With a huge delay

University Council appoints new rector on Monday

He is the new Rector of the University of Salzburg: Bernhard Fügenschuh(Bild: Uni Innsbruck)

The University of Salzburg has been waiting months for a new head. After disputes and delays, the university announced the appointment by email on Monday morning: The new head is geologist Bernhard Fügenschuh.

In June, the Council had received a proposal of three people from the Senate. Bernhard Fügenschuh, Vice-Rector for Teaching and Students at the University of Innsburck, was at the top of the list.

The Tyrolean Bernhard Fügenschuh was also selected by the University Council, as the University of Salzburg announced in an email on Monday morning. He will take office on October 1.

Nine candidates from 20 applications were invited to a hearing for the position of Rector. From this group, the search committee submitted a non-binding proposal of three candidates to the Senate. The Senate then submitted a binding proposal to the University Council, from which the University Council elected Professor Fügenschuh as Rector by secret ballot.

Born in Innsbruck in 1962, Fügenschuh studied earth sciences at the university in his home town and completed his doctorate at ETH Zurich. Fügenschuh brings to an end the mishap-ridden, one-and-a-half-year search for a new university rector.