technology and technological advancements in society
• Cultural highlights in Upper Austria: 31st Pflasterspektakel – street performance festival in Linz

In addition, the participants had an ongoing project throughout the entire academy. The project encompassed scientific and technological aspects as well as creativity and social impact.

A team of highly qualified academic staff from our university as well as from other universities and organisations provied scientific and technical background on workshop topics and information about the role of women in science and their opportunities in scientific careers.

• Broaden technical and scientific knowledge
• Earn academic credit (4 ECTS)
• Improve language und intercultural skills
• International contacts
• Creativity, fun and experience

• women from 18 to 25

• English

University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria
School of Engineering
Stelzhamerstraße 23
4600 Wels/Austria

€ 780,- (for 2017)
including tuition fees,  room for the entire stay, meals on weekdays (weekends are free for individual activities), numerous field trips

Application Deadline for ISAE4W2017 has ended by 30th April 2017.

Please note that due to limited capacities a maximum of two students per specialization and a total of four students per institution can be accepted. Acceptance decisions will be made exclusively based on the students’ qualifications and the fit with the offered specialization. Competitive entry: We reserve the right to decline applicants.