There is one university under public law in Liechtenstein, additionally there are two small private universities: the International Academy of Philosophy in the Principality of Liechtenstein (IAP) and the Private University in the Principality of Liechtenstein (UFL). These universities have acquired a status of self-government within the legal framework. The legislative framework on universities does not apply on non-teaching staff as these regulations are created by the universities themselves. As a rule the categories of non-teaching staff follow the usual organisational patterns of universities in German speaking countries.

University of Liechtenstein

Management and organisation of the University of Liechtenstein is regulated in the Organisation Rules that have supplementary and executive character and are based on the Law on the Regulation and Monitoring of Public Enterprises (2009). Organisational bodies of the University of Liechtenstein are first of all the University Council, the Senate and the auditors. The University Council is the overall authority and is composed of five to seven members (from the fields of education, science, subject focuses of the university and from economics).

The University Council is – inter alia – responsible for the election, supervision and recall of the members of the rectorate, and for the appointment and dismissal of the institute directors and of the Graduate School; the University Council also supervises the election and the recall of professors on the recommendation of the advisory board for the appointment of professors.

The Government is responsible for the detailed function specifications of the University Council as an authority in terms of its technical and staff requirement resources, for its members, and for the president. The payment of the University Council is regulated by the Government.

The members of the rectorate are appointed by the Council, the rector as the chair of the rectorate is appointed after public advertisement. The rector is particularly in charge of the operational management of the university, is responsible for the introduction and coordination of planning activities, for the external representation of the university, and governs the supervision of the university administration.