News from the Rector's Office no. 38/2010
Increased expenses related to teaching activities
The levels of taxameter funding available to Danish universities will remain unchanged in 2011. However, the ruling coalition (V, DF and KD) has agreed on a finance bill which includes cuts in other university grants designed to finance increased admissions to degree programmes. This sends an unfortunate signal, especially in the context of the government's goal of increasing the number of young people who receive an education and complete their studies on time. The parties behind the accord have agreed to reduce items such as the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation's 'change reserve for education', the universities' grants for 'additional purposes' and the contribution to the European Space Agencyby DKK 225 million in 2011.
While the Rector's Office has previously expressed satisfaction with the globalisation fund agreement, the final finance bill accord has introduced a new element of uncertainty into the financial foundation of the Danish university system, as the agreement implies that the universities will have to make cuts in order to finance a proportion of the costs associated with larger enrolments.
Status of the academic development process
The deans of the four new main academic areas were introduced at the open staff meeting on 9 November. On this occasion, the deans explained what they view as the most important priorities and challenges for their main academic areas. On 6 January there will be a reception for the four deans. The time of day and location will be announced in an upcoming newsletter.
The nine existing main academic areas will hold farewell receptions to honour the deans who are stepping down.
- View video of the staff meeting (Danish only)
Another debate meeting took place on 15 November. Students had an opportunity to meet the four new deans and ask the new university management group questions.
New international meeting place at AU
On Monday 15 November, the International Centre moved into its new facility at the southern edge of the University Park campus.
The newly renovated facility will house International Centre's services for international students, PhD scholars and foreign researchers. At the same time, the new International Centre will provide a meeting place for all PhD students at Aarhus University. PhD associations will hold academic and social events in the facility's meeting rooms and classrooms. Starting on 1 January 2011, there will also be a cafe which will provide an attractive meeting place for young researchers from all over the university. Last but not least, the facility contains the IC Dormitory, which has 28 single rooms and two flats for newly arrived international PhD students.
International Centre's new address is: Building 1650, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 4, 8000 Aarhus C.
The official opening ceremony will take place on 1 February 2011.
Digital pilot project at AU
The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation has selected Aarhus University as its partner in a pilot project to develop new electronic forms of examination. The project is part of the ministry's working programme 'Digital paths to growth', which will investigate how increased digitalisation might improve workflows at Danish universities. The examination forms produced by the project will be tested in a limited examination area at Aarhus University in 2011.
It has not yet been decided which division of AU will participate in the project, but Pro-Rector Søren E. Frandsen met with the University and Property Agency on Friday 12 November to discuss the issue, and a decision will be announced in the near future.
- Read the press release from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (in Danish only)
- Read the report on 'Digital examinations at the universities' (in Danish only)
Debate meeting on quality in education
On 7 December, Universities Denmark will hold the second of four debate meetings on 'Changing universities'. The first meeting on the theme of internationalisation took place at the University of Copenhagen on 2 October. The theme of the meeting on December 7 is quality in education, and Roskilde University will act as host.
The third and fourth meetings will be held on 14 March (University of Southern Denmark) and 20 May (Aarhus University) next year. The theme of the March meeting will be the social role and value of research, and the theme of the meeting at Aarhus University will be global development tendencies for universities.
Each meeting last three hours and starts at 2 pm.
The programme for the meeting at Roskilde University will be made available on the Universities Denmark website in the near future.
Survey on the academic development process
The Aarhus University Student Council is carrying out a survey to analyze how staff and students are experiencing the academic development process. The Student Council encourages all students and employees to fill out the questionnaire.
If you have questions or comments about this survey, please contact Thea P. Frederiksen at thea@sr.au.dk.
Calendar
- 23 November: French ambassador to visit AU
- 12-14 November: Aarhus University Press and the Danish University Extension in Aarhus exhibit at Bogforum 2010
- 15 November: Open student meeting with new university management group
- 6 December: University management meeting
- 16 December: Meeting of University Board
Kind regards
The Rector’s Office
November 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/.