rektor

Rektor, sometimes rendered rector, is a title used in several languages to denote the head of a higher education institution, such as a university or polytechnic. The word derives from Latin rector, meaning “ruler” or “guide,” and has been adopted with local spellings in many countries. In some contexts the term also appears for senior administrators of schools or church-related institutions.

Usage by country and region varies. In Poland, the rector is the chief executive of a university, typically elected by faculty and students or appointed by authorities, and responsible for overall academic and administrative leadership. In the Netherlands and some neighboring countries, the head of a university is often called rector magnificus, a ceremonial or formal title used alongside other officials. In German-speaking countries, Reaktor or Rektor is the head of a university or of a large grammar school, with duties that include strategic direction and representation of the institution. In Turkey and in Indonesia, the term rektor/rektör is the official title for the university president or chancellor, appointed or elected depending on national regulations.

Differences with related titles exist across systems. Some countries use president or chancellor for the university head, while rector is used for the chief executive in others. The position may be elected by the university senate, appointed by government bodies, or combination thereof, and it often involves oversight of academic policy, budgeting, and international relations. The term can also appear in a religious or parish context in some languages, where a rector is a clergyman in charge of a church or parish, though this usage is distinct from the academic sense in many countries.