The ATHENS programme is a European exchange opportunity for students pursuing a technological career. Fifteen partner universities form the ATHENS Network (Advanced Technology Higher Education Network / SOCRATES), providing over 60 courses twice a year in the third week of March and November. The intensive on-site course takes place at a member institution for one week. TU Wien ATHENS course is usually held as Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP), which enables EU-funding for the implementation of the teaching programme as well as financing seconded students through Erasmus+ grants. For courses in BIP format, an additional part of the course is held online. Furthermore, "European dimension" activities are organised, consisting of cultural and mingling events. Therefore, the ATHENS programme enriches everyone with a short-term exchange opportunity.

TU Wien regularly provides courses for the ATHENS programme and sends its students to member institution courses. The course “Flow Phenomena in Turbomachinery Blade Channels” is organized by the Institute of Energy Systems and Thermodynamics at TU Wien. It teaches the practical work process of numerical flow simulations, which are indispensable for any engineer designing turbines. The flow through a linear cascade is simulated using different modelling strategies, which are evaluated against experimental measurements performed in the laboratory. Thereby, the students gain hands-on experience in the design of turbomachinery components while enjoying dinner at a Viennese restaurant, visiting Viennese museums like Wien Museum or Ottakringer Brewery, and city rallying through Vienna. These "European dimension" activities are organized by BEST Vienna.

This year 52 TUW students left for ATHENS courses at different EU partner universities, while we have been excited to host 33 students from CTU Prague, Técnico Lisboa, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, Warsaw University of Technology! Two TU Wien students attended courses in Paris this March, where a wide variety of courses are held in nine faculties. They experienced a welcome session with the ParisTech jazz band and a city tour.  In addition to the courses, the Schoolboard organised a variety of social activities in the evenings. The students described the exchange by “The ATHENS programme offers a wonderful, partially funded opportunity to experience a European city, engage in meaningful conversations, and delve into topics that might lie outside one's usual curriculum”.

Further information for students ATHENS programme