Chronology

UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS (UNO) & UNIVERSITY OF INNSBRUCK (UIBK)

CHRONOLOGY OF THE PARTNERSHIP

1976 – 2026

  • 1976 On the initiative of Professor Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller, UNO inaugurates UNO Innsbruck International Summer School.
  • 1979 UNO provides the first Graduate Assistantship for UIBK students.
  • 1981 UIBK Rektor Andreae, UNO Chancellor Richelle, and UNO Dean Mueller determined to formalize a Friendship Treaty and to intensify student and faculty exchange and research collaboration between the two universities. Informal faculty exchange begins.
  • 1982 A Letter of Agreement, the first step toward a formal Friendship Treaty, is signed. UIBK inaugurates the “Austrian Student” Program at UNO in February. The first joint biannual Symposia are held in New Orleans and Innsbruck. The proceedings of the biannual Symposia are published.
  • 1983 Official Freundschafts-Vertrag (Friendship Treaty) between UIBK and UNO is signed.  UNO establishes the Institute for the Comparative Study of Public Policy (ICSPP).
  • 1985 10th Anniversary Celebration of the UNO-Innsbruck International Summer School in Innsbruck.  UNO forms the Office of International Study Programs to manage international programs and inaugurates the “European Experience” Program for high school honors students.
  • 1986 UNO inaugurates the “Interhostel” Program for senior citizens.
  • 1987 Faculty Exchange Program was formalized between UNO and UIBK.
  • 1988 Free access for UIBK students to UNO-Innsbruck International Summer School.
  • 1989, the first volume of the annual International Review of Comparative Public Policy was published by JAI Press.  UNO establishes the “European Centre” Program for adult learners.  Beginning of biannual business meetings in New Orleans (February) and Innsbruck (July). UNO provides a second Graduate Assistantship for a UIBK student.
  • 1990 UIBK provides “Joint Study” Scholarships for UNO students to spend the academic year abroad at UIBK.  UNO opens the “The Washington Center Internship Program” to UIBK students. UNO-Innsbruck International Summer School celebrates its 15th Anniversary at the Opening Ceremonies in the Royal Palace in Innsbruck.
  • 1991 UNO and UIBK launch new publication, Contemporary Austrian Studies (Vol. 34 in 2025).  UIBK introduces the annual “Transatlantic Lecture Series.”
  • 1992 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Austrian Student Program in New Orleans. Publication of a commemorative booklet on the History of the Partnership.  The first “International Disability Conference” in Innsbruck, jointly organized by the two universities, will discuss better access to university education for disabled students worldwide.  UIBK provides a second Joint Study Scholarship for a UNO student.
  • 1994 Intense lobbying campaign began by UNO to initiate an Austrian Chair program at UNO.  UNO offers five positions for International Business students from UIBK.
  • 1995 Signing of partnership/sister city treaty between the cities of Innsbruck and New Orleans on July 4.  20th Anniversary Celebration of UNO-Innsbruck International Summer School in Innsbruck.
  • 1997 Establishment of the Center for Austrian Culture and Commerce (CenterAustria).
  • 1998 UNO’s Academic Year Abroad Program was inaugurated at UIBK.  UNO provides a third Graduate Assistantship for a UNI student.
  • 1999 Former Austrian Chancellor Dr. Franz Vranitzky receives an honorary doctorate from UNO.  UIBK provides a third Joint Study Scholarship for a UNO student.
  • 2000 25th Anniversary Celebration of UNO-Innsbruck International Summer School in Innsbruck.  Young artists exchange inaugurated with UNO artists at Stadtgalerie Innsbruck and Innsbruck artists at UNO’s Fine Arts Gallery.  CenterAustria receives a $1 million gift from the Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation. “Three Musical Cities: Vienna, Salzburg, Prague” Summer Program inaugurated.  UNO provides a fourth Graduate Assistantship for a UIBK student.
  • 2001 Marshall Plan Chair program at UNO was inaugurated.  UNO names a room on campus “University of Innsbruck Room.” Former UIBK students at UNO founded the alumni association “Friends of the University of New Orleans.” UIBK provides a fourth Joint Study Scholarship for a UNO student.
  • 2002 Marshall Plan Professor program at UNO was inaugurated.  Post-graduate fellowship program at UNO established by the Austrian Ministry of Education, Arts, and Science.  UIBK names one of its conference rooms in the university’s main building “Saal University of New Orleans.” UNO and UIBK co-sponsor the New Orleans Festival in Innsbruck.  The City of Innsbruck and the Province of Tirol jointly launch the annual “Nick Mueller Fellowship,” assisting a student in studying and conducting research at UNO.
  • 2003 Austrian Student Program celebrates 20th Anniversary at UNO.  Second publication of commemorative booklet on the History of the Partnership.
  • 2005 UNO and UIBK received the Euro-Atlantic Culture Award for International Education in Innsbruck on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the UNO-Innsbruck International Summer School.  Friends and partners in Innsbruck and across Austria organize fundraising efforts to help UNO in the wake of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation.
  • 2010 the Center New Orleans was founded at UIBK to support the partnership between UNO and UIBK and to coordinate all partnership activities in Innsbruck.
  • 2015 40 years of the UNO-Innsbruck International Summer School, 20 years of the Sister City agreement, and 15 years of the Art Exchange are celebrated in New Orleans and Innsbruck.  Opening of the new International Center at UNO to house all international programs and services.  CenterAustria renamed the “Austrian Marshall Plan Center for European Studies.”  The UNO-Innsbruck International Summer School enrolls its 10,000th student.
  • 2018 Inauguration of short-term faculty exchange.
  • 2019 Collaboration on archaeological excavations and World War II recovery missions
  • 2020 UNO-Innsbruck International Summer School was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the worldwide COVID pandemic.  Continuation of cooperation despite global challenges.
  • 2023 Launch of new initiatives, such as the History Exchange Podcast Series, as well as research collaborations.
  • 2026 Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the UNO-Innsbruck International Summer School and Transatlantic Partnership between Innsbruck and New Orleans.