Open House with a new highlight: Tiny Torquer delights the crowd

As soon as you entered the auditorium, it was clear that this was not just about providing information, but about experiencing something. While prospective students gathered information in counseling sessions, attended trial lectures, and got their first impressions of the campus, one booth in particular attracted a lot of attention. The Industrial Engineering & Management program's display was impossible to miss: flanked by black-and-white checkered racing flags and equipped with a drag racing starting light with red, yellow, and green lights, typical of motorsports. It was a setting that immediately aroused curiosity and attracted numerous visitors.

The focus of the event was Tiny Torquer – a working group and association based at the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol that goes far beyond individual degree programs. Although Tiny Torquer acted as ambassadors for the Industrial Engineering & Management degree program at the open house, they are deliberately open to students from all disciplines as well as external interested parties who would like to get involved in the association.

WORKSHOP INSTEAD OF LECTURE HALL: MINI-BIKES TO TOUCH 

Another special attraction was the tour of the FH Kufstein Tirol's own Tiny Torquer workshop. There, Prof. (FH) Dr. Christian Schmid, professor of product development in the Industrial Engineering & Management program and initiator of the Tiny Torquer, presented both completed mini motorcycles and models that are currently still in production. It is in these very premises that the bikes are designed, built, and welded together.

The Tiny Torquer stands for learning by doing: students from different degree programs gain practical experience in design, manufacturing, and teamwork - supplemented by an environment that encourages initiative, creativity, and mutual exchange.

POWERFUL REACTIONS FROM VISITORS AND FAMILIES

The direct feedback from visitors was particularly impressive. As Prof. Schmid describes, families with children repeatedly stopped at the stand, observed the bikes up close, and struck up conversations. Technology was not only explained here, but also brought to life - and that is precisely what generated visible enthusiasm.

He remembers several interactions with parents who perceived the project as exceptionally practical. One father even tried to convince his daughter to study Industrial Engineering & Management during a short presentation. Other parents expressly thanked him for the combination of sound education and additional commitment beyond the traditional everyday student life – feedback that clearly shows how strongly such projects can have an emotional impact and positively influence study decisions.

OPEN HOUSE FLOURISHES THROUGH PERSONAL EXCHANGE

That the Open House is more than just an informational event is also confirmed by Lea Meinhard, MA, Event Specialist and primarily responsible for the organization: "The Open House thrives on personal interaction – from conversations between prospective students and current students to trying things out in open laboratories. Sample lectures on current topics and individual counseling appointments with the degree program teams are very well received and provide a realistic insight into the practical training offered at the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol."

This concept was also reflected in the figures: 439 consultations (including Master Lounge), 707 visitors to lectures, presentations, and taster lectures - a new record - as well as 279 visitors according to counting devices underscore the great interest in the courses offered by the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol.

PROVEN PROGRAM, NEW FOCUS

In addition to the Tiny Torquer performance, the Open House also offered all the features that visitors have come to appreciate over the years: personal academic advising for the 28 degree programs, campus and laboratory tours, sample lectures, and information on international opportunities and part-time study. The combination of a proven format and new, hands-on experiences once again made the Open House an important orientation event for prospective students.