Vivien's journey into IT: From business studies to a master's degree program

How can you successfully transition into IT without prior technical training? Vivien Straub took exactly that leap. The 24-year-old from Munich completed the part-time master's degree program in Web Engineering & IT Solutions at the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol while working in IT consulting and IT auditing. In this interview, she talks about her path into IT, studying while working, and why Kufstein sometimes felt almost like a mini-vacation to her.

YOU ORIGINALLY STUDIED BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. WHAT MADE YOU SWITCH TO IT?

Vivien Straub: I earned my bachelor’s degree in business administration and initially worked in IT consulting, specializing in financial accounting. That’s when I realized I was enjoying the technical aspects more and more. I taught myself a lot on the job, but at the same time, I wanted to build a solid foundation of knowledge.

Admission to technical master's degree programs is often contingent on having completed relevant undergraduate coursework. That’s why I specifically looked for a degree program that would allow me to make this career transition while also being good for my job.

SO WHY DECIDED ON THE KUFSTEIN UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES IN TYROL?

Straub: I was looking for a practice-oriented master’s program with a technical focus that could be completed in four semesters while working full-time and did not require a technical undergraduate degree. That’s exactly what I found at the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol.

HOW WAS IT TO BALANCE YOUR DEGREE PROGRAM WITH YOUR WORK?

Straub: It went very well. I worked part-time while I was in a degree program. Classes were held on Fridays and Saturdays, and some were also held remotely. That made it easy to manage.

The support I received from my colleagues and superiors was also particularly important. They were very understanding of the fact that my time was limited due to my degree program.

WHAT ARE THE GENERAL BENEFITS YOU SEE IN COMBINING WORK AND A DEGREE PROGRAM?

Straub: It allows you to stay in your regular job and put what you’ve learned into practice right away. At the same time, you assume responsibility in a permanent position and grow professionally more than you would in a traditional internship. For me, the part-time master’s program combines these two worlds in an excellent way - I was able to apply a lot of what I learned directly.

WHAT ASPECTS OF YOUR DEGREE PROGRAM DO YOU REMEMBER MOST?

Straub: Many of the modules were very hands-on. I particularly remember an IoT module in which we worked with sensors, breadboards, and microcontrollers. Although that wasn’t directly related to my day-to-day work, this practical approach was a lot of fun.

The augmented reality module was also exciting because we were able to work with the latest technology and develop our own applications.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO APPLY FROM THIS COURSE IN YOUR JOB?

Straub: I was able to apply technical fundamentals such as databases and programming directly in my work. Knowledge of requirements engineering also helped me gather requirements in a more structured way and document them more effectively. Even in IT auditing, this technical understanding was important because many of the people I interacted with on the client side were very technically savvy. As a result, topics like Scrum and user stories were no longer foreign concepts to me.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE ISSUE OF WOMEN IN TECHNICAL PROFESSIONS TO YOU?

Straub: A very important one. I didn’t complete a traditional technical degree program myself, so I can certainly understand why many women often don’t see technical fields as a realistic option. Yet I’ve seen firsthand that an interest in and skills / competencies in technology aren’t necessarily tied to a specific degree program. You can learn a lot if you’re given the opportunity.

At the same time, I’ve also noticed in my day-to-day work that women often have to prove their professional skills more than men do. This makes visible role models, mentorship, and a supportive environment all the more important - Kufstein has never felt like just a stressful place to me.

What do you personally remember most about it? 

Straub: Definitely the atmosphere in Kufstein itself. Although the degree program was quite demanding, it never felt like nothing but stress to me. Every time I arrived, I felt more like I was on vacation and relaxing. The location between the mountains and the Inn River, along with the friendly atmosphere at the University of Applied Sciences, certainly played a big part in that.

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS DEGREE PROGRAM?

Straub: Definitely. The combination of practical focus, flexibility, and personalized support worked very well for me. Especially for career changers, the degree program offers an excellent opportunity to develop technical skills and directly apply theory to real-world situations.

Links:

• Web Engineering & IT Solutions | pt
• Study Part-time | Website