Business in Action: International Short Course
Online course + project work with on-site visit in Austria for Business students
Overview
“Business in Action” is a collaborative online study course that includes an on-site component. It is jointly organised by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Gies College of Business) and WU Vienna, in cooperation with European partner universities participating in the ENGAGE.EU programme. The course brings together bachelor’s-level students from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds to explore international business practices.
Through interdisciplinary teamwork, applied problem-solving, and intercultural collaboration, students develop essential professional competencies. Group projects, company visits, and in-person mentoring sessions provide students with practical insights into innovative Austrian enterprises and foster meaningful international networking opportunities.
The course will take place online during the semester between February-May 2027 and on-site in Vienna and Graz from May 21-29, 2027.
This course is all about learning by doing. It is designed to give students a real-world experience as they work in a team with a real organisation to help solve a problem the organisation is facing.
Key Dates
Application Deadline: 14 December 2026
Q&A Online Info Session: December 2, 2026, 5-6 PM (Vienna time) with Kathrin Blasbichler, IiVP Business in Action Project Coordinator
Meeting ID: 64452878694
Code: 818473
Q&A Online Info Session: February 10, 2077, 5-6 PM (Vienna time) with Kathrin Blasbichler, IiVP Business in Action Project Coordinator
Meeting ID: 646 7967 6994
Code: 368438
Mandatory Online Course Sessions with Prof. James Noonan:
- 1st session: February 23, 16:30 GMT +1
- 2nd session: February 25, 16:30 GMT +1
- 3rd session: April 8, 16:30 GMT +1
Several online team meetings and client calls are to be held throughout the semester according to individual team arrangements but generally held at 16:30 GMT Vienna time. For more detailed information, see the syllabus.
On-Site Programme Dates: May 21 to May 29, 2027, Vienna and Graz. Please see the itinerary for all the details.
Recommended Departure Date: Saturday, May 29.
All applicants will be informed of the results of their application in mid of January 2027
Application Requirements
Application requirements are current enrollment in a bachelor’s programme, preferably in Business Administration, excellent English language skills, and high motivation and interest in International Business, Consulting, international group project work and experiential learning.
Application Process
Applications are possible between November 24 and December 14, 2026. The application will take place via this website (WU).
Additional Information
The course includes online sessions during the semester, as well as several excursions, on-site client visits, and the closing ceremony, which, too, contain formal presentations or other typically in-class elements. Full attendance, online) and on all indicated excursions (see itinerary) for WU Vienna and ENGAGE.EU students is mandatory and an expected component of your learning experience.
Please note that ENGAGE.EU students do not pay any tuition fees for the course and the on-site programme.
In the on-site programme are included: Welcome lunch, course excursions (Riegersburg, Zotter, Graz city tour, optional Rax hike, optional Old Danube boat or bike tour, optional Vienna guided city tour), Graz accommodation & transportation, and catering at the BiA closing ceremony.
Further Information
For detailed programme information, please see the course syllabus and the programme itinerary on this page.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Academia-Industry Partnerships & Lecturer Kathrin Blasbichler: kathrin.blasbichler@wu.ac.at