Bernd Langensteiner is the new rector of the University College of Teacher Education Lower Austria

A warm welcome to the University College of Teacher Education Lower Austria!

Dear visitors,
dear students, esteemed colleagues, staff and partners of the University College of Teacher Education Lower Austria!

It was with great pleasure, respect and gratitude that I took up the role of Rector of the University College of Teacher Education Lower Austria on 1 August 2026. It is a particular honour for me to lead a university which, through the professional expertise, commitment and creative energy of its members, makes a significant contribution to the quality and further development of the education system.

The University College of Teacher Education Lower Austria has a strong foundation: dedicated people, diverse academic and pedagogical expertise, a close link between theory and practice, and sustainable partnerships with schools, elementary educational institutions, higher education institutions, universities, education authorities and society. Together, we want to build on these strengths, continue what has been tried and tested, and at the same time open up new avenues for development.

My guiding principle for this journey is: ‘Lead with trust. Shape the future.’ For me, trust is the foundation of successful collaboration. It grows through reliability, transparency, mutual respect and a willingness to take on responsibility. In this sense, leadership means providing direction, fostering dialogue, bringing potential to the fore and empowering people to contribute their skills for the good of the community.

The University College of Teacher Education Lower Austria (PH Niederösterreich) should be a place where learning is not merely taught but lived out: a learning, research-oriented and innovative university that combines academic insights with educational practice and responsibly addresses societal developments. Digitalisation and artificial intelligence, sustainability, inclusion, diversity and educational equity demand responses that are both scientifically sound and humanly compelling. We want to develop these responses together.

People are at the heart of everything we do: those who study, teach, conduct research and work at the University College of Teacher Education Lower Austria, as well as the educators, educational institutions, children and young people for whose future we bear responsibility. Our shared educational mission is dedicated to them.

I warmly invite you to join us on this journey, to contribute your experiences and ideas, and to help shape the University College of Teacher Education Lower Austria into an open, dialogue-oriented and forward-looking educational environment. For where trust is fostered, responsibility, creativity and collective effectiveness can flourish.

I look forward to meeting you, discussing ideas with you and working alongside you.
 

Bernd Langensteiner
Rector of the University College of Teacher Education Lower Austria

1. August 2026 | PH NÖ