Numerous hands and departments at the University of Graz work together to ensure that both internal and external events are organised professionally. Gabriela Pirsch and Sabine Bodinger from Event Services give us a look behind the scenes.
How many events are organised at the University of Graz on average each year?
Gabriela Pirsch: We process around 1200 enquiries a year. In addition, the Events Service receives almost 3,500 calls and almost 13,000 emails every year.
Which location on campus is requested particularly often?
Sabine Bodinger: A lot of enquiries concern the auditorium. The Festsaal in the Meerscheinschlössl and the Alumni lecture theatre in conjunction with the foyer of the University Library are among the top three locations. Last year alone, Andi Neuner and his colleagues organised 750 set-ups and take-downs.
Which events attract a lot of visitors?
Pirsch: The University Festival last June attracted 3000 guests. With around 2,000 visitors each, the Open Day, the Excellence Fair and the Welcome Weeks are among the major events that take place regularly.
Surely there must be a lot of logistics involved? What do you need to consider when organising an event?
Pirsch: You need to start planning well in advance and involve the event service in the preparations right from the start. For example, the rooms have to be reserved. A major event also affects many other university departments, from UniIT to the electricians and fire protection to security and public relations.
The University of Graz recently received a licence for green events and meetings. What does that mean?
Bodinger: The university is authorised to license an event as a green event or meeting, such as a congress, on request - now without an external agency. Certain criteria must be met for this. These include, for example, sustainable mobility, the use of energy-saving lighting and accessibility.
⇒ Find out more about the event service