The 15th of November 2019 was eagerly awaited at Landshut University of Applied Sciences. Following an intensive preselection process, the chairpersons of the University Council and the Senate nominated one female candidate and three male candidates for the presidential office. These then presented their ideas on education policy, university governance and the further development of Landshut University of Applied Sciences to a large public audience on Friday.
The University Council then met and interviewed the candidates in a non-public meeting in which the deans also participated. The decisive meeting of the University Council took place that evening, in which the successor to Professor Dr. Karl Stoffel, who has headed the University since 2011 and is no longer available for a further term in office, was elected. Professor Dr. Pörnbacher was able to prevail against his competitors right in the first round of voting.
“I’m looking forward to the next five years"
Professor Dr. Pörnbacher joined Landshut University of Applied Sciences in 1995 and is Professor at the Faculty of Electrical and Industrial Engineering. He was Vice Dean from 2003 to 2010, and was elected to the position of Dean in October 2010. He has also been a member of numerous University committees. He received his doctorate in software engineering from the Chair of Computational Design at the Technical University of Munich in 1989.
Thanks to his many years of experience at Landshut University of Applied Sciences, he considers himself well prepared for the presidential office: “I’m really looking forward to the next five years. Especially for the opportunity to work closely with the many committed people here in my role as President."
Science Minister Sibler is looking forward to a "collaboration based on mutual trust and respect.”
Science Minister Bernd Sibler congratulated the future President, who was awarded the Bavarian Science Ministry's Prize for Outstanding Teaching in 2008: "Professor Pörnbacher, a very experienced university lecturer and scientist, will head up Landshut University of Applied Sciences going forward. His comprehensive wealth of experience will enable him to successfully lead the University into the future and, together with the university family, he will certainly continue to hone its profile. I’m looking forward to the inspiration he will bring and to a collaboration based on trust."
University Council, Senate and Administration welcome election result
Professor Dr. Gabriele Vierzigmann, Chairman of the University Council, is extremely satisfied with the election result: "Landshut University of Applied Sciences has honed its profile in recent years and is meeting the major challenges facing a regional university with courage and strategic vision. We have found a man in Prof. Dr. Pörnbacher, who will continue to establish excellent networks between the University, politics, business and society and who will vigorously represent its interests. I’m convinced that it will further strengthen the University’ excellent reputation as one of the most important educational institutions in the region and Lower Bavaria’s seat of government."
Professor Dr. Volker Weinbrenner, Chairman of the Senate, also welcomes the result of the election and is looking forward to the collaboration. "During his career to date, Professor Dr. Pörnbacher has been very successful in promoting higher education and university development," said Weinbrenner. "In his new role as President, he will provide outstanding leadership at Landshut University of Applied Sciences as of March 2020, and will, together with the professors and all other members of the university, continue its positive development.
One of the first congratulators was University Chancellor, Dr. Johann Rist: "I look forward to working together,” he said. We will provide active support for Professor Dr. Pörnbacher in the form of a reliable and modern administrative infrastructure and will mentor the students in their academic development in a service-oriented manner."
Photo: Landshut University of Applied Sciences
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