The CMC – A Strong Partnership for Excellent Research and Teaching

The Institute for Comparative Media and Communication Studies (CMC) is a joint research institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) and the University of Klagenfurt (AAU). Founded in 2013 as the successor to the former Commission for Comparative Media and Communication Research, the CMC today stands for innovative, comparative, and internationally connected media and communication research in Austria.

Stronger Together: International Cutting-Edge Research

“The cooperation contributes equally to  sharpening the profile of the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the University of Klagenfurt. It opens up opportunities for research, teaching, and public outreach, thereby promoting science in every respect.”
(Matthias Karmasin)

At the heart of the cooperation is the close collaboration and personnel integration between the CMC and the Department of Media and Communications (MK) at the University of Klagenfurt. This structured partnership enables not only intensive academic exchange, but also the joint implementation of third-party funded projects and research at an international level.

As a recognized partner in international research consortia, the CMC actively contributes to shaping Austria’s role in comparative communication research.

A Living Partnership: Research and Teaching

For the media and communication study programs at the University of Klagenfurt, the CMC currently provides 11 weekly teaching hours per semester – a significant contribution to the quality and diversity of the curriculum, and to the ideal of research-oriented teaching.

“The additional teaching not only expands the course offerings at MK, but also gives CMC staff the opportunity to gain valuable teaching experience and further develop their academic profile.”
(Tobias Eberwein)

Staff members working at either the CMC or MK have workspaces at both locations – a tangible expression of the scientific partnership that fosters regular personal exchange and collaboration. This facilitates the planning and acquisition of joint research projects.

“My PhD thesis at the University of Klagenfurt builds on my work in the CMC Horizon Europe project ‘Fostering Capacity Building for Civic Resilience and Participation: Dialogic Communication Ethics and Accountability’. The cooperation enables me to pursue my PhD project, gain qualifications for an academic career, and acquire valuable teaching experience.”
(Marie Rathmann)

The cooperation also supports the joint supervision of BA- and MA-theses as well as PhD-projects, offers new opportunities for academic qualification at doctoral and postdoctoral levels, and enables the development of unique academic positions – such as the combined role of professor and research group leader in Science Communication and Science Journalism, filled by Andreas Scheu in August 2024.

“The innovative profile of my professorship is only possible through the cooperation between ÖAW and AAU. It enables a dual focus: the development of innovative research projects and the establishment of science communication as a field in university teaching in Austria.”
(Andreas Scheu)