At the beginning of May 2025, the University of Liechtenstein welcomed three guests from partner universities around the world: Dr. Riann Singh from the University of the West Indies (Trinidad & Tobago), Zineb Adaskou from the Université Internationale de Rabat (Morocco) and Dr. Violeta Toncheva-Zlatkova from the University of National and World Economy (Bulgaria). During the Staff Training Days, the visitors gained a wide range of insights into research, teaching, administration and culture in Liechtenstein.

The three-day program began with an introduction by Prof. Dr. Sebastian Stöckl, Academic Director of the Undergraduate and Graduate School, and short presentations by the host universities. The subsequent exchange with international students and a guided tour of Vaduz focused on intercultural dialog.

In the following days, the guests accompanied employees of the university as part of job shadowing and got to know various areas: the School of Business, Student Services, the Research Office, the Undergraduate and Graduate School, Legal Services and Data Protection. Visits to social institutions such as the Specki restaurant and the Agra institution, which integrate people with special needs into everyday working life, were particularly enriching.

A culinary and cultural highlight was cooking traditional cheese dumplings together with Martha Bühler and a hike to the tower on Dux, followed by a guided tour of the Stein-Egerta education center.

The Staff Training Days provided a valuable opportunity for professional exchange and strengthened the university's international partnerships.

As part of the course “Technology and Innovation Management” in the Bachelor’s programme in Business Administration (specialisation in Entrepreneurship & Management), students had the opportunity to visit Ivoclar, the Liechtenstein-based dental company, at its headquarters in Schaan this semester.

In addition to gaining current insights into Ivoclar’s technology, innovation, and project management practices, the student group from the University of Liechtenstein also enjoyed impressions of the company’s state-of-the-art headquarters—including a visit to the in-house barista coffee bar. The group was accompanied by Clemens Armellini and Marie Scheuffele, both of the Professorship for Technology & Innovation.

The visit began with an interactive presentation of an ongoing process optimisation project focused on implementing a novel Programat sintering system. This hands-on “lecture day” offered the students a real-world look at the company’s internal innovation activities. The hosts walked the group through the entire journey—from the initial idea for streamlining processes, to the development of a new concept, and the current implementation stage of the innovative production system—while enthusiastically answering the students’ many questions.

The second half of the morning was dedicated to product innovation. Students gained valuable insights into Ivoclar’s product lifecycle management and were introduced to the company’s idea generation and evaluation process. In this context, they also learned about the key megatrends shaping Ivoclar’s business and how the company addresses them within its technological and industry context.

A warm thank-you to Ivoclar for the generous hospitality and the insightful programme put together for our students!

International University Partnership with the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts

As part of the International Credit Mobility partnership between the University of Liechtenstein and the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts , Prof. Dr Daniel Stockhammer, Dean of the Liechtenstein School of Architecture and Head of the Heritage & Upcycling Research Group, travelled to Georgia for seven days in April 2025.

The purpose of the visit was institutional exchange and the strengthening of academic cooperation. Official discussions were held with the Rector and Vice-Rector of TSAA as well as with the International Office. Two follow-up working meetings with the Dean of the Faculty of Architecture focused on future opportunities for collaboration in research and teaching.

Academic Exchange and Lecture on Upcycling

A key component of the visit was the exchange with Georgian professors of architecture, students, and alumni – including architect Giorgi Kurdiani, a graduate of the University of Liechtenstein and a representative of a distinguished Georgian family of architects whose roots go back to 1898.

Prof. Stockhammer also delivered a public lecture on the topic of upcycling in architecture, which was met with great interest by those in attendance.

Experiencing Local Architectural Heritage and Strengthening Networks

Accompanied by faculty coordinator Nestan Tsiklauri and another Georgian professor, he visited significant examples of both historical and contemporary architecture in and around Tbilisi. Visits to two renowned architecture firms and in-depth exchanges offered further insight into Georgia’s dynamic architectural scene and opened up new perspectives for future collaborations. The stay was rounded off with an exclusive guided tour of the Tbilisi Gold Museum.

Special thanks go to Mirjana Schädler from the International Office of the University of Liechtenstein and Nestan Tsiklauri from the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts for coordinating this international exchange.

Photo Credit: Lizele Osepaishvili-Nemtsova, Tbilisi State Academy of Arts

Shortly after completing their architecture degrees, Isha and Daniel Haselsberger founded the non-profit organisation Arch Aid to bridge their cultural backgrounds – Switzerland and India – and apply their knowledge to the creation of sustainable buildings for disadvantaged communities in India.

The Bahuarwa Primary School is located in the village of the same name in the Indian state of Bihar. In India’s poorest state, many children lack access to a functioning school system, as public schools are often non-operational. Private schools, on the other hand, remain unaffordable for underprivileged families. In collaboration with the local NGO Bahuarwa Foundation, the two architects initiated and oversaw the construction of a school for disadvantaged children and young people in the area. The school is now operated by the Bahuarwa Foundation, based in the village.

Building through Dialogue

Following the project’s launch in spring 2022, Isha and Daniel Haselsberger studied the local building culture, visited numerous households, conducted interviews and examined local workshops to better understand the factors influencing changing construction practices. Whereas traditional methods in Bahuarwa still made occasional use of regenerative materials, they are increasingly being replaced by cement, steel and fired bricks. Early on, the architects and the NGO agreed that the school’s development should not be about choosing between extremes, but about finding a meaningful combination of regenerative and more emission-intensive materials, as well as traditional and modern techniques. Their goal was to use natural materials in a way that would be accepted by the local community.

