Organizational developments
Since January 1, 2023, the university has been divided into three subject-related and two teaching-related schools. This completed a long transformation process. The new organizational structure was further consolidated in the reporting year. However, 2023 was also characterized by two personnel changes at the top of the university. In April, Lothar Ritter succeeded Klaus Tschütscher as President of the University Council and in August 2023, Christian Frommelt took over from Markus Jäger as Rector of the University of Liechtenstein.
Following the completion of the transformation process and under the new leadership, the university will once again focus more on its concrete achievements and impact. The focus will be on consecutive teaching, continuing education and research. However, knowledge and technology transfer as well as knowledge dissemination and thus dialog with the public are also important areas of activity for the University of Liechtenstein.
Internationally recognized quality strategy
The University of Liechtenstein attaches great importance to high quality teaching and research. Every six years, the quality of the entire University of Liechtenstein is reviewed by the Swiss Accreditation Council. In addition, the subject-related schools each undergo an internationally recognized accreditation tailored to the respective subject area.
A particular success in 2023 was the award of the internationally highly respected AACSB accreditation to the Liechtenstein Business School and the Liechtenstein Business Law School. After the Liechtenstein School of Architecture had already received accreditation from the renowned Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for all programme levels (BSc, MSc and PhD) several years ago, all three specialist schools now have internationally recognized proof of quality.
In 2023, researchers at the University of Liechtenstein produced over 170 publications and scientific presentations. These included numerous publications in internationally top-ranked journals. Third-party funded projects are also of particular importance. In addition to numerous funding commitments for new Erasmus+ projects, the University of Liechtenstein received a positive funding commitment for an Innosuisse project in 2023. In line with the new performance orientation, work has also begun on various applications that will be submitted to the various funding instruments in 2024.
Attractive environment for students and staff
The university celebrated numerous other successes last year. In consecutive teaching, 214 people began their studies at the University of Liechtenstein in 2023. This represents an increase of 26 percent compared to the previous year. 175 students successfully completed their studies. Fortunately, the majority of graduates remain in demand as employees in Liechtenstein or the region.
In continuing education, the university recorded 196 students in four Master's degree programs, one diploma program and seven certificate programs, as well as over 2,700 participants in events. After the last few years marked by the coronavirus pandemic, the University of Liechtenstein was able to increase the number of events on offer again in 2023.
The increase in new students in the consecutive areas and the relatively stable student numbers in the area of continuing education confirm the attractiveness of the University of Liechtenstein as an educational institution. However, in view of the increasing competition between regional educational institutions, the University of Liechtenstein will also need to actively communicate its strengths in the future. In addition to the quality of teaching and research, which has been confirmed by international accreditation, the university is particularly convincing with its good student support. Various curricula have been revised for 2024 in order to adapt teaching content even more closely to current challenges in business and society and thus further increase the practical relevance of teaching.
Result from ordinary business activities
As part of its ordinary activities, the University of Liechtenstein generated a profit of CHF 230,212 in the 2023 calendar year, including the strategic Liechtenstein Executive School project, which is CHF 210,812 above the budgeted profit of CHF 19,400 and CHF 404,812 above the budgeted loss of CHF 174,600, including the planned start-up financing for the Executive School.
The positive business result is due to several one-off special effects. In addition, three professorships were not filled at the end of the year, which reduced personnel costs. Personnel costs are the most important area and the largest cost factor for the university. As at December 31, 2023, the university had 135 full-time equivalent employees. In addition, 328 external lecturers worked for the university.
The annual report can be downloaded from the uni.li website: https://www.uni.li/de/universitaet/medienportal/publikationen/jahresberichte