PH NÖ rector appointment faces discrimination complaint

The appointment of a new rector at the University College of Teacher Education of Lower Austria in Baden is being reviewed by the Federal Equal Treatment Commission, ORF reported. Deputy rector Edda Polz has accused Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr of discrimination based on gender and ideology.

Polz filed the complaint with the commission, her lawyer Dominik Konlechner said on Wednesday. She had applied to lead the institution and was ranked first by its university council during the selection process. Bernd Langensteiner was appointed instead and took over as rector on August 1.

Polz described the appointment as politically motivated and said Wiederkehr had followed the staff council’s position rather than the university council’s recommendation. She said her academic qualifications, many years of leadership in tertiary education and work at the institution had apparently been disregarded.

The staff council had supported Langensteiner during the selection process. Under the Higher Education Act, the university council conducts the selection process and submits a reasoned assessment of the candidates to the responsible minister. The final appointment is made by the minister.

According to the ministry, as reported by Falter, all three shortlisted candidates were considered professionally qualified. During talks at the ministry, Langensteiner was judged to have the strongest leadership qualities for resolving a complex conflict situation.

The Federal Equal Treatment Commission can examine alleged discrimination in the federal public service and determine whether equal treatment rules were breached. The proceedings are not public, and the commission issues an assessment. Any claims for compensation would have to be pursued separately in court.

Before his appointment, Langensteiner was head of the Wels-Grieskirchen-Eferding education region at the Upper Austrian education directorate. He had previously headed the BG and BRG secondary school in Enns and taught at universities, universities of applied sciences and teacher-training colleges.

Leadership dispute

The change of leadership followed months of conflict involving former rector Erwin Rauscher, who was removed early by the Education Ministry in October 2025. The ministry cited so-called dummy courses entered into the administration system, through which employees were allegedly paid for other activities.

Criminal investigations into Rauscher were discontinued at the end of 2025. The Wiener Neustadt public prosecutor’s office found no conduct relevant under criminal law.

Rauscher also sued the Republic over what he considered an unlawful dismissal. A settlement with the Education Ministry took legal effect at the end of August. His special service relationship with the Republic will now end by mutual agreement on September 30, 2026, instead of through the dismissal. The ministry said it nevertheless continues to stand by its allegation of a breach of official duties.