Organization:HTL Leonding
| Höhere Technische Bundeslehranstalt Leonding HTL Leonding | |
|---|---|
 HTL Leonding logo | |
| Address | |
Limesstraße 12–14 Leonding , Upper Austria , 4060 Austria | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public vocational secondary school |
| Established | 1984 |
| Authority | Republic of Austria |
| Principal | Richard Kainerstorfer |
| Staff | 130+ |
| Number of students | 1,100+ |
| Website | www |
Höhere Technische Bundeslehranstalt Leonding (HTL Leonding or HTBLA Leonding) is a public vocational secondary school in Leonding, Upper Austria, Austria. Operated by the Austrian federal government, it is a Higher Technical Institute (HTL) specializing in information technology, electronics, and engineering education.
Founded in 1984, the school has grown into one of Austria's largest technical secondary schools. Since 2023, HTL Leonding has offered an international educational track taught primarily in English.
History
HTL Leonding was established in 1984 and initially offered a specialization in telecommunications engineering and electronics. An informatics program was introduced in 1985. During its first years, the school was housed within the facilities of the HTL Paul-Hahn-Straße in Linz. In the 1987–88 academic year, it moved to a newly constructed campus on the Harter Plateau in Leonding.
Due to increasing enrollment and limited capacity, some students were temporarily accommodated at the Bundesrealgymnasium Traun during the 1997–98 school year. This arrangement later contributed to the establishment of the independent HTBLA Traun. HTL Leonding also played a role in the development of HTL Perg and the Hagenberg Campus of the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria. The campus in Leonding underwent renovation and expansion in 2001–02.
In 2023, the school introduced the English-language educational track Computer Science International (CSI), designed primarily for students with limited German-language proficiency. Most subjects are taught in English, with German remaining a compulsory subject. The school has also announced plans for a future program titled Design of Digital Products (DDP).
Academic programs
HTL Leonding offers four main educational tracks:
- Informatics
- IT Media Technology
- Electronics and Technical Informatics
- Biomedical and Health Engineering
Each program is available as a five-year higher technical education course leading to the Austrian Reife- und Diplomprüfung (school-leaving and diploma examination). Additional programs include a four-year technical school in electronics and evening courses for working professionals.
Informatics
The Informatics program combines computer science and business education. Areas of study include software engineering, databases, information systems, computer architecture, networking, operating systems, project development, business administration, and robotics. Since the 2021–22 academic year, the curriculum has included specializations in cybersecurity, data science, and artificial intelligence.
The English-language Computer Science International (CSI) track, introduced in 2023–24, follows a curriculum similar to the standard Informatics program while delivering most instruction in English.
IT Media Technology
The IT Media Technology program focuses on multimedia production and digital design. Students study image, audio, and video production, user interface design, 3D graphics and animation, game development, and related business and legal subjects.
Electronics and Technical Informatics
This program combines hardware and software development. Students receive training in electronics, circuit design, embedded systems, laboratory techniques, and prototype construction.
Biomedical and Health Engineering
Biomedical and Health Engineering combines electronics, software engineering, and medical sciences. Areas of study include medical imaging technologies such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), medical devices, and medical informatics.
Technical school
The four-year technical school program qualifies graduates as industrial electronics technicians. The curriculum includes electronics, information technology, workshop training, automation technology, telecommunications, networking, and production technology.
Evening school and college programs
HTL Leonding offers part-time evening programs for working adults, primarily specializing in software engineering. Graduates of other secondary schools may complete an accelerated college-level version of the program.
Projects and activities
The school supports a variety of extracurricular projects, competitions, and student initiatives.
Project Award
Each year, HTL Leonding organizes the Project Award, a competition for final-year students from informatics-focused HTLs in Upper Austria. Participants present diploma projects and software development projects to a jury consisting of representatives from industry and higher education.
RoboDucks
The school's RoboDucks team has achieved international recognition in robot soccer competitions and has represented Austria in international tournaments.
Notable alumni
- René Giretzlehner – co-founder of Runtastic
- Christina Haas – entrepreneur and cybersecurity specialist
- Andreas Mauhart – criminal defense attorney
- Sylvia Mayer – Director of the Austrian Directorate for State Protection and Intelligence
- Thomas Neubauer – entrepreneur in radio-frequency and mobile communications technology
- Werner Pamminger – business executive
- Stefan Stanzel – entrepreneur and public speaker
