The 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) marked a turning point in global climate action, with countries agreeing to move away from fossil fuels and adopt renewable energy. This transition is a global effort across all industries, but engineers especially are stepping into leadership roles to spearhead sustainable solutions.
Graz provides a great launchpad for aspiring engineers committed to these challenges. Located in Styria state (the green heart of Austria), the city is dedicated to protecting nature and advancing green technology.
This mix of innovation and tradition inspired Fabian Ivos to choose Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) as the next step in his academic career. Originally from Dornbirn, Österreich in Austria, he decided to travel across the country to visit the campus, and once he explored the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, he was convinced it was the right place to be.
Students find exploring how energy is converted into electricity and transported to consumers every day of the year fascinating. Source: Graz University of Technology
Engineer your future at TU Graz
TU Graz is a leading public university known for shaping the engineers of tomorrow. Ranked in the 301st to 350th group for Electrical and Electronic Engineering, it opens up many opportunities for students like Ivos. “I was sure I wanted to stay at TU Graz because of the high-quality education here,” he shares.
Now in the third semester of his master’s degree, Ivos remains confident in his choice. “I like that the master’s programme gives students the flexibility to explore their interests within their chosen field of study,” he says. Master’s Degree Programme in Electrical Engineering
students can specialise in Automation Systems Engineering, Electronic Systems and IC Design, Power Engineering, Sensing, Control and Artificial Intelligence, and Wireless Networks and Communication Systems.
For Ivos, being able to dive deep into these topics was invaluable. He’s fascinated by how omnipresent electrical energy is and how contemporary living would be impossible without it.
“The broad knowledge from my bachelor’s degree and the specific skills in my master’s provide an excellent foundation to pursue a career in power engineering,” he says. “I also value being able to do scientific research, which is especially useful now as the energy system is changing significantly.”
More importantly, the programme is empowering him to contribute to a more sustainable future through its exploration of energy transition technologies. “A recent lecture, where we assessed how private railway and metro grids could support electric vehicle charging, stood out,” he says.
The faculty’s support is another highlight of Ivos’ experience. “The professors, PhD students, and project workers from the Energy Centre Graz, especially the Institute of Electrical Power Systems (IEAN), were incredible,” he says. “Their teaching and passion for research made learning power engineering exciting and showed me just how critical energy transition efforts are.”
For Professor Wogrin, inspiring young people to pursue technical education is crucial for the future. Source: Lunghammer / Graz University of Technology
Combining collaborative learning with global impact
Faculty members at TU Graz are driving innovation with high-performance technologies that will shape the world of tomorrow. Their work spans diverse fields, including medical diagnostics and automotive advancements, making the university a leader in research and education in Austria.
Professor Sonja Wogrin embodies this spirit of progress. Professor Wogrin is the Head of the Institute of Electricity Economics and Energy Innovation and teaches the course “Energy System Modelling and Optimisation.” “We cover small prototypes of the large-scale power system models that have been used in Austrian policy making, and we discuss the impact of decarbonisation goals on strategic expansion planning,” says the researcher focusing on digital twins of energy systems on the path towards decarbonisation.
Part of the institute’s team involved in the InfraTrans2040 project that contributed to the Austrian infrastructure development plan (ÖNIP), Professor Wogrin is a key member of the shift away from fossil fuels. “We identified important network expansion corridors for the Austrian high voltage network,” the professor says. “Having a solid electricity grid is a key ingredient to the energy transition.”
At TU Graz, students can also get involved, depending on the programme they are in. “You can be a student assistant, do a bachelor’s or master’s thesis or even start your PhD,” says Professor Wogrin. “All of those projects are related to the energy transition – whether we are building sector coupled models or developing time series of future electricity demand.”
The faculty’s collaborative approach extends beyond the university, with cross-institute partnerships and strong ties to industry. For example, Professor Wogrin works with researchers worldwide, including in Norway, Spain, and the US. The professor is also part of the Research Centre for Energy Economics and Energy Analytics (ENERGETIC), where an interdisciplinary team develops solutions for regulatory, social, economic, and technical challenges in the energy transition.
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