“White Smoke” at EBC*L Certificate Award Ceremony: All Candidates Passed the Exam
23 May, 2025
Business skills for engineering students: Daniel F. Leutgeb, Head of the EBC*L Academy, once again pulled out all the stops for the certificate award ceremony in May 2025.
At the EBC*L (European Business Certificate) certificate award ceremony on May 9, 2025, at the UAS Technikum Wien, there was a pleasing outcome: All candidates who took the final exam of the 2024/25 winter semester passed their exams successfully. A total of 14 students – 13 at level C and 1 at level B – took the certification exam.
Daniel F. Leutgeb, head of the EBC*L Academy, welcomed those present with a humorous review of the conclave in Rome that had ended the previous day: “It was like the papal election – white smoke rose!” A 100% success rate in an EBC*L exam is anything but commonplace.
The guest of honor was MMag. Victor Mihalic, founder and CEO of EBC*L International. Mihalic, winner of the Heinz von Foerster Prize for Organizational Cybernetics, emphasized the importance of the EBC*L program in his speech: “Our aim is to give non-business people access to sound business knowledge – without an MBA or similar qualifications.”
Excellent career opportunities, even in top management
He emphasized: “I am convinced that those with technical qualifications and business expertise have the best career opportunities. The executives of the future will increasingly consist of this combination.” He praised the University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien as a “model organization within the international EBC*L network.”
Following the ceremonial presentation of the certificates, the flags were raised once again – a tradition that has been an integral part of EBC*L award ceremonies since the 2024/25 winter semester. Leutgeb also explained: “After the flag comes the anthem.” In fact, a draft for an EBC*L anthem already exists. It remains to be seen whether this will soon become an official part of the ceremony.
More than 1,100 EBC*L exams at UAS Technikum Wien
The current round of exams marked another milestone: since the program was introduced, more than 1,100 EBC*L exams have been taken at the University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien. This is impressive proof of the ongoing demand and sustained commitment to business competence for technicians.
