WVPU is Guided by the Principle of Subsidiarity

WVPU’s legal form in Austria is that of an association (Verein); WVPU is guided by the principle of subsidiarity. It is logically tiered placing the General Assembly (GA) at the top, under which serves the Supervisory Board acting as the University Council (UC), which in turn monitors the management of the University in the form of the Executive Board (EB).

Palais building that houses Webster Vienna Private University

General Assembly

The General Assembly is composed of the members of the Association, the four most senior officers of Webster University. It is responsible for approving structural and strategic decisions with financial implications, including development plans, annual budgets, annual reports and financial statements, changes to the Constitution and Articles of Association. It also oversees the appointment and termination of members of the Executive Board and University Council.

University Council

The University Council monitors University operations as a Supervisory Board of the Association. It consists of four members who hold or held responsible positions in society, especially in academic, cultural or business life, and due to their exceptional knowledge and experience, contribute to achieving the goals and tasks of the university. The UC meets four times a year and, among other activities, initially approves the Executive Board’s draft of the Development Plan, the introduction and discontinuation of study programs, changes to any fundamental regulations, the budgets and agreements with the EB on planned annual performance as well as the annual reports and financial statements prior to reporting to the General Assembly for final approval. For transparency, from the University Senate and Works Council are invited to all regular meetings.

Current members of the UC:

  • Dr. Ryan Guffey, Director General for Global Campuses, Webster University
  • Dr. William Lynch, Professor Emeritus from Webster University
  • Richard Ryffel, Senior Director of Philanthropy, Beyond Housing and
  • Dr. Stefan Zapotocky, Chairman of the Board of Directors at RPR Privatstiftung Vienna (Chair of the University Council)

Executive Board

The Executive Board constitutes the University’s leadership. It consists of the Director (equivalent to “Rektor” in the Austrian higher education sector), the Associate Director and the Head of Finance and Administration (both equivalent to “Vizerektor”).

Organizational Structure

 

Complex organizational chart with three main branches is displayed, depicting hierarchical and functional relationships.

Image Transcript The top-level structure consists of three boxes arranged vertically and flanked by side panels. At the highest level is the General Assembly. Positioned directly below is the University Council, which is flanked by the Advisory Board to its left and the University Senate to its right. Below the University Council is the Executive Board, which has the Student Government Organization to its left and the Working Group on Equal Opportunity to its right.

A horizontal line branches downwards from the Executive Board, connecting to three major columns of university divisions.

The first branch on the left, labeled Academic Departments, includes multiple department boxes: Business and Management Department (connected to Quant Center), International Relations Department, Media Communications Department, Psychology Department and Center for Liberal Arts (connected to Language Center). To the right of these department boxes is an encompassing vertical panel labeled Academic Services Office.

The middle branch, labeled Finance and Administration, includes boxes for Finance Office, Marketing and Communications, Admissions Office, Student Resource Center, Facility Management, Library and IT.

The third branch on the right, labeled Human Resources, includes boxes for Human Resources Office and Career Services.

The layout utilizes distinct colored rectangles and connecting lines to visually differentiate between various groups and their positions within the university's governance.

Consultative and Representative Bodies

The University Senate represents the interests of faculty, scientific support and administrative staff, and students enabling them to participate in matters of strategic development and quality management. Its primary responsibilities are academic, including the development of the University and the academic programs, enacting and amending curricula, and determining academic degrees. It also plays a central role in governance matters, particularly as pertains to appointment procedures.

The Senate comprises members elected by permanent and adjunct faculty, staff and students. Current Senate representatives include:

  • Jozef Bátora
  • Nikos Antonakakis
  • Andrea Gaal
  • Nermin Podzic
  • Benjamin Fasching-Gray
  • Mariia Konycheva

The Advisory Board advises the Campus Director on matters pertaining to visibility and reputation in regional business, cultural and educational communities. The Advisory Board provides a complementary advisory function to the University Council’s control and monitoring functions in three meeting per year. Its members play a vital role in improving the competitiveness of the university’s academic programs by providing insights into market needs and external funding opportunities, thus fostering critical linkages between the university and the public and private sectors in Austria and the broader Central and Eastern European region

The Working Group on Equal Opportunities (WGEO) is responsible for combating gender discrimination as well as discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, religion or conviction, age or sexual orientation by university governing bodies, and for advising and supporting the university’s members and governing bodies in connection with these issues. It proposes an annual Affirmative Action Plan for Managing Diversity and the Advancement of Women and monitors, after its approval, the plan’s compliance. The WGEO consists of four members elected by the University Senate of which at least two are women. The chair of the WGEO serves as the university’s Diversity Manager and acts as the coordinator of its actions and as the primary contact person for requests from outside.

The SGA is an independently financed organization representing student interests. It operates according to the Federal Act on the Student Representative Organizations, relevant guidelines of the Austrian National Union of Students (ÖH), and its own Constitution.

The Works Council represents the rights and interests of  WVPU employees, consulting with university leadership on any adaptations to the working environment, personnel changes, and norms where applicable. The Works Council is currently composed of four representatives elected every five years in compliance with the Labour Constitution Act (ArbVG), the Works Council Election Ordinance (BRWO 1974) and the Works Council Rules of Procedure (BRGO 1974).

Current representatives:

  • Nermin Podzic
  • Alexandra Pekackova Modelska
  • Dr. Eva Zedlacher
  • Dr. Anatoly Reshetnikov
Group of four faculty members stand together as part of Working Council
From left to right: Nermin Podzic, Head of Marketing and Communications; Alexandra Pekackova Modelska, Department Coordinator; Dr. Eva Zedlacher, Assistant Professor of Management; and Dr. Anatoly Reshetnikov, Assistant Professor of International Relations — newly appointed members of the WVPU Working Council.