UNIVERSITY
Members of the University Council
Ambassador Mag.a Sigrid Berka
em. Univ.-Prof.in Dr.in Rita Franceschini (Vice-chairwoman)
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Harald Christian Gall
Univ.-Prof.in Dr.in i.R. Irene Nierhaus
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Stefan Perner
Mag. Hans Schönegger
Mag. Werner Wutscher, MPA (Chairman)
Office of the University Council
Contact: Mag. Dr. Gerlinde Buchhäusl
Telephone: +43 463 2700 9202
E-mail: Gerlinde [dot] buchaeusl [at] aau [dot] at
Room: Z.2.23
Meeting dates
2024
- Tuesday, 6 February (extraordinary session)
- Friday, 8 March
- Monday, 15 April
- Monday, 13 May
- Monday, 1 July
- Monday, 21 October
- Friday, 13 December
2025
- Friday, 21 March
- Friday, 9 May
- Monday, 7 July
- Friday, 17 October
- Friday, 12 December
Self-perception of the University Council
The University Council sees itself as one of the three managing collegial bodies of the University of Klagenfurt, with clear and legally-defined monitoring and control tasks, as well as supervisory functions. It sees its main task as working alongside the Senate to determine the future direction of the university on the basis of the model laid out by the Rectorate, and to determine the strategies for the attainment of goals set for this purpose.
The University Council also sees itself – through the contribution of the complex, diverse and personal knowledge of its members – in the role of ‘know-how provider’ and as a driving force. As part of its association with, and active involvement in, all strategic development policy and profile-specific university interests, the University Council aims to be involved as early as possible in development and decision making. The Rector acts as the immediate contact point.
The university will discuss and act on a profile paper presented by the Rector, as a basis for the future development of the University of Klagenfurt, that looks to build on the results of a widely-conducted process of discussion within the university. The attainment of strategic policy and profile-effective goals is the basis of a structure and development plan for the long-term (5 years), which also contains a clear-cut operating concept for the implementation and execution of the measures needed for their achievement.
The University Council expressly states that intervention in the business of operating the University of Klagenfurt does not fall under its area of responsibility, and that leadership and management responsibilities are located with the Rectorate.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the University Council are laid down in the Universities Act 2002. Section 21 of the Universities Act regulates its responsibilities:
- authorising the development plan, organisational plan and draft of the university’s performance agreement, as well as the Rectorate’s rules of procedure;
- making a statement regarding the advertisement of the position of Rector by the Senate;
- selecting the Rector from the three candidates provided by the Senate, and selecting the vice-rectors on the basis of the suggestions made by the Rector and opinion of the Senate;
- concluding the employment contract and target agreement with the Rector;
- dismissing the Rector and vice-rectors;
- nominating a male and a female member for the arbitration committee;
- position on the curricula and the courses offered outside of the performance agreement;
- authorising the formation of companies and foundations;
- authorising the guidelines for financial management, the financial statements, the Rectorate’s performance report and the knowledge scoreboard, and forwarding these to the Federal Minister;
- appointing an auditor to audit the university’s financial statements;
- approving the assumption of non-current liabilities, and empowering the Rectorate to assume such liabilities up to a certain limit without seeking the prior approval of the University Council;
- obligation to report serious infringements by university governing bodies to the Federal Minister, and reporting the danger of serious financial loss;
- authorising the Rectorate guidelines for the empowerment of employees, in accordance with section 28(1).
