specified pursuant to section 37 subsection (7) of Danish Act no. 403 of 28 May 2003 on universities (hereinafter referred to as "the Universities Act").

Special statute for the University of Aarhus, approved by the Senate on 18 September 2003 and by the Minister for Science, Technology and Development on 3 October 2003.

Objective, content and period of applicability of the special statute

Article 1. The objective of this statute is to specify the procedure used to establish the first board, and to specify the rules used to replace elected leaders and members of collegiate bodies who leave their positions during the period of transition.

(2) The period of transition is the period between the minister's approval of this special statute and until the University's permanent statute has been drawn up and approved pursuant to section 10 subsection (6) of the Universities Act and until leaders have been appointed or nominated and elections held pursuant to the permanent statute.

Number of board members and composition of the board

Article 2. The board consists of a total of eleven members. Six of these shall be from outside the University. Two members shall be elected by and from among the University's academic staff, including PhD students appointed by the University. One of these two members shall be elected by and from among the academic staff of the Faculties of Arts, Social Sciences and Theology, and one shall be elected by and from among the academic staff of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Science. One member shall be elected by and from among the University's technical and administrative staff. Two members shall be elected by and from among the University's students. The election of board members shall take place pursuant to the rules outlined in article 5 below.

(2) The board shall elect a chairperson from among its members from outside the University.

Background and function of the board

Article 3. The board members shall help the University to fulfil its objectives by applying their collective experience of and insight into education, research, and the communication and exchange of knowledge.

(2) The nominated members shall collectively also possess experience of management, organisation and finance - including the evaluation of budgets and accounts.

(3) When nominating board members the emphasis shall be placed on ensuring that board members are familiar with - and that they respect - the traditions of Danish universities for autonomy, freedom of research and the inclusion of expert competencies in the decision-making process.

(4) When nominating board members the emphasis shall be placed on ensuring that board members can use their networks and influence to help strengthen the University's legitimacy and reputation in the eyes of society.

(5) Board members shall be nominated based on their capacity as individuals, and the emphasis shall be placed on ensuring that one-sided representation of specific sectors or interests is prevented.

(6) The emphasis shall be placed on ensuring that the composition of the board makes it possible to enter into development contracts with the Ministry of Science and create the framework required for the development and innovation of the University's expertise and financial circumstances in a manner which is based on the core areas and core competencies of the University, and which reflects the breadth of expertise and development potentials of the University.

Nomination of board members

Preparation and description of competencies required for nominated board members, submission and approval of candidates

Article 4 The Senate shall produce a description of the general competencies required by the nominated board members collectively. Proposals for candidates for the board shall be sent to the director of administration, who shall then approach potential candidates on behalf of the University.

(2) When the candidates have agreed to be put forward as board members, a general proposal shall be submitted to the Senate concerning the approval and nomination of six board members. This proposal shall be drawn up by the director of administration, after consultation with a committee that has been set up by the Senate ("the Statutes Committee"). If the Senate cannot support this general proposal, the Senate shall ask the director of administration to draw up a new general proposal for the Senate to consider.

(3) The rector and prorector shall not take part in the nomination procedure for board members carried out by the Statutes Committee and Senate.

Election of board members

Procedure for election of internal board members (academic staff, technical/administrative staff and students)

Article 5 The internal board members shall be elected at an election held in the autumn of 2003 involving the University staff and students.

(2) The Senate has established an election committee, whose task is to organise and hold the elections that are to be held.

(3) Elections to the places on the board mentioned in article 2(1) (sentences 3-7) above shall be held in the form of elections between lists of candidates pursuant to the general regulations specified in articles 37-50 of the Statute of the University of Aarhus, approved by the Ministry of Research on 9 November 1999. Based on the authority of the Senate, the election committee shall specify regulations concerning the holding of elections, and shall fix the required deadlines. These regulations shall be specified based on the election circular of 1 October 2002 issued by the University of Aarhus.

(4) The election committee shall publish information regarding deadlines and procedures on notice boards, on the University's homepage, via the University's official information channel, or in any other appropriate fashion.

