Martina Laffer

OeAD - Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation, Austria

Martina Laffer has been with the Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalisation, Department for International Cooperation in Higher Education, since 2020. At the OeAD her responsibilities include higher education marketing, Science4refugees and the initiative oead4refugees. Additionally, she provides information and assistance to researchers and students regarding study and funding opportunities. Before joining the OeAD she worked at the University of Vienna, the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna and at Fulbright Austria. She studied Political Science in Vienna and Montréal, Canada.

: martina-laffer-486954245/

Sonja Falkner-Matzinger

Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria

Sonja Falkner-Matzinger is the dedicated head of the MORE-Initiative and the International Welcome Center (IWC) at Johannes Kepler University (JKU) Linz in Austria. With her extensive experience and expertise in refugee integration and her passion for international education, she has significantly contributed to promoting inclusion in Austrian higher education.
As the head of the MORE-Initiative, Sonja Falkner-Matzinger actively works to facilitate access to higher education for refugees and displaced persons. Her efforts include developing and implementing programs that support refugee students in academically and socially integrating into the university community.
In her role at the IWC, she coordinates the support for international students and researchers. Her work is characterized by a deep understanding of intercultural communication and the needs of a diverse student body. Through her dedication, she has significantly contributed to making JKU Linz a more inclusive and globally minded campus.
Sonja Falkner-Matzinger has extensive experience in the development and implementation of educational programs and has established herself as an expert in integration and inclusion. Her work reflects her belief that education is the key to better understanding and a more harmonious society.
Furthermore Sonja Falkner-Matzinger works as the Student Ombudsperson at JKU Linz, where she provides information, advisory services, and mediation for individual issues. She is also a registered mediator with the Federal Ministry of Justice in Austria.

: sonja-falkner-matzinger-2512a6179/recent-activity/