On November 5, Edeltraud Hanappi-Egger, the former Rector, received the Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold, former Vice-Rector Michael Lang the Grand Decoration of Honor in Silver, and former Vice-Rector Tatjana Oppitz the Decoration of Honor in Gold.

Edeltraud Hanappi-Egger was at the helm of WU Vienna University of Economics and Business as the institution’s first female Rector from 2015 to 2023. During both of her terms, Michael Lang, a professor of international tax law, was a key member of her team. Initially, he served as Vice-Rector for Human Resources, and from 2019 to 2023, his responsibilities expanded to include also the research portfolio. Tatjana Oppitz joined the WU Rector’s Council in 2019. Before assuming the role of Vice-Rector for Infrastructure and Digitalization at WU, Oppitz had a distinguished career as country general manager at IBM Austria.

Outstanding services to the country

The Republic of Austria awards its Decorations of Honor to individuals who have rendered exceptional services to the country and its people. These honors are bestowed upon individuals with outstanding merits in such diverse fields as politics, science, culture, business and the economy, and community services. The decorations are awarded by the federal president, often at the suggestion of the federal government. On November 5, Federal Minister Martin Polaschek presented these prestigious distinctions to the three former members of the WU Rector’s Council during a formal ceremony.