Webster Vienna's Mission and Vision
WVPU’s mission is to generate knowledge and prepare students for success through a globally oriented and personalized education, small classes and mentorship.
The University’s vision is to solidify its position in Austria and Central Europe as an internationally competitive institution of higher education through innovative programs led by a roster of international faculty who form the core of WVPU’s student-centered approach to higher education. As a member of Webster University's global network of campuses, faculty, staff and students (including over 200,000 alumni) it facilitates student and faculty mobility and fosters a respect for diversity in culture and ideas.
Webster Vienna's Core Values and Guiding Principles
WVPU’s approach to education is rooted in five core values:
- A student-centered approach.
- The integration of theory and practice and research-led teaching.
- Individual accountability and social responsibility.
- Commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Global perspective.
Our values set the baseline for the university’s five principles with regard to teaching and learning, research and social responsibility, namely a commitment to:
- Guarantee freedom of sciences and their teaching covering a diversity of scientific and artistic theories, methods and doctrines.
- Encourage creativity and scholarship to build self-confidence and a life-long desire for learning.
- Transfer key skills necessary for problem solving in the 21st century.
- Generate and disseminate research that enhances and strengthens an understanding of the economic, social, political and individual processes that shape the world.
- Advance the cause of knowledge-based public and corporate decision making through publicly accessible fora and its dissemination.
A Century of Academic Excellence
In 1915, the Sisters of Loretto had a bold vision of establishing a university that would admit and educate only women. Opening with five students, the institution’s first graduating class totaled just two women.
Today, our community looks quite different than it did more than a century ago — and even different from when it was renamed Webster University in 1983. Now, the university system engages thousands of individuals living and working worldwide, honoring our legacy in the pursuit of academic excellence, equality and global citizenship.
Origins of Webster Vienna Private University
WVPU is one of the longest operating private universities in Austria. Established upon the invitation of Vienna’s mayor, Dr. Leopold Gratz, it became the first university in the country to offer degree programs entirely in English, the first to offer an accredited MBA degree in 1985, and one of the first to receive full accreditation as a private university in 2001.
More than 40 years from its humble beginnings, WVPU is an integral part of the Austrian higher education landscape. Well known for its rigorous teaching excellence and student mentorship, its roster of research faculty guarantees the indivisibility of teaching and research in the classroom while delivering practical real-life skills. Always true to Webster University’s core values, it continues to put students at the center of education, instilling a respect for diversity and an understanding of their own and others’ values to create global citizens.
Accreditations
Since 2001, Webster Vienna has been accredited by The Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria (AQ Austria) as an Austrian Private University.
One of the requirements to receive the Austrian accreditation is that the majority of courses need to be taken at the University, especially during the last year. The student will receive the “Diploma Supplement” as part of the Austrian degree which specifies the ECTS credits commonly used in Europe (Bologna Process).
Webster Vienna Private University (WVPU) has been reaccredited by AQ Austria until 2029, reaffirming the quality of its education. Initially accredited in 2001, WVPU has since graduated more than 4,100 students and has been reaccredited four consecutive times: in 2006, 2011, 2016 and most recently in 2022.
Webster University carries full institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The HLC is the highest-level accrediting agency for universities based in the United States’ north-central region.
We’ve maintained this accreditation since 1925, and this institutional accreditation applies to all locations where the University offers programs worldwide. Therefore, students at Webster Vienna earn the same degree as their American peers in the United States.
The George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology is proud to be one of only five percent of the world’s business schools to have earned specialized accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) for BS, BA, MBA, MS and doctoral programs in the Business and Management departments.
ACBSP offers programs, services and an accreditation process uniquely focused on teaching excellence and student learning outcomes. Accredited schools are required to go through a rigorous peer review every 10 years to maintain their accreditation.
ERSTE BANK
BIC/SWIFT Code#: GIBAATWW
IBAN Code#: AT47 2011 1310 0310 1197
UID-Nr.: ATU69334767
§ 14 UGB information
Bildungsverein für die Freunde der Webster University (St. Louis, USA)
ZVR-Zahl: 726528316
Webster Worldwide
Our University stands out as one of the few institutions with its own network of campuses in cities on three continents and has a unified academic experience in all locations. The course catalog and the credit system are the same wherever one studies in our network.
Studying abroad allows students to fully immerse themselves in a new culture and language, as well as new ways of thinking. The decision to study abroad can be one of the most positive life-changing experiences one can make. Students returning home after their time abroad exhibit an enhanced sense of self-confidence and are ultimately better equipped for life after university.
Our University’s main campus is in Webster Groves, located in St. Louis, Missouri. The campus is set in a sprawling park and offers state-of-the-art amenities and facilities. There are additional locations across the United States.
Vienna, Austria
Webster Vienna Private University is in the Austrian capital center, in the beautiful historical Palais Wenkheim, which the city renovated in 2014 and transformed into modern learning facilities.
Leiden, Netherlands
Located within a short traveling distance from major cities like The Hague and Amsterdam, our Leiden campus in the Netherlands makes it easy to enjoy the surrounding vibrant and historically rich culture.
Athens, Greece
Visit the “cradle of civilization and democracy” by attending the University’s campus located in Athens, Greece, nestled at the foothills of the Acropolis and is within minutes of major museums and cultural venues.
Geneva, Switzerland
Webster Geneva Campus is situated on the shores of the lake and at the foothills of the Swiss Alps, which means our students have the opportunity to visit and learn in one of our world’s most naturally beautiful and internationally diverse cities.
Tbilisi, Georgia
Webster Tbilisi is located in the capital city of Georgia in the heart of the South Caucasus between Europe and Asia.
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Webster Tashkent is located in the capital and largest city of Uzbekistan, as well as the most populous city in Central Asia.
Meet Our Faculty
At Webster Vienna, our educators are creating effective change in the classroom and beyond. And with our small classroom settings, you’ll have access to personalized mentorship as these industry experts are united in providing you and your peers with the tools necessary for future success.
Learn More
Founded in 1915, Webster is an independent nonprofit university with students studying at campus locations in North America, Europe and Asia, and in a robust online learning environment. With its main campus in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, Webster University’s network of faculty, staff, students and alumni forge powerful bonds with each other and their communities around the globe. The University is committed to engaged learning experiences and empowering our students to become catalysts for change. Prepare for your next step and explore our community resources.