Brainstorming sessions on the academic development process

The first stage of the academic development process will begin on 11 and 12 February, when department heads and directors of larger research centres are scheduled to meet for four brainstorming sessions. Participants will discuss the academic challenges and opportunities they face, as well strategies to ensure that the university derives the greatest possible benefit from the opportunities for synergy in the areas of teaching and research created by the mergers. The meetings are an occasion for the university to reflect on how the many human and academic resources it possesses might contribute to strengthening the university's high academic standing even further. The meetings will be opened by Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen and Pro-Rector Søren E. Frandsen, who will be present as observers. The deans and the Director General of NERI will also observe meetings outside of their academic disciplines.

The university has appointed four professors, Peter Munk Christiansen (Social Sciences), Niels Egelund (Danish School of Education), Berit Eika (Health Sciences) og Mogens Nielsen (Science), to lead the discussions. Discussion will naturally be centred on research, talent development, education and knowledge transfer, the pillars of the university's strategy.

These brainstorming sessions will be followed by dialogue meetings and a joint seminar. The Board will consider the issue of the academic development process at its meeting on 17 June 2010.

Technology Transfer: Conference and strategy process

The Technology Transfer Office (TTO) works to further the exchange of knowledge and technology between Aarhus University and the private sector. In order to strengthen this cooperation, TTO and the Rector's Office have initiated a strategy process involving a range of university partners with an interest in the area. The process will be anchored in the academic organisation.

A central element of the strategy process is the conference ‘Technology Transfer – Why and how to accomplish best practice?'. The conference will take place from 9 am to 4 pm on Tuesday 23 February. Anyone with an interest in technology transfer is invited to attend talks by international experts and participate in the debate to follow. Participation is free, and the deadline for registration is 12 February. More information on registration and the conference programme can be found in the conference invitation.

The strategy development process will result in the presentation of an overall strategy for knowledge and technology transfer at Aarhus University later this year. It will be possible to follow the process on this website (in Danish only).

International network event at Aarhus University

Aarhus University’s International Club is hosting an informal network event in collaboration with the Central Denmark Region initiative International Community. The evening is an opportunity for guests to meet international colleagues from a range of disciplines as well as international employees from other institutions, businesses and the public sector in the Århus area.

Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen will give a talk on the importance of internationalisation in the university's strategy, and Associate Professor Vladimir Stolba of the Centre for Black Sea Studies will talk about life as a foreign staff member at Aarhus University. The evening will conclude with Nordic music and a buffet at the Museum of Ancient Art (Antikmuseet).

The network event will take place on Wednesday 24 February at 5 pm in the Main Hall (Aulaen). All Aarhus University employees are invited to this event along with their spouses. The deadline for registration is 15 February 2010, and the event is free.

Read more about the network event and International Community

New facility for international activities

Aarhus University has decided to create a state-of-the-art facility to house International Centre and talent development activities. The university has just overtaken the former Pressens Uddannelsescenter building just below campus (Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 4). The building will be renovated, and the new facility will open its doors in the fall of 2010.

The building will provide a framework for professional and social activities aimed at welcoming and assisting new foreign members of the university community, including PhD students, post docs and visiting professors. The facility will help international students and staff members establish themselves in Denmark, and thirty-two 'introductory residences' will be available for international PhD students. The building will also house joint activities involving all of the eight graduate schools at Aarhus University in addition to a café that will serve as a meeting place for research talents and the rest of the university community.

Debate on financing higher education

In a letter to the editor of 4 February, Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen called for a constructive debate on financing higher education. Read the entire piece in the newspaper Århus Stiftstidende (in Danish only).

Talk on Open Access

On Monday 22 February, Dr Alma Swan will give a talk on Open Access at Aarhus University. Alma Swan will focus on the advantages of Open Access for researchers. All are invited to attend; the deadline for registration is 17 February. Read more about this event here

Calendar

• 11 February: Meetings between Faculty of Humanities department heads and centre directors and between Faculty of Health Sciences department heads and centre directors in connection with the academic development process
• 12 February: Meetings between Faculty of Social Sciences department heads and centre directors and between Faculty of Science department heads and centre directors in connection with the academic development process
• 22 February: Open Access - make your research visible. Public lecture by Dr Alma Swan. See invitation with information about time and place
• 22 February: University management meeting
• 1 March: Aarhus University Board meeting
• 3-4 March: University management seminar at Sandbjerg
• 4-5 March: The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation’s annual Dialogue Forum (Dialogforum) in Fredericia

Kind regards

The Rectors' Office

9 February 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.

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.