On Monday, 19 February 2024, the Certificate Programme in Fiduciary Services at the University of Liechtenstein began once again. The 28 participants highlight the necessity of targeted continuing education measures and the significant role of the fiduciary sector in Liechtenstein.

The continuous influx of students in recent years demonstrates not only the high attractiveness of the programme but also the relevance of fiduciary services in Liechtenstein. As one of the key pillars of the country’s economy, the fiduciary sector holds great importance. Due to the international orientation of the financial centre, sound, cross-border expertise in various legal, economic, tax, and financial advisory areas is indispensable. Programme Director Prof. Dr. Alexandra Butterstein emphasised “that the increasing demands and changing conditions in the fiduciary sector require targeted continuing education in order to continue meeting the highest standards in the future.” She also expressed her pleasure that a special added value for the students is created through close collaboration with the Chamber of Trustees, for which the University of Liechtenstein is very grateful. The Certificate Programme in Fiduciary Services prepares students for the demanding work in fiduciary companies. Subject-matter experts from academia and practice impart the latest developments, providing students with a unique combination of practical knowledge and academic content at the highest level. The 28 students from Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland acquire fundamental knowledge in the areas of law, taxation, business administration, and asset management and investment advice over the course of two semesters. Upon graduation, they will possess recognised professional qualifications enabling them to provide comprehensive client services in the Liechtenstein fiduciary sector. Completion of the Certificate Programme entitles graduates to enrol in the advanced Diploma Programme in Fiduciary Services, which prepares participants for management positions or independent work as a trustee. The completion of both programmes serves as preparation for the Liechtenstein trustee examination and, for participants without an academic background, constitutes proof of training in accordance with the Liechtenstein Trustee Act of 8 November 2013.

The University of Liechtenstein is pleased to announce the start of the Erasmus+ project "Pathfinder". Since January 2024, Sebastian Moder and Julia Tenschert from the Liechtenstein Business School have been working under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Furtner in cooperation with the LAB University of Applied Sciences in Finland, the University of Dubrovnik in Croatia and the formatio private school in Liechtenstein to anchor the understanding and application of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education. The project will run until December 2026.

Through the use of strategic guidelines, AI-based tools and tailored learning programs, teachers and students will be equipped with the necessary resources and knowledge to responsibly and effectively integrate AI into the teaching and learning process. The project includes the development of a framework to support teachers, an AI-supported toolkit for lesson planning and a competency-based learning program for students. These tools aim to improve employability, foster innovation and strengthen the resilience of the European education community.

The project is in line with the research strategy of the participating institutions and emphasizes the importance of sustainability and responsibility in the implementation of AI technologies. By investigating the societal impact of AI, the project makes a significant contribution to sustainable development and positions the project partners as pioneers in the field of responsible technological innovation in education.

The partner institutions contribute their respective strengths and expertise to the project. The LAB University of Applied Sciences contributes its experience in the development of innovations and the integration of AI into educational programs. The University of Dubrovnik is contributing its expertise in the development of education and training programs to the project through the Center for Digital Transformation. The formatio private school in Liechtenstein, on the other hand, is focusing on strengthening individual strengths and innovative teaching methods. The University of Liechtenstein is responsible for project management and the strategic development of the project.

The results of this project will not only improve digital readiness and educational practices within the participating institutions, but will also provide valuable insights and resources for the entire European educational community. The participating institutions are convinced that this project will enable a cultural shift to foster innovation and broader access to responsible AI use in higher education.

The Center for Philanthropy at the University of Liechtenstein has launched a new online information service. The portal "Liechtenstein Philanthropy Talks" (philanthropytalks.li/) offers extensive knowledge about charitable commitment and philanthropy. Under the motto "HOLISTIC. MEANINGFUL. EFFECTIVE." it is aimed at philanthropists, volunteers and all those working in the charitable, non-profit sector.

The new platform makes the Center for Philanthropy's in-depth practical and research knowledge accessible to a broad international target group. For example, it offers information on various forms of philanthropic commitment, how to find focal points and how to measure impact. People who want to set up a charitable institution such as a foundation will also find plenty of guidance.
"In view of the variety of possibilities and forms of philanthropic commitment, people who want to set up a foundation are often unsure. It is important for them to first of all be clear about their own motives and goals. With the Philanthropy Talks, we now offer a comprehensive orientation service," says Prof. Dr. Marc Gottschald, Director of the Center for Philanthropy and creator of the portal.
The visually appealing platform https://philanthropytalks.li/, which is enhanced with numerous illustrations, consists of nine "Inspirations" that explain the basics of charitable commitment. Questions are answered such as: What types of involvement are there? How do you find the right cause and the right form of implementation? How do you plan your commitment in an impact-oriented way?

