Past Activities

Rainer Braun taught political science at Long Island University in New York and was the European director of the LIU Global Bachelor’s Program.
 
Braun’s course „European Politics“, held at the Campus Wien University of Applied Sciences (UAS), dealt with the structure of institutions in the EU, the comparison of political systems, and questions of security policy in an applied political science framework.
 
In addition to “European Politics”, the Campus Wien Academy, the Lifelong Learning Section of the Campus Wien UAS also offered the course „Local Solutions to Global Problems: Societal Challenges“. The topics covered by the lecturers dealt with issues of the European welfare state, particularly in the Austrian context, concerning migration and integration, education and society, and tax policy. These topics were of great interest to the students, especially as they were able to engage with material and in discussions that went beyond an American perspective.
 
The students also had the opportunity to attend a workshop led by the former European MP Eugen Freund, who worked for many years as a correspondent and bureau chief for the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation in Washington D.C. (1979 – 1984). In addition, they met former Ambassador Gabriele Matzner-Holzer, diplomatic representative of Austria in Slovakia/Bratislava (1997 – 2001), who shared her extensive knowledge as an Austrian diplomat with the students during an excursion to Bratislava.
 
As part of the LIU Global Bachelor’s Program, students visited important international institutions such as the International Institute for Peace (IIP), International Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Cultural activities included a visit to the opera, a visit to the Slovakian capital Bratislava, and a visit to the Mauthausen concentration camp, among other outings.

Check out the Global Bachelors Program.