News from the Rector's Office no. 33/2010
New deans announced
Aarhus University has selected four visionary leaders from a field of highly qualified applicants to head the university's four new main academic areas.
- Aarhus Faculty of Arts: Mette Thunø, currently Associate Dean for research and head of the graduate school at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Humanities.
- Aarhus Faculty of Science and Technology: Brian Bech Nielsen, currently professor and head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Aarhus University.
- Aarhus Faculty of Health Sciences: Allan Flyvbjerg, currently professor at the Department of Endocrinology at Aarhus University Hospital.
- Aarhus School of Business and Social Sciences: Svend Hylleberg, currently professor and dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Aarhus University.
The new deans start on 1 November and will officially take up their positions on 1 January 2011, when the existing nine main academic areas are merged into four.
In addition to heading a main academic area, each dean will take responsibility for one of the university's interfaculty focus areas, in addition to working with the rector in the university's strategic management group.
Staff reduction necessary at DJF
The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (DJF) announced last week that it expects to reduce its staff by approximately fifty positions through a combination of normal attrition (twenty positions) and retrenchment (thirty positions). These reductions are the extremely regrettable consequence of cutbacks in and redistribution of research funding in the agricultural sciences.
DJF will collaborate with a consultancy to provide the affected staff members with career counselling and job search support, and will assist them as much as possible in finding new positions. This is the second round of staff reductions to compensate for budget shortfalls at DJF this year. DJF reduced its staff by sixty-five positions at the beginning of the year.
New graduate school structure under development
The academic development process will have profound effects on the organisation of Aarhus University's graduate schools. The Rector's Office has therefore asked the heads of the university's eight graduate schools to develop a proposal for the future structure of this area, including such issues as administrative support.
The heads of the graduate schools will involve other stakeholders in developing the proposal, which will be submitted to the Rector's Office on 10 December 2010.
Partnership with Harbin Institute of Technology
On Tuesday 28 September, Aarhus University signed a partnership agreement with Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), one of China's leading technical universities. The agreement paves the way for increased student and researcher exchange as well as joint initiatives in the areas of research and education.
Harbin is Aarhus' friendship city, and both sides have worked to create even closer bonds in several areas, including knowledge exchange, as both cities are home to vibrant research and education institutions. The agreement between AU and HIT is thus intended to promote and strengthen knowledge exchange.
Aarhus University already works with a number of scientists from HIT, who have been collaborating with Professor Flemming Besenbacher, director of the Aarhus University iNANO Center, for a number of years. Dr Besenbacher holds an honorary doctorate from HIT.
Irish president to speak at Aarhus University
On 12 October, President of Ireland Mary McAleese will give a public lecture at Aarhus University entitled Small States in the New World Order. This talk is open to the public, and will last from 4 pm to 4.45 pm; there will be an opportunity to ask President McAleese questions. Aarhus University students and staff are encouraged to attend. Next week's newsletter will include more information on President McAleese's visit.
Study abroad strengthens European students
Student mobility was on the agenda last week, when EU Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth Adroulla Vassiliou visited DPU in Emdrup. Commissioner Vassiliou explained the new Youth on the Move EU initiative and emphasised the importance of strengthening the exchange programmes of European universities and the cultural competences of European students.
Strong interest in study abroad
Between three and four hundred students interested in learning about study abroad opportunities dropped by the annual Aarhus University International Day. The event gave students with wanderlust inspiration and a chance to meet representatives from some of the foreign universities Aarhus University has exchange agreements with. Former exchange students and current foreign students at Aarhus University also shared their experiences.
International Centre will repeat International Day at DPU on 28 October. Read more at au.dk/id (Danish only)
No newsletter last week because of IT problems
News from the Rector's Office was not sent out last week on account of an IT systems failure which crippled central functions across the university. Many employees of the central administration and the Faculty of Theology were unable to send and receive emails because of the systems failure. All systems are now functioning normally again.
Calendar
- 4 October: After-work meeting with Minister for Gender Equality Lykke Friis
- 12 October: Public lecture by President of Ireland Mary McAleese in the Lakeside Lecture Theatres
- 13 October: University management group meeting
- 27-28 October: Seminar for university management
Kind regards
The Rector's Office,
October 4th, 2010
The Rector’s Office publishes a newsletter every week. This newsletter includes a brief description of current activities and discussions. You can sign up for the Danish version of the newsletter at http://info.au.dk/medarbbreve, after which you will receive an e-mail whenever the newsletter is issued.
If you would like to subscribe to the English version of News from the Rector’s Office, please go to http://info.au.dk/medarbbreve/index.asp?sprog=en. The English version of News from the Rector’s Office is available at http://www.au.dk/en/uni/rectorate/newsletter. You can read previous editions of News from the Rector’s Office at http://www.au.dk/en/about/uni/rektorat/newsletter/2010/.