In November 2024, Privatdozentin Dr. Barbara Neuhofer reached a major academic milestone: the successful completion of her habilitation at the University of Innsbruck, earning the venia docendi in Business and Management. This achievement marks the culmination of more than a decade of research, teaching, and thought leadership in her field.
Barbara’s habilitation on the topic Experience Design in the Age of Human and Digital Transformation builds on ten years of post-PhD scholarship dedicated to exploring how experiences — in tourism, hospitality, events, and beyond, both physical and digital — can lead to human flourishing and transformation. Her research has spanned topics from the role of technology in shaping experiences to the factors, processes, and intentional design of transformative experiences that create lasting, positive change.
Reflecting on this milestone, Barbara shared that it represents not only an academic achievement but also a deeply personal journey shaped by collaboration, mentorship, and an unwavering passion for creating a better future through experience design. Her work has been enriched by teaching thousands of students across the globe, engaging with research participants who have shared their own transformative stories, and collaborating with colleagues across disciplines.
“For me, the habilitation is a very meaningful milestone in my career and the beginning of an even deeper commitment — to using research, teaching, and collaboration to design experiences that truly make a positive difference in people’s lives and in the systems we live in.” – Priv.-Doz. Dr. Barbara Neuhofer
