The University of Luxembourg has come under pressure from critics

The University of Luxembourg has responded to a series of media reports questioning the quality of the working environment and the transparency of promotion procedures, particularly in the Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance. The issue was brought before the parliamentary committee on higher education, science and digitalisation, where Minister Stéphanie Obertin and the university's management addressed the deputies.

The official position emphasises that the university takes all reports seriously, including anonymous ones. The institution, which employs around 2,700 staff, including approximately 1,600 academics, operates within the framework of the law of 27 June 2018 regulating the organisation and procedures for academic promotion. Promotions are competitive, cover all faculties and research centres, and are assessed by independent external experts.

Since 2018, approximately 190 applications for promotion have been reviewed, of which 60 have been approved. Of the 130 rejected candidates, only four have challenged the procedure in administrative court. The university emphasises that ongoing legal proceedings limit its ability to comment on specific cases, but acknowledges that high competition is a source of tension. In response, the Office for Professorial Affairs was established in January 2025 to support academic careers and prepare candidates for competitions.

Special attention is paid to the working atmosphere. According to the human resources department, between 2020 and 2025, there were 27 complaints related to inappropriate behaviour, plagiarism, discrimination or harassment. In three cases, signs of harassment were recognised as possible, and, according to the university, appropriate measures were taken in all of them.

The management also provides quantitative indicators designed to show the overall picture. In the 2023 staff surveys, the average satisfaction rating was 3.88 out of 5. Staff turnover over the past five years has been in the range of 3–4%, and the dropout rate among doctoral students has been 10–15%, which, according to the university's assessment, is lower than the international average.

Against a backdrop of ongoing criticism, an internal review of practices was launched in November 2025 under the supervision of the University Council, with results expected in March 2026. At the same time, a tender for an independent external audit of personnel policy and organisational structures is planned. The University states that it intends to publish the findings of both processes and reaffirms its commitment to the principles of a respectful, fair and supportive working environment.