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Study Programmes Professors & Lecturers Univ.-Prof. Dr. Kerstin Fink - HDBW President
HDBW-PRESIDENT UNIV.-PROF. DR. KERSTIN FINK
HDBW University President and Professor with 20+ years of leadership in higher education, accreditation, and information management. Proven record in strategy consulting, organizational development, and digital transformation, as well as internationalization.
Born in Munich, Kerstin Fink has developed a strong professional background with a solid foundation in business and economics, not only in Bavaria but internationally.
Over the course of her career, she has established close connections with the business community and built a trusted network of professional partners.
Her strong ties to industry and commerce enable her to bridge academic knowledge with practical applications and to foster collaboration between different economic stakeholders.
Professional Expierence
2024 – Present President & Professor of Information Management, Bavarian University of Business and Technology (HDBW), Munich, Germany
2020 – Present Board Member, Austrian Accreditation Agency (AQ-Austria), Vienna, Austria
2020 – 2024 Chairwoman of the Board, NORDAKADEMIE Foundation, Hamburg, Germany
2020 – 2023 President & Professor of Information Management, NORDAKADEMIE University of Applied Sciences, Elmshorn & Hamburg, Germany
2016 – 2020 Managing Director, FIBAA – Accreditation Agency, Zurich, Switzerland & Bonn, Germany
2011 – 2015 President, Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, Salzburg, Austria
2005 – 2017 Visiting Professor, Stanford University, University of New Orleans, Tulane University, USA
2003 – 2020 Professor of Information Management, University of Innsbruck, Austria
Core Competencies and Keynotes
Higher Education Leadership & Governance | Digital Transformation & Change Management | Strategy & Organizational Development | Internationalization & Cross-Cultural Competence | Accreditation & Quality Assurance
Education
2003 - Appointment to Professorship for Information Management – University of Innsbruck, Austria Title: Knowledge Potential Measurement; development of a talent measurement tool for IT Professionals
1999 - PhD in Business Administration – University of Innsbruck, Austria
1995 - Master in Business Administration – University of Innsbruck, Austria
1989–1995 - Undergraduate Studies in Business Administration – Saarland University, Germany & University of Innsbruck, Austria
1985–1986 - Exchange Year – Harpeth Hall High School, Nashville, USA
Awards & Honors
- Gold Award of the Tyrolean Eagle – for strengthening Austrian higher education
- Business Award, Tyrolean Chamber of Commerce – best dissertation
- Otto-Beisheim Award, Technical University of Dresden – best dissertation
- City of Innsbruck Research Award – outstanding work in knowledge management
Business Projects
Brief summary out of more than 100 publications:
- Knowledge Management and High Potential Measurement IT-Executives (e.g., SAP Germany – Austria – Eastern Europe, XEROX Austria, US companies)
- Stakeholder Information Management (e.g., Chamber of Commerce in Europe)
- IT Project Management and Business Process Management (e.g., Siemens Boca Raton – Zurich, Switzerland, Third National Bank Nashville, SAP Austria)
