University of Salzburg

Four candidates enter the race for rector

In the search for a new rector for the University of Salzburg, the search committee has submitted a non-binding recommendation of four candidates to the University Senate.

The commission's proposal was confirmed by the Equal Opportunities Working Group on Tuesday. Geologist Bernhard Fügenschuh, currently Vice-Rector for Teaching and Students at the University of Innsbruck, was ranked first. Hans-Peter Steinrück from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg follows in second place. He holds a chair in physical chemistry there.

Third place is shared by two candidates: moral theologian Jochen Sautermeister from the University of Bonn and economist Markus Walzl. He is Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Statistics at the University of Innsbruck.

A decision is possible in as little as five weeks
The Senate must now draw up a binding election proposal, for which four weeks are provided by law. The Senate's proposal must also be submitted to the Working Group for Equal Treatment Issues.

As the Chair of the University Council, Marianne Schulze, announced in a letter to university members on Tuesday, there could therefore be an election meeting of the University Council within the next five weeks. This is the body that ultimately chooses the new Rector.