No. 1, 8 January 2008

The rectorate publishes Rectorate News every Tuesday – apart from holidays and public holidays. This newsletter includes a brief description of current activities and discussions. You can sign up for the newsletter at http://info.au.dk/medarbbreve, after which you will receive an e-mail whenever Rectorate News is issued.

The English version of Rectorate News is available every Wednesday at http://www.au.dk/en/uni/rectorate/newsletter.

Bachelor of education

An academic Bachelor’s degree for teachers (Bachelor of Education) is the last of our applications for new degree programmes and is currently being positively processed by the Accreditation Council. The response from this body states that the degree programme meets all formal requirements. However, we are still waiting for political approval, and the proposal is expected to be processed at a government meeting this week. A number of misunderstandings have arisen regarding our proposal, including the notion that the university wants to completely take over these studies from the teacher’s training colleges and that practical training is not incorporated. We have therefore made the application available on the university’s web site so that everyone can see the content we are planning.

UNIK

The rectorate has received 16 declarations of interest in connection with submitting UNIK applications. The University of Aarhus can submit a maximum of 5 such applications. The proposals have now been processed by the University of Aarhus Research Committee, the rectorate and the circle of deans, and a decision was made on 7 January regarding who is to continue targeted work with the UNIK process. In the meantime, all those who submitted declarations of interest will be invited to a meeting with the rectorate so that we can discuss alternative options for promoting the many good proposals. See more about UNIK (Investment Capital for University Research) here.

Vacant pro-rector position

The rectorate is preparing a notice so that the vacant pro-rector position can be filled again as soon as possible.

Distributing Strategy 2008-2012 and University of Aarhus 07-08

We encourage everyone to take a copy of our latest two “visiting cards” with you whenever you travel or correspond with colleagues abroad. You can send a printed copy or take one with you. Alternatively, you can forward a PDF file or send a link to the University of Aarhus web site for Strategy 2008–2012 and University of Aarhus 07–08 , respectively.

Communication policy

During the course of autumn 2007, information staff members located both centrally and decentrally worked on formulating a communication policy to provide optimal support for implementing the overall strategy of the University of Aarhus. The presentation was discussed yesterday at the meeting held by the deans, and will now be finalised with the comments submitted. The communication policy will be subsequently made available on the university’s web site, after which it will be implemented in specific action plans and in an assessment of the organisational structure in this area.

Design line

As previously mentioned, we have initiated work that will lead to a new design line for the University of Aarhus. We are now halfway through this process, and the first proposal will be presented at the meeting of the deans on 18 February.

Kind regards

The Rectorate

8 January 2008

Postscript

Dear colleagues at the University of Aarhus.

On Monday 14 January, I say farewell to the University of Aarhus after just five and a half months as Pro-rector for Knowledge Transfer. Although I am looking forward to becoming part of the management at DR (the Danish Broadcasting Corporation), I also feel sad about leaving the university. Gaining insight into the wealth of activities that take place at this university has been exciting. In my opinion, the University of Aarhus has a solid footing. The new strategy is based on valuable, academic traditions and, at the same time, points towards further strengthening the new situation following the mergers. Thank you for your cooperation – my sincere good wishes for the University of Aarhus in the future!

Kind regards
Mette Bock