On July 2^nd, 2021, the graduation ceremony for the postgraduate program “Environmental Technology and International Affairs“(ETIA), a cooperation initiative between the Diplomatische Akademie Wien – Vienna School of International Studies (DA) and the TU Wien (TU), took place in the Festsaal of the Diplomatic Academy Wien. Sixteen students from eight countries representing three continents participated in the MSc program over the past two years.

Ambassador Emil Brix, Director of the Diplomatische Akademie Wien, congratulated all students on managing to finish their studies, despite facing even more challenges than previous years. The students originate from different backgrounds, but what unites them is their interest in the “best of both worlds”, Amb. Brix said. “You have learned to understand political and economic implications. And you have gained professional expertise in environmental technology”, Brix told the graduates. “Please make sure to carry on as enthusiastically as you started your studies here. Preserve your idealism”, he added. As one of the graduates said in his address: “The ETIA program is about more than well-paying jobs. It’s about our planet and a sustainable future".

Bob Martens, Dean of Academic Affairs for Continuing Education at TU Wien highlighted the cordial cooperation between the two institutions, which he described as being “almost like a marriage”. Among the unique characteristics of the program, he emphasised that studying ETIA is not anonymous; the “international family” is a distinctive feature of the program. Small cohorts, which have enabled the creation of an excellent network, as well as the “female dominance” of this technical program, will hopefully serve as inspiration for future participants and applicants.

In the course of the graduation ceremony the “ARA Best Study Award“, which awards total prize money of 20,000 euros, was granted for the twelfth time to the students with the best academic performances. ARA - Altstoff Recycling Austria AG - a non-profit company and Austria’s leading recycling expert, is a driver of innovation in resource management, using the revenues from compliance fees to organise and finance the collection and recovery of packaging waste in Austria. Christoph Scharff, CEO of ARA, complimented this year’s ETIA graduates on their stunning achievements. The ARA Best Study Award 2021 prize money was split in equal shares between the four best students of the class, with equally brilliant results: Tiziano Alessandri (Austria/Italy), Sarah Bandera (Austria), Victoria Renee Keogh (USA), and Maria Clara Rasinger (Austria).

The Diplomatische Akademie Wien – Vienna School of International Studies and the Continuing Education Center of TU Wien are delighted to extend their congratulations to the award winners and all the alumni.

More pictures and a recording of the graduation ceremony are available at https://www.da-vienna.ac.at/Graduation, opens an external URL in a new window.

The interdisciplinary MSc Environmental Technology & International Affairs, opens an external URL in a new window is a joint program of the TU Wien and the Diplomatic Academy Vienna. This pioneering project enables graduates to understand and analyze the relevant scientific and technical issues, while at the same time providing them with a sound knowledge of international affairs.

• Final degree:                         Master of Science (MSc) granted by TU Wien in cooperation with Diplomatische Akademie 
• Language of instruction:      English
• Duration:                                4 semesters (full-time)
• Tuition fee 2021-23:             € 27,800.-
• Next programme start:        September 2021 - late application still possible
• Academic directors:             Prof. Dr. Gerhard Loibl, LL.B (DA Wien) | ao.Univ.Prof. Dr. Hans Puxbaum (TU Wien)

Contact and further information
TU Wien – Continuing Education Center:                                
Mag. Isabelle Starlinger                                                           
T: +43 (0)1 58801 – 41716          
E: starlinger@tuwien.ac.at                                                 
H: www.etia.at, opens an external URL in a new window 

Diplomatische Akademie Wien:
Nadja Wozonig, BA
T: +43 (0)1 505 72 72 - 188
E: nadja.wozonig@da-vienna.ac.at
H: www.da-vienna.ac.at, opens an external URL in a new window