No. 12, 24 March

Time for research and teaching

You cannot blame the staff at Aarhus University if they ask themselves in the time ahead: “What’s the management actually doing? How many questionnaires and surveys do we really have to take part in, and how many resources will AU allocate to the university’s evaluation – the McKinsey survey – development of a bibliometric indicator, etc?”

Regardless of how noble a purpose these studies serve, the university’s staff are nevertheless currently being involved to such an extent that valuable time is being stolen from teaching and research activities. Right now, this is one of the reactions indicated by university staff to the university’s evaluation.

In every way possible, Aarhus University will naturally and openly answer the questions the Danish Parliament and Government would like clarified. We therefore also encourage our staff, of course, to contribute to a correct response to the questions being asked. However, we must emphasise that the Aarhus University management, along with Universities Denmark, is doing everything we can to limit the extent of the surveys being launched, and which to a great extent can be experienced as unnecessary for a health, well-run university.

Read also the leading article (in Danish only) in CAMPUS here

Trial of new degree programme for teachers

The Danish Union of Teachers (DLF) and Aarhus University have just presented a joint proposal for a trial of a new degree programme for teachers. This is an example of decisive innovation compared with traditional education in Denmark, and will supplement the existing teacher’s training programme in the best way possible.

The degree programme is based on equal and integrated collaboration between the university colleges and Aarhus University. During the trial, lecturers at the university colleges will work together with lecturers at the university. This will strengthen the quality of the students’ teaching and the development of academic environments at both the university and the university colleges. Aarhus University offers research-based knowledge covering the entire spectrum of degree programmes – mainly in the field of education at the Danish School of Education. However, the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Science are also obvious working partners.

Read more (in Danish only) here

Rector reelected to the Board of the European University Association (EUA)

At EUA’s recently held annual general meeting in Prague, Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen was reelected to the Board. EUA consists of approximately 800 universities from 46 countries, and the association aims to work towards developing the European universities. Universities Denmark supported the election of Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen.
“I’m pleased about being reelected. It gives me a unique opportunity to work for the interests of the Danish universities on a European level,” says Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen, who can now look forward to a further two years on the nine-member Board.

From integration to inclusion

Aarhus University and the Municipality of Aarhus would like to invite you to attend a conference on Thursday 26 March. The conference focuses attention on the measures that get more young people with a non-Danish ethnic background to complete their education. The conference will strengthen the collaboration that cuts across the different educational institutions in Aarhus, and will help to develop new models for integration in the study programmes. Everyone is welcome, but you must enrol.

Read more (in Danish only) here

A key role in climate research

“The knowledge provided by Aarhus University is absolutely crucial for the way in which we solve climate problems in future.” This statement was made on Friday 20 March by Connie Hedegaard, the Danish Minister for Climate and Energy, in connection with a visit to Aarhus University.

See the entire interview with the Minister for Climate and Energy, plus other prominent players in the climate area, on Aarhus University’s website for the Beyond Kyoto climate conference here

Read also the presentation by Professor Ellen Margrethe Basse about the 7 climate recommendations in the Danish newspaper Politiken on 23 March.

Kind regards
The Rectorate
24 March 2009

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/2009.