This required a building that is durable, low-maintenance, thermally comfortable and affordable, while also aligning with local ideas of contemporary architectural expression.

In contrast to conventional practice, the architects did not design every detail before construction began. Only the foundations, the supporting structure, the roof, and a rough layout of openings were pre-defined. This flexible approach allowed them to develop construction details and material choices directly on site and in collaboration with the target groups, rather than relying on abstract plans alone. The building process thus became a key tool for communication and mutual learning.

Material selection with added value

The building rests on an elevated base made from locally produced bricks and reinforced concrete to protect the interiors from regular flooding. The structural elements of walls, ceiling and roof are built from bamboo, and both ceilings and wall panels are crafted from bamboo strips. The sheltered interior walls are filled with a clay and straw mixture, while the exterior walls are rendered with cement and painted. This creates cool interior surfaces, and durable, visually contemporary exterior walls.

A large overhanging corrugated metal roof protects the walls from the intense monsoon rains. A ventilated cavity between the bamboo ceiling and the metal roof reduces heat radiation and, in combination with the clay walls, ensures a naturally pleasant indoor climate. As a result, the building requires no air conditioning, and ceiling fans are only needed on particularly hot days.

“We have a cool school!” the children proudly exclaim as they pass overheated peers returning from expensive private schools built of concrete and brick.

The lightweight roof and bamboo structure also provide earthquake safety – a critical factor in this high-risk seismic zone.

Designing together

Using bamboo and clay not only reduced costs and environmental impact, but also enhanced regional value creation and enabled an inclusive construction process involving women and men, young and old. Except for three bamboo experts, all workers came from Bahuarwa and surrounding villages – many of them parents or grandparents of the pupils now attending the school.

Children and young people also contributed to the design by creating ornamentation for the façades and classrooms. In the case of the classrooms, these were later translated into reliefs by local clay experts; for the façades, the designs were painted in white on bright blue walls. The colour scheme also reflects the wishes of the future users: while the unplastered clay walls help keep the school cool inside, the blue-painted exterior ensures it looks “cool” on the outside too.

Photo Credits: Daniel Haselsberger, Isha Haselsberger

On 24 and 25 April 2025, the Professorship for Economic Criminal Law, Compliance and Digitalisation held the intensive course “The Development of Money Laundering in the 20th and 21st Century.”

The course featured a distinguished expert from the United Kingdom: Simon Lord, founder and director of protect AML Services (UK) and Senior Advisor at Financial Transparency Advisors in Vienna. He served for many years as a Financial Investigator and Strategic Intelligence Analyst with the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), gaining extensive experience in financial investigations.

In this intensive course, Simon Lord explained how the understanding of money laundering and the strategies to combat it have evolved over time. He traced the development from relatively simple techniques such as cash smuggling to more sophisticated modern methods involving cryptocurrencies. In particular, he provided detailed insights into techniques and mechanisms used in Informal Value Transfer Services and Trade-Based Money Laundering.

In addition, he outlined how international standards, legislation, and law enforcement practices have adapted to these threats—highlighting key UN conventions, FATF recommendations, and the rise of public-private partnerships. The course concluded with a case study and personal reflections on investigative experience related to EncroChat.

The course was conducted in English.

With the first episode of the new video podcast “Focus on Building”, Campus Radio at the University of Liechtenstein launches an exciting conversation series about building in alpine regions. The premiere focuses on the municipality of Triesenberg, its current projects, and visions for the future.

Guest speaker Christoph Beck, Mayor of Triesenberg, joined architecture students Thannavat Dill and Ömer Corbaci to discuss the balance between preservation and development. The episode was hosted by lecturer Andreas Krättli.

A special topic of discussion was the historic Madleni Hus, which is to be revitalised in the near future. The vacant mountain inn Sücka also sparked creative ideas—developed by the students as part of their coursework. “I really enjoyed exchanging ideas with the students—and I always love talking about my favourite place, Triesenberg,” said Christoph Beck.

The conversation took a personal turn when discussing the new fire station, photovoltaic systems, and infrastructure projects. Beck highlighted his commitment to sustainability and alpine identity in architecture. “Triesenberg shows how history, sustainability, and innovation can be meaningfully combined,” said Thannavat Dill. “The level of care applied to construction here is truly instructive for us,” added Ömer Corbaci.

The episode “What’s Happening in Triesenberg?” is now available on YouTube, SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and via web radio at www.campusradio.li.

At Europe’s leading timber construction forum, the University of Liechtenstein showcased innovative approaches to climate-conscious building—aligned with the “Stratégie Climat 2050.”

 The Forum Bois Construction 2025 took place from 26 to 28 February 2025 at the newly inaugurated Grand Palais in Paris. The 14th edition of the conference focused on the theme “Stratégie Climat 2050” and highlighted forward-looking solutions for timber construction and sustainable building.

As part of the forum, university lecturer Martin Mackowitz presented the earth HUB of the University of Liechtenstein. The initiative promotes resource-efficient, future-oriented construction with natural materials and reflects the growing relevance of clay and timber in the context of climate strategy.

The forum served as a platform for dialogue among architects, engineers, researchers, and representatives of the timber and construction industries—emphasising the vital role of bio-based materials in the building transition.