University Council sets course for April 2026: Future Vice Presidents elected

In its last meeting of the year, on 17 December, the University Council of the University of Passau elected four members to the future University Executive. The designated vice presidents will be part of the University Executive from April 2026 under the leadership of the previously elected president-designate, Professor Jan H. Schumann.

From left to right: Prof. Klaus Beckmann, University Coucil Chair, with Prof. Harald Kosch, Prof. Bettina Noltenius, Prof. Maximilian Sailer and University President Prof. Ulrich Bartosch; Photo credit: University Passau

Professor Harald Kosch (proposed portfolios: Academic Infrastructure/IT and Sustainability), Professor Bettina Noltenius (proposed portfolios: Studies and Teaching), Professor Maximilian Sailer (proposed portfolios: Transfer and Teacher Education) and Professor Daniela Wawra (proposed portfolios: International Affairs and Diversity) will assume responsibility as vice presidents for three years from 1 April 2026. The portfolios of Research and Academic Career Pathways are also to remain part of the University’s executive leadership and will be represented directly by the designated president, Professor Jan H. Schumann, himself.

With the computer scientist Kosch and the legal scholar Noltenius, two current members of the vice-presidential team will therefore continue their commitment in the forthcoming term of office. Kosch is also to continue, as before, in the role of deputy president. For Wawra, this represents a return to the University’s leadership team: the linguist previously served as vice president from 2018 to 2020, at that time with responsibility for the portfolios of Studies, Teaching and International Affairs.

"I warmly congratulate my colleagues on their election”, said Schumann. "The office comes with great responsibility. I am therefore grateful that my colleagues have accepted this and I look forward to working with them on the future of the University of Passau from the coming semester onwards, building on previous successes."

"I would like to join Vice President Schumann in congratulating them”, said University President Professor Ulrich Bartosch. "It is with a certain pride that I see the transition of the University of Passau into the next phase of good development as being optimally and punctually organised."