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Schauer-Frank Bettina, Rector of Burgenland University of Applied Sciences
Eisenstadt/Pinkafeld, 17 October 2025 - University of Applied Sciences Burgenland has a new Rector: Bettina Schauer-Frank, previously Vice-Rector for Student Affairs, has been elected Head of the Board of Governors at University of Applied Sciences Burgenland. The Board, the centrepiece of academic self-administration, is autonomously responsible for all matters relating to studies, teaching and examinations. It consists of a total of 18 elected representatives of the heads of degree programmes, around 700 full-time and part-time university lecturers and around 7,700 students. Following the sudden death of Rector Prof Gernot Hanreich in April 2025, Schauer-Frank took over his duties on an interim basis. On 15 October 2025, the members of the college officially elected her as the new rector.
"The faculty is the independent, courageous and innovative heart of the university," says Schauer-Frank: "I want to help ensure that it continues to beat strongly and that the university continues to pulsate." She sees her role as a formative task and relies on close collaboration with teaching staff, students and management. She will bring her many years of experience as a university professor, course director and Vice Rector to her new role.
"I have worked in various areas at the institution for more than 20 years and therefore know the university very well. I stand for continuity and new accents in equal measure."
Bettina Schauer-Frank, Rector of Burgenland University of Applied Sciences
Schauer-Frank also wants to actively represent University of Applied Sciences Burgenland at a national level, for example in the University of Applied Sciences Conference. There are important educational policy challenges ahead, such as shaping a national higher education strategy for 2040, drawing up a UAS development and funding plan or the question of how artificial intelligence affects studying. "I am confident that we will be able to master these tasks - universities have proven time and again that they can successfully embrace new ideas and respond in a future-oriented manner."
"The entire university congratulates Bettina Schauer-Frank on her election and wishes her every success," says Managing Director Georg Pehm. He emphasises the special team spirit at the university, which will continue to form the basis for constructive cooperation in the future.
Together with long-standing Rector Gernot Hanreich, Schauer-Frank has made a significant contribution to making the university what it is today. Her success in establishing Master's programmes and her ability to reconcile different positions are what set her apart, says Pehm.
Gerald Goger, himself a professor at the Vienna University of Technology for many years and now, as Managing Director of Landesholding Burgenland, the owner's representative for the university, was involved in the selection committee in drawing up a three-person proposal for election by the college. "One of the university's strengths is that it has several personalities who can fulfil the task," says Goger. "I congratulate Rector Bettina Schauer-Frank on her election. The university is also setting an example by having even more women in management positions."
Rector Prof.in (FH) Mag.a Dr.in Bettina Schauer-Frank, born in 1977, has been employed at Burgenland University of Applied Sciences since 2005, initially as a lecturer and research assistant, and from 2013 as head of several Master's programmes at Burgenland University of Applied Sciences Continuing Education. She has been Deputy Head of the University Board and Vice-Rector for Student Affairs since 2019. She herself studied business informatics at the Technical University and the University of Vienna and completed her doctorate in 2008.
University of Applied Sciences Burgenland currently offers 32 Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes at two study centres in Eisenstadt and Pinkafeld. There are currently 7,700 regular and non-degree students studying in four departments, namely Energy & Environment, Health & Social Affairs, Information Technology and Business, as well as in continuing education programmes. In 2024, Burgenland University of Applied Sciences took the opportunity to adapt its former name to the English term University of Applied Sciences. In 2023, University of Applied Sciences Burgenland celebrated its 30th anniversary. By the winter semester 2025/26, the university will have more than 16,000 graduates.
Enquiry notes:
Mag.a Christiane Staab │ Marketing and Communication │ University of Applied Sciences Burgenland GmbH │ Tel: +43 (0)5 7705 3537 │ E-Mail: christiane.staab(at)hochschule-burgenland.at
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