Types of Appointment Procedures

§ 98

Appointment procedures according to § 98 UG are the "classical" procedures. Chairs according to § 98 UG are usually filled for an unlimited period. The period of employment is limited only in special cases, such as with endowed professorships.

Each position is advertised nationally and internationally.

The development plan of the University of Innsbruck (§ 98 para. 1 UG) must specify the fields of the chairs to be filled on a permanent basis and also of those to be filled for longer than three years.

Once the position has been released, the Senate of the University nominates an Appointment Committee. This committee reviews the applications submitted and hands them over (with the exception of those that are obviously unsuitable) to (usually) external reviewers. On the basis of the expert opinions, the appointment committee selects those applicants who are to be invited to a personal presentation (lecture and hearing). They are also given the opportunity to present themselves to the faculty on site.

Subsequently, the Appointment Committee prepares a nomination proposal on the basis of the expert opinions, the comments from the faculty and the  personal presentation.

If the proposal contains the most suitable applicants (usually three), the Rector makes the selection decision and invites that applicant to negotiate the terms of employment. The negotiations are concluded with a formal appointment offer, which, if accepted, is followed by the final step, the employment contract.

§ 99 (1)

Professorships according to § 99 para. 1 UG are filled for a limited period of up to 5 years in a shortened procedure. They are also advertised nationally and internationally.

The Rector makes his or her selection decision on the basis of a proposal of the professors of the field in question or after consulting them.

An extension of the appointment is only possible if a procedure according to § 98 is carried out.

§ 99 (4)

The appointment procedure according to § 99 para. 4 UG is addressed to associated professors both with and without civil service status of the own university. The development plan has to specify the number of positions to be opened for this type of chair. The positions are to be announced in the university's official bulletin.

§ 99a

Professorships according to § 99a UG are also shortened appointment procedures "for the purpose of proactively attracting outstanding personalities in science or in the artistic field" (§ 99a para. 1 UG). A specification of the chair’s field in the development plan is therefore not required.

The number § 99a UG professorships must not exceed 5% of the § 98 UG chairs.

Professorships according to § 99a UG are opened by the Rector after consulting the professors of the field in question with a duration of a maximum  of 6 years. An unlimited  extension is possible, if a qualification examination yields positive results.

The Rector makes his or her selection decision after consulting the professors of the field in question.

§ 99 (5-7) Tenure-Track

A tenure-track position according to § 99 para. 5-7 UG makes an academic career at the University of Innsbruck possible that starts with  a post-doctoral position and will (with appropriate performance) be followed by a permanent chair according to § 99 para. 4 UG.

The "classical” career position for Associate professors starts as a post-doctoral position where a qualification agreement (usually habilitation) is offered in the course of the first year. After signing the agreement, the holder of the position is promoted to "Assistant Professor". Once the qualification agreement has been fulfilled, the position is extended for an unlimited period of time and the holder is qualified to use the title "Associate Professor" (§ 27 Collective Bargaining Agreement for Universities).

In contrast, on a tenure-track position the successful applicant concludes a qualification agreement upon taking up the position and therefore starts the position already as an "Assistant Professor". Once the qualification agreement has been fulfilled, the position is also extended for an unlimited period of time and the holder of the position is entitled to use the title "Associate Professor" (§ 27 Collective Bargaining Agreement for Universities).

In addition, the university confirms already in the call for applications that, subsequent to the fulfilment of the qualification agreement and the employment requirements, a professorship accordance with § 99 para. 4 UG will be opened for which the Associate Professor can apply.