About
Stefan Oppl works at the intersection of higher education leadership, vocational education and training, and digital learning.
He is Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at the University for Continuing Education Krems and Managing Director of BFI Oberösterreich. His work connects academic leadership with research on technology-enhanced learning, socio-technical systems design, and human-computer interaction.
Experience
- Since Aug 2025 — Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems, Austria
- Since Mar 2024 — Managing Director, Berufsförderungsinstitut Oberösterreich (BFI OÖ), Linz, Austria
- 2021–2025 — Dean, Faculty of Education, Arts and Architecture, University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems, Austria
- Since 2019 — Professor for Technology-Enhanced Learning, University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems, Austria
- 2010–2019 — Assistant / Associate Professor of Business Informatics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria
- 2016–2017 — Visiting Research Fellow, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Netherlands
Education
Venia Docendi in Business Informatics
Johannes Kepler University Linz
PhD in Computer Science
TU Wien
MBA in Applied Knowledge Management
Johannes Kepler University Linz
MSc in Computer Science
Johannes Kepler University Linz
Research Interests
Selected publications in technology-enhanced learning, socio-technical systems design, and digital education.
Contextual Process Digitalization: Changing Perspectives – Design Thinking – Value-Led Design
(2026). Springer Cham.
Anerkennung und Validierung non-formalen und informellen Lernens an Hochschulen: Orientierungen in einem komplexen Feld
(2025). Waxmann Verlag.
The Power of a Human Bridge: Motivating Older Adults to Long-Term Engagement with Touchscreen Devices in a SDT-Based Learning Session
(2024). Technology, Knowledge and Learning, 29(3).
Physical home-learning environments of traditional and non-traditional students during the COVID pandemic - exploring the impact of learning space on students’ motivation, stress and well-being
(2023). Smart Learning Environments.
On the Ambiguous Nature of Theory in Educational Design-based Research – Reflecting and Structuring from an IS Perspective
(2022). Educational Design Research.
A curated selection of research and development projects.
EB-Forum Upper Austria Adult Education Needs Study
Research project on evidence-based analysis of adult education needs, participation patterns, and development potential in Upper Austria. (2025).
DigComp 3.0 AT
Project on the scientific elaboration and publication of DigComp 3.0 AT, the Austrian model for digital competences, carried out on behalf of the Austrian Federal Chancellery. (2025).
KI-Basiscurriculum (AI Basic Curriculum)
Project on the elaboration of the Austrian AI basic curriculum on the basis of DigComp 2.2, commissioned via the OeAD as part of the Austrian Digital Skills Offensive. (2025).
Center for Quality Development in Higher Vocational Education (HBB-Z)
Project on the scientific support of higher vocational education in Austria, with a focus on quality development, system interfaces, and stakeholder exchange. (2024).
DDM4SME
Project on data-based decision-making in small and medium-sized enterprises, with a focus on practical competences around AI-supported decision processes. (2022).
Teaching activities focus on technology-enhanced learning, socio-technical systems design, and human-computer interaction.
Teaching spans lectures, seminars, labs, project-based formats, and thesis supervision across several institutions and programs.
Selected public talks and presentations.
Digital competent, democratically capable: on the relationship between democracy and digitalization and implications for adult education
IFDP Jahrestagung 2025, Vienna, Austria (2025).
Das macht eh alles die KI (?): Erwachsenenbildung, technologiegestützte Didaktik und viele Versprechungen
Bildungsauftakt Steiermarkhof 2025/26, Graz, Austria and Online (2025).
Das macht eh alles die KI (?): Lernen, technologiegestützte Didaktik und viele Versprechungen
Bundesfinanzakademie TrainCamp, Online (2025).
Umgang mit KI im Alltag – ein Selbstläufer? Begriffsklärungen, Einordnungen und eine erste Annäherung an KI-Alltagskompetenzen
Future Skills Circle der Zukunftsakademie OÖ, Linz, Austria (2025).
KI: Kooperative Kollegin oder Konkurrentin außer Kontrolle?
Club Niederösterreich and Marktgemeinde Michelhausen, Michelhausen, Austria (2023).
Generally accessible articles, explainers, and commentary.
Disruption, Evolution oder viel heiße Luft – was ist dran an „künstlicher Intelligenz“?
(2024). Bildungsjournal Sommer 2024.
For academic collaboration, invited talks, project-related exchange, or professional contact, please use the public profiles below.
For role-related contact at the University for Continuing Education Krems or BFI Oberösterreich, the institutional channels linked from the profile section above are usually the best starting point.
LinkedIn is usually the most practical channel for first contact.
Public profiles: