FinTech specialists of tomorrow: HTL Villach launches practical project with Anadi Bank

As part of their training, students from the computer science department at HTL Villach put their skills to the test and gain real-life experience in the IT world of a bank: small groups work together with Anadi Bank to design a website that dynamically adapts to customer needs.

Vienna, 29 September 2021 – In the 2021/2022 school year, the motto for two fourth classes is "Hands-on": The students will work intensively on Anadi Bank's practical tasks, develop ideas for the website, find solutions in teams and then implement them. The kick-off took place at the end of September and the finished concepts will be presented at the end of June 2022. To ensure close networking and professional support, the students will exchange ideas directly with Gábor Szabó, Head of Digital Marketing, and his team in person and via digital media. The groups will be accompanied by Stefan Mitterdorfer and Andreas Starzacher, teachers at HTL Villach and experienced IT practitioners.

The idea for the collaboration came from Karl-Heinz Eder, Head of the Department of Software Engineering / Computer Science & Management at the HTL. "IT experts are in high demand on the labour market. That's why we focus on practical experience early on and offer fourth-year students the opportunity to test themselves and learn from experts with the practical project," says Eder. "Nowadays, software is always implemented in teams. That's why the classes in the 'System planning and project development' subject learn to work together in groups, develop ideas together and grow in the face of real challenges."

Specialist experts in demand for growth sector FinTech

FinTech solutions are more in demand than ever in the banking sector: As a full-service bank with FinTech DNA, Anadi Bank is investing heavily in the expansion of its digital services, most recently with the launch of digital banking products in Austrian tobacconists. "A large number of our innovative banking products are digital due to the high growth potential. Around 20 per cent of our employees already work in our in-house FinTech department and work closely as a team every day on the continuous development and implementation of our digital banking strategy. The future of digital banking requires continuous innovation and needs top specialists to think up innovative products and launch them for customers. That's why we are delighted to support the students at HTL Villach in gaining real-life experience in digital banking and look forward to exciting project presentations," explains Alp Dalkilic, Head of FinTech at Anadi Bank.

About Austrian Anadi Bank

Austrian Anadi Bank AG is an Austrian hybrid bank with the business segments Retail Banking, Corporate Banking and Public Finance. With its unique value proposition, Anadi Bank challenges traditional banking models: on the one hand, it offers personalised customer service via a multi-channel approach with 11 branches in Carinthia and Vienna and a team of customer service experts.