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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Please scroll down for the english version<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;text-autospace:none">
<span lang="DE" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Liebe Kollegin, lieber Kollege,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;text-autospace:none">
<span lang="DE" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="DE" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">es ist uns eine große Freude, Ihnen mitzuteilen, dass die WU am 12. März offiziell und erstmals für fünf
Jahre mit dem Gütesiegel EQUIS re-akkreditiert wurde. Nur wenige Hochschulen erfüllen die hohen Anforderungen, um diese Auszeichnung für die höchstmögliche Dauer von fünf Jahren verliehen zu bekommen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="DE" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">EQUIS steht für
<a href="http://www.efmd.org/index.php/accreditation-/equis">European Quality Improvement System</a><i>
</i>und wird von der <a href="http://www.efmd.org/">European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD)</a> für besondere Qualität von Wirtschaftsuniversitäten und Business Universities vergeben und
</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">steht als
<b>sichtbare Auszeichnung für die Spitzenleistungen und Qualität</b> einer Hochschule. Die EQUIS-Akkreditierung ist nicht nur ein wichtiger Qualitätsnachweis in Bezug auf die Forschung und Lehre, sondern auch für die
<b>Internationalisierung</b> und für die Beziehungen mit <b>Corporate Partners</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="DE" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Die WU hat sich um die Verlängerung der Akkreditierung bemüht und musste sich im Zuge dessen eines umfassenden
Prüfungsprozesses unterziehen, der hochqualitative Leistungen in allen Bereichen einer Universität und einen hohen Grad an Internationalität verlangt. Im Rahmen dieses strengen
<b>Qualitätschecks </b>im November 2012 konnten sich die internationalen Universitätsexpert/inn/en davon überzeugen, dass die WU</span><span lang="DE">
</span><span lang="DE" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">in allen Bereichen den hohen Qualitätsstandards des Gütesiegels entspricht. Besonders gut schnitt die WU in den Bereichen Qualität und dem Praxisbezug der Lehre, Internationalisierungsstrategie
sowie exzellente Verbindungen zur Wirtschaft ab. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="DE" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="DE" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Wir sehen das EQUIS-Qualitätssiegel auch als Herausforderung, den hohen Qualitätsansprüchen in Zukunft zu
entsprechen, unser Angebot laufend zu verbessern und unsere Stärken stetig weiterzuentwickeln.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="DE" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="DE" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Dank der EQUIS Re-Akkreditierung gehört die WU weiterhin als einzige österreichische Universität zum Kreis
von weltweit lediglich 140 akkreditierten Top-Business-Universities aus 40 Ländern und zählt zu den besten Wirtschaftshochschulen im deutschsprachigen Raum.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="DE" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="DE" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Durch eine EQUIS-Akkreditierung ergeben sich für Sie eine
<b>Reihe von Vorteilen</b> und Chancen, unter anderem der <b>Einstieg</b> in den <b>
internationalen Arbeitsmarkt</b>. Unternehmen achten bei der Wahl von zukünftigen Mitarbeiter/inne/n vermehrt auf die Bekanntheit und
<b>Anerkennung</b> der besuchten <b>Universität</b>. In den Außenbeziehungen der WU erleichtert EQUIS außerdem die Pflege und den Aufbau von neuen
<b>Universitätspartnerschaften</b>. Die EQUIS-Akkreditierung stärkt Ihre Qualifikation, indem sie für hohe Standards in Lehre und Forschung und somit für die Qualität Ihrer Ausbildung und Ihres Abschlusses bürgt.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="DE" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="DE" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;text-autospace:none">
<span lang="DE" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black">Herzliche</span><span lang="DE" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> Grüße<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;text-autospace:none">
<span lang="DE" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Christoph Badelt<br>
Barbara Sporn<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:DE"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always">
</span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Dear colleagues,
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><br>
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-US">We are very pleased to announce that as of March 12, WU is officially reaccredited with the
<b>EQUIS</b> </span><span lang="DE"><a href="http://www.efmd.org/index.php/accreditation-/equis"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-US">(European Quality Improvement System)</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-US">
seal of quality, for the first time for a full five years. Very few universities fulfill the demanding criteria necessary to be awarded the maximum five-year accreditation.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">EQUIS stands for
</span><span lang="DE"><a href="http://www.efmd.org/index.php/accreditation-/equis"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">European Quality Improvement System</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">,
and is awarded by the </span><span lang="DE"><a href="http://www.efmd.org/"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD)</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">
to top-quality universities and business schools. It provides <b>visible confirmation of the outstanding achievements and quality</b> of a university.
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The EQUIS accreditation is not only an important proof of quality with regard to our teaching and research, but also for our
<b>internationalization strategy</b> and for relations with <b>corporate partners</b>.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">After taking steps to renew its accreditation, WU was subject to a comprehensive review process that
demanded top-quality performance in all academic areas and a high level of internationalization. During this strict
<b>quality review</b> in November of 2012, a team of international university experts came to Vienna to see</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> for themselves that WU fulfills EQUIS’ high standards in all the
required areas. WU scored particularly well in the areas teaching quality and practical orientation, internationalization strategy, and excellent connections to the business community.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">We see the EQUIS seal of quality as a challenge to maintain these high standards of excellence now and
in the future, to continuously improve our portfolio and services, and to further develop our strengths.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Thanks to this reaccreditation, WU remains the only Austrian university in an elite circle of just 140
accredited business universities in 40 countries, making it one of the best universities of business and economics in the German-speaking world.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">WU’s EQUIS accreditation brings with it a
<b>number of advantages and opportunities</b> for you, our students, including improved access to the
<b>international job market</b>. Companies are paying more and more attention to the
<b>profile</b> and <b>reputation</b> of the universities their applicants graduate from. EQUIS accreditation also facilitates the initiation and maintenance of international
<b>university partnerships</b>. EQUIS accreditation strengthens your qualifications by guaranteeing high standards in research and teaching, which means high standards in your education and a high-quality degree.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;text-autospace:none">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black">Best regards,</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;text-autospace:none">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Christoph Badelt<br>
Barbara Sporn<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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