Paul Koutny
Paul Koutny was a visionary Austrian student whose time studying in the United States on a Fulbright Scholarship in 1949 inspired him to launch a bold, cross-cultural initiative: the Institute for European Studies (IES Abroad). In 1950, at just 24 years old, he co-founded IES Abroad in Vienna alongside Clarence and Alberta Giese, enrolling the first class of 23 American students. A survivor of political imprisonment by the Nazis at age 17 for his stance in the resistance, Paul dedicated his life to rebuilding post-war Austria and fostering mutual understanding between Europe and the United States. His dream was rooted in the belief that study abroad could change lives and bridge cultural divides, especially for students of moderate means. Paul remained active in the organization into the early 1970s, helping expand IES Abroad’s reach through customized programs and musical tours. His legacy endures in the tens of thousands of students who have studied abroad through IES Abroad to date, and in the Paul & Brita Koutny Founders Scholarship, which continues to support access to global education for generations to come.
“I was lucky to get a scholarship to the states in 1949, and it was an incredible experience because everything was different from the tradition of our university system. It was completely different from what we had here...I had this wonderful year and I sort of got the idea ‘Well how about if I ask American students, would they like to come to Austria?’ Because it’s a different world. Immediately there was a very spontaneous response. I studied ’49-’50, and came back to Vienna in June ’50, immediately got started, l set up the program, and in late September the first group arrived.”Paul Koutny