No. 27, 26 August 2008

Membership of the EUA Council for Doctoral Education

The rectorate has decided to submit an application from Aarhus University (AU) for membership of the EUA (European University Association) Council for Doctoral Education, a forum for debate and exchange of experience regarding PhD education involving universities in Europe. The council arranges workshops, seminars, conferences, winter and summer schools, etc. AU’s representative is Vice-dean Johnny Laursen, Faculty of Humanities.
See more at www.eua.be/events/eua-council-for-doctoral-education

Benchmarking in the PhD area

The PhD area was also on the agenda at the meeting of the deans on 25 August. Professor Mogens Nielsen, Head of the Aarhus Graduate School of Science (AGSoS), Faculty of Science, gave a briefing on the international benchmarking project, in which the University of Bergen in particular has been a good source of inspiration. Experience from the project makes up part of the work that Aarhus University is undertaking to put the aims of the AU strategy into practice. This work has its roots within the circle of heads of graduate schools. The project is the result of AU’s participation in an international network on benchmarking, in combination with universities from Bergen, Turku, Gothenburg and Kiel.

Climate Secretariat’s many initiatives

At the meeting of the deans, Professor Ellen Margrethe Basse, Head of the Climate Secretariat, gave a status report on the work of the secretariat. Many activities are underway, and not just internally at AU. They also include collaboration with a number of other participants. In connection with the general public, there is particular exposure regarding the work involved with the two conferences scheduled for November 2008 and March 2009.
This work can be followed at www.klima.au.dk

Quality conference provided plenty of input

The conference took place on 21 August and was previously mentioned in this newsletter. The success of the conference was due to the approximately 120 very active participants, who provided plenty of constructive input. This has given rise to a reassessment of the continuing process. The draft of a policy for quality work in the area of education is being reformulated on the basis of what took place at the conference. The decision process will take somewhat longer. The Board will be briefed at the Board meeting on 2 September, and the new draft will be submitted for hearing to the main academic areas for four weeks. The topic will subsequently be discussed by the Study Committee and the circle of deans. The Board will finally adopt the policy in the course of winter 2008.

Kind regards
The rectorate
26 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.