Ada Pellert elected Rector at the University of Klagenfurt

The University Council elected Ada Pellert as Rector of the University of Klagenfurt during the session held earlier today.

Following an international selection process, which was supported by a recruitment consultancy, the Senate submitted an unranked shortlist comprising three candidates to the University Council. The University Council, which was fully involved in the process and whose members attended both the public and committee hearings, elected Ada Pellert unanimously by secret ballot. Ada Pellert was able to impress with her international experience as well as her expertise in organisational development and management in the fields of education and science. Ada Pellert will commence her term of office as Rector on the 1st of December 2024.

“We are delighted to have been able to win Ada Pellert as Rector. She has outstanding international experience and valuable expertise in organisational development. She also brings excellent credentials to the table in the field of digitalisation. As Rector of one of Germany’s largest universities, she can demonstrate outstanding leadership skills. Ada Pellert completed her post-doctoral qualification (habilitation) at the University of Klagenfurt and is therefore well acquainted with the university. She will continue Oliver Vitouch’s excellent work of the past three terms of office and will introduce new impulses and perspectives. She presented an impressive concept for advancing the university in terms of its internal organisational structure and external profile, thus strengthening the university’s ability to address the major challenges of our time in line with its societal responsibility “, states Werner Wutscher, Chair of the University Council at the University of Klagenfurt.

Martin Hitz, Chair of the Senate: “The Senate was able to gain a comprehensive impression of the favourable selection of candidates at the public and committee hearings on the 15^th and 16^th of January. As a result, the Senate was able to submit a unanimous proposal consisting of the three most suitable candidates to the University Council during its regular session on the 24^th of January. This meant that the previously planned extraordinary session was no longer necessary. We look forward to a successful collaboration with Ada Pellert for the benefit of our university during the upcoming term of office.”

Ada Pellert, newly elected Rector: “The University of Klagenfurt is a modern and attractive centre of study and research. I would like to boost its national and international visibility by setting high-quality accents in research and teaching. This requires numerous strong partnerships in the regional and national environment. I look forward to inspiring collaborations on the impressive university campus with its many opportunities for vibrant interdisciplinarity, which are the hallmark of a successful university and promote vital dialogue with society.”

The University Council would like to thank everyone involved in the complex selection process, in particular the members of the Search Committee and the Senate chaired by Martin Hitz, for their excellent, rigorous, and constructive cooperation.

 

The election process

In 2021 and 2022, the university’s governing bodies and employees conducted an in-depth process to develop a strategy for the development of the University of Klagenfurt. As a result of this strategy process, the University Council identified a number of key points for decision-making, which were also reflected in the call for applications and the criteria applied by the Search Committee, including international professional experience and leadership experience in the Austrian and international higher education sector.

The call for applications for the position of Rector at the University of Klagenfurt was announced on the 4^th of October 2023. The Search Committee reviewed the applications with the support of the recruitment consultancy. A total of eight candidates applied, one person withdrew their application in the course of the proceedings. Five candidates were invited to participate in the hearings conducted on the 15^th and 16^th of January 2024. Next, the Search Committee forwarded an unranked four-person shortlist to the Senate. In turn, the Senate submitted an unranked three-person proposal to the University Council on the day of its ordinary session on the 24^th of January 2024. The prompt submission of the three-person shortlist by the Senate meant that the decision by the University Council, which was originally scheduled for the 8^th of March 2024, could be made in the extraordinary session held on the 6^th of February 2024.

 

Interview enquiries:
The Chair of the University Council and the future Rector welcome media enquiries. To arrange this, please contact Annegret Landes.

Photo: Portrait Ada Pellert | Fotocredit © Reinhard Scheiblich