Franz Schausberger

Franz Schausberger is an Austrian politician (ÖVP) and historian. From 24 April 1996 to 28 April 2004 he was Landeshauptmann (governor) of Salzburg. Schausberger was born in Steyr, Upper Austria, as son of Franz and Hermine Schausberger. He attended the Gymnasium, where he took his Matura exams in 1968 with distinction. He went on to study at the University of Salzburg, receiving a Doctorate in Philosophy in 1973.
During studies he was chairman of Austrian Students' Association at the University of Salzburg. From 1971 to 1979 Schausberger was Parliamentary Party Secretary of ÖVP in the Landtag (regional parliament) of Salzburg. Schausberger is married to Heidi Schausberger-Strobl since 1988 and has three children (Martina, Maximilian and Alexander). In 1992 Schausberger founded the research institute for political-historical studies Dr.-Wilfried-Haslauer-Library in Salzburg and since then holds its presidency. In 1996 he was awarded the qualification as a university lecturer by the University of Salzburg by presenting and defending his postdoctoral thesis on the agitation of the Nazis in Austrian federal state parliaments. Schausberger, who holds lectures at the University of Salzburg and several other European universities, hitherto published numerous books and more than 150 publications on Austrian history and politics and the European Union. On 1. July 2008 he was awarded the title ‘’university professor’’ by the University of West Hungary in Sopron. In 2014, the President of Austria awarded the professional title "University Professor". In 2004 Schausberger founded the Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE) in Salzburg and since then holds the chair of the board.