Budget deficit at the Danish School of Education

In order to address a budget deficit, the Danish School of Education (DPU) will make significant financial and organisational changes. This is in part a consequence of a reorganisation of the functions and responsibilities of DPU in line with the general modernisation and reorganisation of Aarhus University’s administrative structure. Administrative, academic and technical functions and responsibilities are being transferred from DPU to the university’s central administration. After a transitional period, DPU is now required to co-finance these joint functions on equal footing with the other new main academic areas.

The necessary reduction in costs will be achieved by cutting the number of administrative employees by twelve full-time equivalents. DPU will also make organisational changes affecting academic staff in order to increase revenue from teaching and research. DPU’s strategy is to increase turnover by DKK 33 million by 2013 by means of a combination of cuts and increased revenue from teaching and research, thereby bringing the budget into balance.

It is deeply regrettable that the university must say goodbye to these competent employees. Therefore, DPU management will do everything in its power to help the employees affected by the situation. DPU has engaged the job transition management firm AS3 to provide support and assistance to employees whose positions are terminated.

Read DPU's press release here

Aarhus University wins majority of EliteForsk awards

On Wednesday 27 January, three researchers from Aarhus University received EliteForsk awards and DKK 1.2 million from Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Helge Sander. The EliteForsk award is an annual prize granted by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to five of the country's most accomplished and talented researchers at a ceremony at Ny Carlsberg Glyptoteket.

The three Aarhus University researchers to receive awards are Professor Adrian Favall (Faculty of Humanities, Section for European Studies), Professor Lars Arge (Department of Computer Science) and Professor Kurt Vesterager Gothelf (Department of Chemistry/Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center).

Four PhD students from Aarhus University were awarded EliteForsk travel stipends valued at DKK 300,000 to support an extended period of study in an international research environment: Casper Foldager (Health Sciences), Camilla Møhring Reestorff (Humanities), Maria Muusgaard (Science), og Kristoffer Laigaard Nielbo (Theology).

Finally, three researchers from Aarhus University were awarded the Danish Council for Independent Research Ung Eliteforskerpris (‘young elite researcher award’) valued at DKK 200,000: Nicolaj Krog Larsen (Department of Earth Sciences), Kim Christensen (School of Economics and Management, CREATES) og Mariola Monika Golas (Department of Anatomy).

The EliteForsk awards are a welcome confirmation of the dedication and talent of these Aarhus University researchers and PhD students. Their research and professional engagement fully deserve such recognition.

Read the university’s press release here (in Danish only):

 Academic development process launched

To help strengthen the university’s position in an increasingly competitive academic world, a thorough analysis of the university’s academic challenges and opportunities has been initiated. The goal of the process is to discover how Aarhus University might draw the greatest possible benefit from its many academic strengths and the many opportunities for synergy in the areas of teaching and research opened up by the merger. Both in Denmark and globally, knowledge and the production of knowledge are becoming ever more essential to society's continued development and welfare. The academic development process will help ensure Aarhus University a position at the forefront of this development.

The first stage of the process will take place in February, when department heads and the directors of larger research centres will meet for a series of brainstorming sessions. The meetings will provide a forum for discussion of academic challenges and opportunities, as well as how to derive the great possible benefit from the synergies created by the merger. These meetings will be followed by dialogue meetings and a joint seminar. The Board will consider the issue at its meeting of 17 June 2010.

Global Dialogue prize awarded this week

On 27 January, Dr Dariush Shayegan was awarded the 2009 Global Dialogue Prize at Musikhuset in Århus. The prize was presented by Niels Due Jensen, chairman of the Poul Due Jensen Foundation, the sponsor of the DKK 500,000 prize. The Global Dialogue Prize is awarded for scholarly achievement to researchers whose work represents a special contribution to the effort to promote dialogue between civilisations. Dr Shayegan is a pioneer in the field of intercultural dialogue.

Read the press release on the award ceremony and read more about the prize at www.globaldialogueprize.org.

Calendar

• 22 February University management meeting
• 1 March Aarhus University Board meeting

Kind regards

The Rector's Office

27 January 2010

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