IT:U Interdisciplinary Transformation University Austria
IT:U Interdisciplinary Transformation University Austria is one of the first public universities in Europe dedicated exclusively to the digital transformation of science, business and society. Based in Linz, Austria, IT:U offers a new form of learning in a digital world. The project-based, personalised approach to technical education provides students from a wide range of disciplines with the digital skills needed to tackle global challenges. At IT:U, they learn to use technology to transform work in their disciplines and will become equipped for the digital transformation in industry, business and research, responding to the challenges of society and the environment.
Research groups and Programs
Current Research groups: Complex Systems and Network Science, Computational Neuroscience, Digital Transformation in Learning, Explainable Artificial Intelligence, Game Theory and Evolutionary Dynamics, Geosocial Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights and Technology, Human-Computer Interaction, Intelligent User Interfaces, Machine Learning in Earth Science, Natural Language Processing
Programs:
www.it-u.at/en/study-program/doctoral-school
Specials
At IT:U, the educational approach is deeply rooted in project-based learning (PBL) – students actively engage in projects. This model immerses students in real-world challenges, allowing them to expand their understanding through practical experience. Together, they tackle major societal challenges such as climate change, innovations in healthcare, and digital transformation.
The learn labs are the core of PBL. In the learn labs at IT:U, students work in small groups on projects inspired by economic, scientific, and societal challenges. The teams are intentionally interdisciplinary: lawyers collaborate with doctors, mechanical engineers with biologists, computer scientists with designers. By working in multiple learn labs, students not only gain in-depth knowledge of digital technologies and computer science methods, but they also immediately apply these skills to projects. At the same time, they develop valuable cross-functional skills, ranging from project management to interdisciplinary teamwork and understanding legal frameworks.
Students who join IT:U have different kinds of backgrounds, coming from various disciplines. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, students learn to view problems from different perspectives and develop comprehensive solutions that address the complexity of modern society. The university’s focus on solving real-world problems not only equips students with the skills needed for their professional careers, but also trains exactly the kind of project-experienced, independent, and interdisciplinary experts who are crucial for the digital transformation in business, industry, and society.