No. 25, 12 August 2008

University of Aarhus in the top 100 worldwide

In the recently published Shanghai ranking ( Academic Ranking of World Universities 2008 ), the University of Aarhus has advanced from the group of universities ranked as numbers 102–150 in the world to number 93, and from the group of universities ranked as numbers 35–56 in Europe to number 31.

Read more about the Shanghai ranking at: www.arwu.org/rank2008/EN2008.htm

Read the media release here: http://www.au.dk/en/news/archive/2008/120808

Management seminar

On Wednesday and Thursday this week, the rectorate will join the deans, administration managers and administrative heads from the joint administration for the half-yearly, all-day management seminar at the Sandbjerg Estate.

The first day focuses on quality. Dr Elaine El-Khawas, Professor of Education Policy, George Washington University, USA, opens with a presentation about “moving ahead on quality”. She is followed by Pro-rector Nina Smith, who reports on the status of the Study Committee’s work and future plans. A number of deans are also making presentations on the theme of “the inner education market at the University of Aarhus”. Eva Teilmann, Head of the University Studies Office, concludes this theme with a presentation of the administrative consequences of a flexible education system. The day rounds off with a presentation by Jens Peter Jacobsen, Director of the Danish University and Property Agency, who gives an outline of the ministry’s plans for the coming years.

On the second day, the spotlight is on the administrative change process. Niels Højberg, Director of Administration, introduces and rounds off this theme. During the day, Jørgen Honoré, Director of the University of Copenhagen, reports on his university’s administrative experience with mergers. Erik Møberg, Deputy Director of Rambøll Management, explains how he views the challenges facing the University of Aarhus. Finally, Head of Department Flemming Larsen reports on the status of the tracks in the administrative change process at the University of Aarhus.

Board seminar and meeting

On 1 and 2 September, the University Board is holding its annual seminar and meeting, also at the Sandbjerg Estate. This seminar focuses on the midway status of the university’s work with the strategy and development contract. The ordinary Board meeting takes place following the seminar. The agenda for the Board meeting will shortly be available (in Danish only) at http://www.au.dk/da/bestyrelse.

September meetings between the rectorate and the main academic areas

From 20 August up to 2 October, the rectorate is holding the so-called September meetings with the main academic areas. The rectorate will make a four-hour visit to each area. The aim of these meetings is to have thorough discussions of the work with the strategy and other issues of relevance to the main academic areas.

Fukuyama agreement

In November 2007, the University of Aarhus held a Matchpoints conference about the opportunities and challenges associated with globalisation. The key speaker was Professor Francis Fukuyama from Johns Hopkins University, USA. This conference was a great success and the rectorate has decided that Professor Fukuyama be affiliated with both the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Social Sciences during the period 2009–2011. Work is underway to organise a seminar in 2009 with the participation of Fukuyama and other highly esteemed foreign researchers. The conference has struck a responsive chord as far away as the Lisbon region, from which the University of Aarhus has received an enquiry about entering into partnership in an ambitious project regarding a number of prestigious conferences.

Kind regards
The rectorate
12 August 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/index.asp?sprog=en, 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.