Knowledge and attitude

The second, even more comprehensive area is "Insights". These are intended to help people who are already active in charitable work to further develop themselves and their work and to reflect on their personal attitude: What is the importance of trust and control in charitable work? How do foundations find good partners in order to implement their own concerns as effectively as possible? In addition, trends and developments in the philanthropic sector will be analyzed: What is the significance of Bill and Melinda Gates' Giving Pledge initiative, which has received a lot of media attention? What is behind the concept of venture philanthropy? Critical topics are also covered: For example, an essay on "philanthrocapitalism" discusses the question of how useful it is when, especially in large entrepreneurially managed foundations
economic calculation, efficiency considerations and a focus on key figures are increasingly gaining ground. Critics criticize a reductionist attitude that does not do justice to the complex problems to be solved.
"With the Philanthropy Talks, we want to give philanthropists positive food for thought from research and practice," says Dr. Christian Meyn, lecturer at the Center for Philanthropy and one of the authors of the site. "Above all, however, we want to encourage people to engage in good dialogs and to work effectively for the common good - worldwide and in Liechtenstein."

LSA Lecturer Cornelia Faisst at Panel Discussion on Service Learning

What happens when university teaching and civil society meet and take action together? What might this look like, and what contribution can the teaching-learning concept of service learning make? These and other questions formed the starting point of the third ben:edu Annual Conference, which took place online on 9 February 2024 under the title “University Teaching Strategy Meets Civil Society – A Fruitful Interaction?”

In the engaging discussion on service learning, LSA lecturer Cornelia Faisst participated as a panel member and shared insights from the more than 80 pro bono projects implemented by students and their impact.

Members of the association “Friends of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Liechtenstein” visited the University of Liechtenstein to delve into the fascinating world of artificial intelligence.

In the interactive workshop with Assoc. Prof. Johannes Schneider and Dr. Michael Gau, participants had the opportunity to interact with OpenAI’s ChatGPT 4.0 and explore its strengths and weaknesses.
Even the Prince of Liechtenstein made an appearance—at least in a fictional story generated by ChatGPT—as the hero who saved the country (and the world) from an out-of-control artificial intelligence.
Thanks in part to the research conducted at the Chair of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, led by Prof. Schneider, such scenarios should fortunately remain purely fictional.

At the beginning of 2024, the 57th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences took place. Over 1300 attendees from 45 countries attended this event.

HICSS – The Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences – has been known worldwide as one of the longest standing scientific communities in the information systems and technology fields. Since 1968, it has become a respected destination that attracts high-caliber scholars and professionals in academia, industry and government agencies around the world to discuss their cutting-edge research.

Among the 764 papers accepted to the conference, one was due to the contribution of a now graduated student from the Master in Information Systems at the University of Liechtenstein: Fiona Koh (formely, Fiona Ruettimann). The paper, entitled "Voices from the Frontline: Revealing the AI Practitioners' Viewpoint on the European AI Act", featured the research carried out by Fiona for her Master Thesis---a work done under the guidance of Ass. Prof. Giovanni Apruzzese. The paper also fostered the contribution of a well-known researcher from EPFL, Dr. Kathrin Grosse.

The paper was presented at the conference on January 5th by Ass. Prof. Giovanni Apruzzese. The presentation was extremely well-received by the attendees: the Q&A session lasted much longer than usual, underscoring the importance of the themes tackled in the paper. Indeed, the never-ending interest towards AI induced sovereign entities to advance regulation that will dictate its future development. The paper shines light on what industry practitioners in AI think about the upcoming AI Act proposed by the EU.

Information about the conference: https://hicss.hawaii.edu/program-hicss57/

It is possible to read the paper here: https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/items/cd1c5a61-87c6-4827-a200-745d450e25c2

Information on the study programme: https://www.uni.li/de/studium/studienprogramme/master-wirtschaftsinformatik/master-wirtschaftsinformatik)