No. 14, 22 April 2008

Finance Act

The Danish Finance Act was adopted last week, the results of which include:

• Overhead reform : The government entered into an agreement with the Social Democrats, the Danish People’s Party and the Danish Social-Liberal Party, in which the universities are covered for consequential expenses in the form of an overhead contribution of 35% when they obtain grants from research councils. The new rate replaces the overhead contribution that applied until now, which was a general rate of 20% and building overheads of 12.65%. The parties involved in this accord have agreed that, in connection with the Finance Act negotiations for 2009 and the distribution of research funds from the globalisation pool, the final overhead contribution will be allocated to completely cover expenses, applicable from 2009 and thereafter. The new overhead contribution applies to the research councils, the Danish National Research Foundation, the Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation, future grants from the globalisation pool and the ministries’ research funding that is subject to competition. To finance this redistribution, cuts have been made in the universities’ capital subsidy, basic grants and reorganisation reserve.
• Purchasing cuts: The universities are affected by cuts that are based on improved purchasing efficiency and an agreement about improving the prison service.
• Compulsory savings: The universities must save 1% of their funds, which will be reimbursed in 2009.
• Difference in grants for engineering degree programmes: As mentioned in a previous newsletter, the University of Aarhus pointed out that it would be close to a breach of promise if a parliamentary majority gave higher grants to engineering degree programmes covered by the Ministry of Education than to those under the auspices of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. However, this has happened as the result of a political decision to prioritise funds for the engineering degree programmes covered by the Ministry of Education. AU-IBT (Institute of Business and Technology, University of Aarhus) in Herning has thus had savings imposed.

Seats available for opening ceremony on 24 April in the Lakeside Lecture Theatres

Seats are still available in connection with the Festival of Research opening ceremony on Thursday 24 April in Lakeside Lecture Theatre 1. All those taking part must be seated in the lecture theatre by 11.50 sharp, and the event finishes at 13.30. HRH Crown Princess Mary, who is patroness of the Festival of Research, will take part to present the Research Communication Prize for 2008 (available in Danish only) to a researcher who has achieved significant recognition by combining expert research with good communication of the results. The day’s programme also features a Science Café event attended by researchers and upper secondary school pupils invited from the local area; Kemishow Aarhus, with a spectacular chemistry show on stage; and Per V, double winner of the Danish freestyle rap championship, who will provide an unconventional welcome and conclusion to the day. Helge Sander, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation,and Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen welcome you to the event – see the programme (in Danish only) here (PDF). If you would like to attend, please contact Lykke Ankersen on +45 8942 2345, e-mail la@adm.au.dk, or Charlotte Boel on +45 8942 2344, e-mail cbo@adm.au.dk by Wednesday 23 April at 15.00.

Come and join the Festival of Research on 25 April

On Friday 25 April 2008 from 14.00 to 19.00, the Lakeside Lecture Theatres will be transformed into the “climate house”, filled with presentations and demonstrations of interesting research from the University of Aarhus. Take your family and friends along on an experience when more than 40 of our scientists offer research at eye level in the form of easily understood lectures, workshops, hands-on activities, experiments, displays and other exciting things. Everyone is welcome and admission is free.

The University of Aarhus also has events in other parts of Denmark, including Herning, Silkeborg, Roskilde, Faaborg and Foulum. In connection with the last event on Saturday in Foulum, the Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries will be in attendance. The programme is available (in Danish only) at www.au.dk/forskningensdoegn.

If you have any questions regarding the event, you are welcome to contact Charlotte Boel, Communication Office, on +45 8942 2344, e-mail cbo@adm.au.dk.

Climate Secretariat

The Climate Secretariat’s web site has now been launched (in Danish only). For more information, go to: http://www.klima.au.dk.

Kind regards
The rectorate
22 April 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.