No. 30, 16 September 2008  

Annual celebration

The rectorate is very pleased with the event – both the solemn ceremony in the university’s Main Hall during the afternoon and the less restrained event at the Concert Hall Aarhus in the evening. However, it was very annoying and regrettable that the sound failed during part of the transmission to Stakladen, where approximately 130 people celebrating their jubilees had assembled. The sound had worked at the dress rehearsal in the morning, and the outside firm responsible for the transmission apologises profusely and will naturally follow up on the “fault”. Fortunately, the rectorate’s impression is that the jubilarians were satisfied with the day’s event overall. It was also frustrating that there was not enough room for a number of staff members who had signed up on a first come, first served basis. This was because the number of outside people attending by invitation was far greater than in previous years. In the forthcoming weeks, the rectorate will evaluate the event and begin planning for the annual celebrations ahead. The rectorate would like to thank all those who showed an interest, attended and participated in the event.
The following links (in Danish only) are to media that gave coverage to the celebration:
TV2: http://galleri.tv2.dk/index.php/category-Nyhederne/id-15494754/page-1.html
TV2/East Jutland: http://www.tv2regionerne.dk/reg2005/?id=443512&r=7
CAMPUS : http://www.au.dk/campus/billeder/soundslide/aarsfest2008

Working groups regarding study support for students with special needs

Specific action is required if we are to reach the Globalisation Council’s goal of ensuring that 50% of school-leavers undertake higher education. One of the requirements is that the educational institutions get hold of young people in need of study support. This concerns people with a non-Danish ethnic background, as well as handicapped or dyslectic students, those with a mental illness, single parents and students from non-academic homes, etc. These young people can be faced by academic, health-related and social challenges, and they often take slightly longer to complete their education.
The rectorate has made an agreement with the Municipality of Aarhus and other educational institutions in Aarhus to set up a working group in this area. The project management will be the municipality’s responsibility. The group will begin by looking at the group with a non-Danish ethnic background. Participants from AU are Anne Teglborg (University Studies Office), Bodil Møller (Aarhus School of Business) and Grith T. Loft (Rector’s Office). The group will gather the considerable experience gained from study support programmes, and its starting point will be a focus on what actually works. AU has acquired excellent know-how from work involving its Counselling and Support Centre and the mentor project at the Aarhus School of Business.
The programme will be presented at a seminar at AU on 14 January 2009.

Reply to the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation regarding Faculty of Theology intakes

Helge Sander, the Danish Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, has requested an account from Aarhus University (AU) and the University of Copenhagen (KU) regarding progress in the number of first priority applicants and enrolments in theology studies for the last ten years. This is in connection with the fall in numbers of applications during this period.
In their reply to Helge Sander, AU and KU made it clear that there is a need to reverse this development, of course, and that the Faculties of Theology at the respective universities are making concerted efforts to recruit and keep hold of new students. The number of first priority applicants and enrolments has dropped significantly since 1999 – a development that can also be seen in a number of other degree programmes. In this connection, it is worth mentioning that the number of theology graduates has remained a steady 100–125 per year during this period.
The joint letter indicates possible explanations of the fall in numbers of applications for theology studies, including smaller year groups, the general decline in applications for higher education programmes, and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation’s stricter requirements for admission to the universities, where theology requires an A level in history – the only degree programme in Denmark to do so. This requirement is not supported by all upper secondary schools and the higher preparatory examination (HF). AU and KU therefore urge Helge Sander in their letter to delete the A level in history requirement for theology studies.
To strengthen the theology degree programmes at the two faculties, intensive work is currently being undertaken on new introductory study programmes, reinforcing student tutor schemes and student and career guidance, reorganising forms of study, further developing mentor programmes and last, but not least, boosting collaboration between the users (potential employers).

Kind regards
The rectorate
16 September 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.