2023-07-24 07:00:32
The University of Salzburg has been looking for a new university management for months. But although time is of the essence – the new boss should ascend the rector’s chair on October 1, 2023 – the election process has de facto come to a standstill since February.
After two complaints to the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research, the appointment has been delayed. Because without the Senate’s final candidate proposal, the hands of the university council, which has to make the final decision, are tied. Eternal back and forth creates further uncertaintiesCriticism of the Punch and Judy show comes from all sides. Because the future is not only at stake for the rector candidates. “The current situation poses a challenge for university employees. For them, it is currently a question of their own specific professional future,” says Stephanie Wolfgruber from the Austrian Students’ Union. The lack of clarity causes terrible uncertainty among many university members. It is still unclear when the applicants can expect a vote. Insiders fear no agreement will be reached before early September. For the candidates, this could mean that they would only be informed about an acceptance or rejection four weeks before taking office. Computer scientist Martin Hitz, Senate Chair of the University of Klagenfurt, and lawyer Viola Heutger, Rector of the University of Aruba, are still in the running. But a third party has also made it back onto the list of candidates because of the complaints: the incumbent Rector Hendrik Lehnert. As reported, six members of the senate had criticized the decision of the university senate, which had spoken out against the incumbent rector in February, and lodged a complaint with the ministry. This had examined the situation and had come to the decision that the Senate proposal of February 7th had to be canceled due to formal errors. But there was also a complaint for the improved proposal. So the cause is again with the ministry…
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