On Thursday 17 June 2010, the Board of Aarhus University adopted principles for a comprehensive reform of the university. The new structure strengthens the university and provides much better opportunities for living up to the academic ambitions of strengthening interdisciplinary research, flexible and modern degree programmes, and knowledge transfer with society. Developments at the university will take place on an ongoing basis and completion is expected by 1 January 2012.

Thursday’s decision is a crucial step towards a streamlined and flexible organisation at Aarhus University, matching the challenges the university is faced with in terms of academic expertise, management and finances. This is the most significant academic reform in the history of the university.

The decision means that the present nine academic areas will be organised in four new main academic areas by early 2011:

• Aarhus Faculty of Arts (Kulturvidenskab)
• Aarhus Faculty of Science and Technology (Naturvidenskab og Teknologi)
• Aarhus Faculty of Health Sciences (Sundhedsvidenskab)
• Aarhus School of Business and Social Sciences (Erhverv og Samfundsvidenskab)

To strengthen the strategic management and collaboration cutting right across Aarhus University, the decision was also made to include the four future deans in a joint management group with the Rector’s Office. In addition to managing a main academic area, each dean will spearhead one or more interdisciplinary strategic area.

The decision was also made to allocate a strategic pool each year amounting to approximately DKK 200 million or about three per cent of the turnover for long-term academic activities.

The Board also decided to consolidate the Aarhus School of Business and the Faculty of Social Sciences as soon as possible around the north-eastern corner of the University Park and in a new building erected on the Lille Barnow site. In addition, the building facilities at Katrinebjerg will be reserved for some of the agricultural research, and the construction of a new laboratory complex will be implemented in Nørrebrogade for Health Sciences and in the middle of the University Park for Science and Technology.

The new overall organisation is the first part of an academic development process that the university initiated at the beginning of the year. The final interfaces between the main academic areas and the establishment of fewer but larger subordinate academic units – as well as a new structure for the boards of studies – will be determined this autumn on the basis of intensive academic analysis work.

The fact that Aarhus University has now embarked on such an extensive reform is mainly because the Danish university scene is currently undergoing rapid and comprehensive change, and that the major mergers that took place in 2006 and 2007 provided Aarhus University with new diversity and the strength to play an even greater role both within Denmark and internationally. The considerable potential for interdisciplinary synergy resulting from the mergers will be given far more opportunity in the new structure to develop in the areas of research, education and knowledge transfer.

“Although we’re now stronger than ever in the areas of research, education, talent development and knowledge transfer, we’d like a strengthened position in the national and international competition for research funds and the best students and staff,” says Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen.
He emphasises that there is political focus on the fact that knowledge is absolutely crucial for creating continued development and growth, and that the level of education in the Danish community should therefore be strengthened in the same way as progress in other highly developed economies.

The road to strengthening the academic depth and breadth at Aarhus University has been an extensive and open academic development process mainly involving the staff, but also including proposals from students and external experts. On this basis, the Rector’s Office has drawn up a plan for changes to issues such as the university’s organisation and management, and the Board is unanimous in its approval.

“The Board has closely followed the process all the way through and is very satisfied with the significant contribution to the academic development process made not only by the management, but also by the staff and students. The Board is committed to strengthening the research and education profile and the combined knowledge transfer from the university. It’s therefore also a unanimous Board that gave its approval today to the first part of this major reform of Aarhus University. The Board also emphasises that this process ensures the university of a generational change in the top management,” says Chair of the Board Jens Bigum.

Schedule for the academic development process at Aarhus University

The four new dean positions have now been announced with a deadline for application at the end of August. The positions are expected to be appointed as soon as possible after 1 November. The new main academic areas will be established on 1 January 2011, while the subordinate academic units are expected to be determined by the Board at the beginning of 2011. The new structure will be implemented by 1 January 2012.

More information

Chair of the Board Jens Bigum, mobile +45 2014 4155
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen, mobile +45 2338 2126
Head of Press Affairs Anders Correll, mobile +45 2899 2235

Additional information

Interviews, video clips, etc. will be regularly made available at http://medarbejdere.au.dk/en/

Background information regarding the academic development process is available at http://medarbejdere.au.dk/en/adp/home/