Functional period of the board

Article 6. The functional period of the board is four years.

(2) The external board members shall be elected for the entire functional period.

(3) The members representing the University's academic and technical/administrative staff shall be elected for the entire functional period unless a different functional period is specified in the final statute.

(4) The members representing the students shall be elected for one year at a time unless a different functional period is specified in the final statute.

(5) If an elected member resigns from the board during the functional period and no replacement has been elected for this member, a new member shall be elected for the remainder of the functional period of the member concerned using the same regulations as those applying to the original election. If a nominated member resigns from the board during the functional period, the board shall nominate a new member for the remainder of the functional period. The board as a whole shall always satisfy the criteria specified in article 3 above.

The work of the board

Article 7. The board shall specify its own rules of procedure.

(2) As soon as possible after it has been convened, the board shall be presented with a proposal from the rector concerning a permanent statute for the University. When the board has drawn up the permanent statute it shall be submitted to the minister for approval.

Rector, prorector and deans -

Article 8. The rector, prorector and deans shall continue in their positions until the expiry of the electoral period - unless the board specifies a different period in the permanent statute - and then until the board has appointed a rector pursuant to the permanent statute, the board has appointed a prorector on the recommendation of the rector, and the rector has appointed deans pursuant to the permanent statute.

(2) In case of the permanent absence of the rector during the electoral period, the board shall decide who should assume the position of rector until the board can appoint a rector pursuant to the permanent statute.

(3) In case of the permanent absence of the prorector during the electoral period, the board shall decide whether the rector or others should assume the vacant functions during the remainder of the prorector's electoral period and until a new prorector is appointed.

(4) In case of the permanent absence of a dean during the electoral period, the rector shall decide who should assume the position of dean until the rector can appoint a dean pursuant to the permanent statute.

Heads of department

Article 9. The heads of department shall continue in their positions until the expiry of an electoral period unless a different period is specified in the permanent statute. Having been thus authorised, the dean may then extend the functional period of the heads of department until heads of department have been appointed pursuant to the permanent statute.

(2) If the functional period of the heads of department is not extended, or if a head of department resigns from his/her position before the expiry of the functional period, having been thus authorised the dean shall appoint a head of department for the period from among the University's academic staff until a head of department has been appointed pursuant to the permanent statute.

(3) Any member of the academic staff nominated as head of department must possess teaching experience as well as being a recognised researcher within the subject area of the department concerned or a closely related subject area.

(4) During the nomination procedure the dean shall ensure that the head of department has leadership legitimacy.

Chairpersons of boards of studies and directors of studies

Article 10. If a chairperson of a board of studies resigns from his/her position before the expiry of the functional period, cf. section 37 subsection (4) of the Universities Act, the dean shall appoint a chairperson of the board of studies for the remainder of the period on the recommendation of the board of studies from among the full-time academic staff teaching within the area of the board of studies concerned.

(2) If a deputy chairperson resigns before the end of the functional period cf. 10(1) above, the board of studies shall appoint a deputy chairperson from among the students.

Senate, faculty councils, executive committees and boards of studies

Article 11 If an elected member of a collegiate body is permanently absent, the replacement shall stand in. If a sufficient number of replacements have not been elected, a decision shall be made pursuant to article 49 of the University of Aarhus's statute of 9 November 1999 as to whether the vacant place(s) should be filled by a by-election. By-elections shall be held pursuant to the regulations in the University's election circular of 1 October 2002.

Approval and application

Article 12. This special statute comes into force when it has been approved by the minister. The Statute for the University of Aarhus approved by the Ministry of Research on 9 November 1999 shall retain its validity until the University's permanent statute has been approved by the Minister for Science, Technology and Development to the extent that it is not amended under the provisions of the Universities Act of 8 May 2003 or this special statute.

Approved at a meeting of the Senate on 18 September 2003.

Niels Chr. Sidenius Per Møller Madsen

rector senior administrative officer

Approved by the Minister for Science, Technology and Development on 3 October 2003.

www.au.dk/en/rules/2003/au18