Dr.h.c. Heinz Michael Boyer is an Austrian education entrepreneur and a visionary pioneer in the development of tourism schools, institutes and ecosystems in Austria and internationally. In 1994, he founded IMC Krems as the International Management Center (IMC) and is now Chairman of the Supervisory Board and majority owner of the IMC Krems University of Applied Sciences.
Heinz Boyer is well known not only in Austria, where people in the tourism sector still call him “Herr Direktor” but also in the countries where he has left his mark with his transnational programmes, which are still running today.
Despite his age, he has never really retired and is still pursuing his vision of spreading education locally by initiating a university for senior citizens (SeniorInnenUNI) and a university for young people (Junge Uni), as well as developing education and vocational training projects globally by travelling around the world.
In his book “Setzen, 5!” he mentions an anecdote in which he recounts that “whichever hotel I visit in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku, I am greeted by a former student with the words ‘welcome Mr. Boyer’”. Students and colleagues say that his vision is admirable, his laughter infectious, and his perseverance incredible.
The former governor of Lower Austria Erwin Pröll once said “Heinz Boyer was always a pioneer and set the tone for the future.”
IMC Krems
In 1994, Heinz Boyer founded IMC Krems University of Applied Sciences, which was the first higher education institution in Austria to offer a bachelor degree in tourism taught entirely in English, with an exchange semester and a practical training semester (internship) abroad.
From 2009, he shared the university management with his daughter Ulrike Prommer, before she took over sole responsibility as CEO in 2014. Today, he continues to support the university as Chairman of the Supervisory Board – with the same commitment to the vision that started it all.
Transnational programmes
During his tenure as CEO, and as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of IMC Krems, Boyer pioneered transnational education by exporting IMC Krems’s Tourism and Leisure Management, Business Administration and International Business Management bachelor degree programmes to several countries, including Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, China, Ukraine, Vietnam and Egypt.
The model consists of offering accredited degrees at partner universities, providing flying faculty from IMC Krems to teach part of the courses locally, ensuring the same quality of education as in Austria and allowing students to spend a semester studying in Krems. Students receive an Austrian degree while studying in their home country.
In 2024 he initiated a cooperation agreement between IMC Krems and the prestigious King Saud University in Saudi Arabia for a student exchange.
Transnational projects
Developing international education projects around the globe
Having successfully established several educational institutions in Austria, Heinz Boyer received multiple calls for regional tourism development from several countries.
The project realisation always followed these five steps:
1. Fact-finding mission
2. Project design
3. Feasibility study and business plan
4. Implementation
5. Training and management
Some of his prestige international development projects include:
- Development of the Tourism Project Aqaba, Jordan (meeting with H.H. Queen Rania)
- Development of the Oman Tourism College
- Development of the Buraimi University in Oman
Career milestones
A remarkable career
Early life and education
Born in Nappersdorf as the son of a baker family in the wine district of Lower Austria, Boyer attended the Handelsakademie in Krems and later studied business and pedagogy at the Hochschule für Welthandel – now known as the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) – where he also worked as a lecturer later in life.
Career and achievements
In 1975, Boyer helped build a tourism school including a training hotel in Krems (HLF Krems) and became its director, running the school until 2003.
In 1979, he was responsible for revitalising the Hotel Panhans in Semmering and established the International Institute for Tourism Management (ITM), which at that time was the first and only educational training institution in Austria with an international focus and English as the teaching language.
In 1988, he developed the hospitality college in Retz, Lower Austria.
Additional career milestones
In 2015, he founded the ISK – International School Krems – and served as its CEO until 2018.
From 2017 to 2019, Boyer served as a member of the Supervisory Board of the Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences.
Awards and honours
Awards and honours
For his achievements, Heinz Boyer received numerous awards and honours, both in Austria and abroad.
Silver Commander’s Cross
of the Decoration of Honor for Services to the Province of Lower Austria (2014)
Honorary citizen
of the City of Krems (2012)
Ring of Honour
of the town of Retz
Ring of Honour
of the municipality of Semmering
Ring of Honour
of the City of Krems
Comenius Medal
of the Czech Ministry of Education
Gold Decoration of Honour
for Services to the Republic of Austria
Double-headed eagle
of the City of Krems in gold
Grand Decoration of Honour
for Services to the Province of Lower Austria
Honorary doctorate
from the Christian University of Thailand
Honorary professorship
by Qingdao University in China
Appointment as Honorary President
Friends’ Association of the HLF Krems School of Tourism
