No. 39, 18 November 2008

Policy for quality work in education

Strategy 2008–2012 focuses on quality assurance and quality development. A task force under the Study Committee with representatives from the main academic areas have now prepared a draft for a policy for quality work in education (in Danish only).

In the past year, the policy has been debated at a conference, been the subject of a hearing in the main academic areas and last, but not least, been revised by the task force. The policy has already been discussed at a meeting of the rectorate and a meeting of the deans and is on the agenda for the board meeting on 18 December. The next step is for staff members at all levels to organise and develop a quality system that can support the quality work.

Committee for research-based advice to the authorities

A committee has been set up at Aarhus University for research-based advice to the authorities. The committee has been appointed for a two-year period and consists of representatives for the academic areas.

The committee was set up upon recommendation by a task force for research-based advice to the authorities, which in the past six months has worked to promote this focus area in accordance with Strategy 2008–2012. As a starting point for the committee, the task force has prepared a proposal for a mandate (in Danish only), which has been discussed at a meeting of the rectorate and a meeting of the deans.

The administrative change process

The work with the different tracks in the change process continues to progress. Both the Business Administration track and other tracks have progressed to the point where a clear picture of future changes is developing. In future, the planning of the change process should therefore focus on ensuring management attention to the main academic areas.

New general management structure

The rectorate is currently working on a consolidation of the administrative areas through the implementation of a new general management structure. The plans involve the appointment of a deputy director for finance and building administration and a deputy director for staff-related matters in general (HR, personnel, salaries, communication and internationalisation).

Conference in Ethiopia

As a member of the Africa Commission, rector Lauritz B Holm-Nielsen – together with the Prime Minister and the chairman of the Africa Commission, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, amongst others – will participate in a conference in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia from Wednesday to Saturday. The purpose of the Africa Commission is to create more jobs and increased economic growth in Africa in the coming years.

The first steps in the climate initiative

On 13–14 November, the university held the conference "The Role of Information in an Age of Climate Change" as part of the official activities under the French EU presidency. The conference focused on the involvement of the general public in climate issues in connection with the 10-year anniversary of the Aarhus Convention.

Rector Lauritz B Holm-Nielsen began by welcoming the guests whereupon the French Ambassador to Denmark, Bérengère Quincy, and the Executive Director of the European Environment Agency, Jacqueline McGlade, opened the conference. A common thread of the first three speeches was a focus on the necessity of openness and collaboration.

The many other speakers included Svend Auken, former Danish Minister for Environment and Energy, who was one of the main architects of the Aarhus Convention, which he counts as one of his main achievements in the environmental area. Present was also Troels Lund Poulsen, Minister for Environment and Energy, who closed the conference on Friday afternoon.

The participants expressed that they had enjoyed an interesting and relevant conference. It was therefore regrettable that only a limited number of university staff and students took the opportunity to meet some of the main UN players in the fields of democracy, environment and climate.

The climate secretariat will now assess the conference with a view to drawing maximum attention to the large climate conference scheduled for March 2009.

All papers presented at the conference will be available at www.klima.au.dk during the coming week.

Kind regards
The Rectorate
18 November 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 Danish version of the newsletter at http://info.au.dk/medarbbreve, after which you will receive an e-mail whenever the newsletter is issued.

If you would like to subscribe to the English version of Rectorate News, please go to http://info.au.dk/medarbbreve/index.asp?sprog=en. The English version of Rectorate News is published every Wednesday and is available at http://www.au.dk/en/uni/rectorate/newsletter.

You can read previous editions of Rectorate News at http://www.au.dk/en/uni/rectorate/newsletter/2008.