No. 15, 21 April

Evaluation report completed

On 22 April, Aarhus University submitted its report of the latest mergers between a number of universities and government research institutions, as well as the 2003 reform of the University Act. AU’s management and the University Board have now approved the report, and the first stage of the university evaluation is thus complete. It was a very comprehensive process, concentrated in terms of the time available, with contributions and enormous commitment from the university’s academy councils, boards of studies, student organisations and the Main Liaison Committee, as well as selected researchers and students, all of whom provided significant input to the university’s complete report.

Overall, Aarhus University recommends creating stability regarding the legislative framework for the universities, and in principle, continuing the 2003 University Act, with reference to the critical – but constructive – feedback stated in the report.

The Vice-Chancellor’s Office would like to thank everyone for their numerous good contributions. We hope that the report now sent to the international evaluation panel will not only provide them with good insight into Aarhus University (the panel is visiting AU on 25 August), but will also be used as a starting point for excellent, constructive debate about the mergers, co-determination and freedom of research and expression among the staff and students throughout the rest of the year.
The AU report is available as of 22 April at 12 noon at http://www.au.dk/en/uni/university_evaluation

Significantly more quota 2 applicants choose Aarhus University as their first priority

This year, 3,191 quota 2 applicants indicated a degree programme at Aarhus University at the top of their list of priorities, which is an increase of 40 per cent compared with last year. This significant increase means that, of all the universities in Denmark, AU has experienced the greatest boost in the number of first priority applications. Virtually all Danish universities have experienced an increase, but the average rise in the number of first priority applications on a national basis is only 23 per cent.

Read more (in Danish only) about this year’s quota 2 applications to Aarhus University at www.au.dk/da/nyheder/presse/2009/200409

Universities Denmark agrees about the distribution of new basic funds

Universities Denmark expects that basic university funds will be increased in the coming years. In this connection, there will be a need for a straightforward and solid model for distributing the new funds among the eight universities. Aarhus University and the other seven Danish universities therefore propose a new model with the following parameters, in which research and education are equally weighted:

• Education, measured as STÅ (years of full-time studies) earnings, amounts to 45%.
• PhD programmes, measured as the number of PhD graduates, amount to 10% (5% education and 5% teaching).
• Bibliometry, measured as the number of points after counting publications, amounts to 25%. The proposal regarding bibliometry is that it amounts to 10% for the first few years.
• External grants, measured as earnings, amount to 20%.
  

This model will only be used for distributing new funds and will thus not alter the existing distribution of basic funds to the universities. Read more (in Danish only) here

Use your own computer when sitting examinations

Using pen and paper or highly restrictive computer workshops to sit examinations is a thing of the past. Aarhus University has developed a brilliant system capable of revolutionising traditional and often very old-fashioned forms of examination, where students are unable to use their own computers. The system is based on extremely simple technology. Using a connection to a server and a USB key incorporating the new technology, each computer is granted access to a “closed examination room” containing the tasks the examinee is required to complete and any examination aids permitted for the examination in question.

Aarhus University is currently implementing the system, which was presented at a large and very interesting conference on forms of examination on 14 April. The work with forms of examination is of crucial importance to the learning processes in the degree programmes, and accounts for an important part of the quality assurance of these programmes. The Vice-Chancellor’s Office is therefore preparing the ground for continuing the discussions from the conference in the study committees, so that students can be assured of the best possible forms of examination.

Read more about the system and the conference (in Danish only) here

Festival of Research

Aarhus University is holding events at six different locations in connection with this year’s Festival of Research.   Festival of Research events are being held by Denmark’s National Environmental Research Institute in Silkeborg and Roskilde, by the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences in Aarslev and Flakkebjerg, and by the Institute of Business and Technology in Herning. True to tradition, there will also be a major event in the University Park in Aarhus, but it will be moved this year from the Lakeside Lecture Theatres to building 1530. The overall theme for this year’s festival is “Life”.

The events at Aarhus University will be held on 24 April, and also on 25 April at certain locations.

The programme for the Festival of Research at Aarhus University is available (in Danish only) here

Meet the university’s new Managing Director

Managing Director Jørgen Jørgensen and the other members of the Vice-Chancellor’s Office look forward to meeting working partners, friends of the university and colleagues at a welcome reception on Monday 27 April at 12.00–13.30.

The reception will be held in the Museum of Ancient Art, Viktor Albecks Vej 2, building 1414.

Next Board meeting

There is a meeting of the University Board on 27 April. See the agenda (in Danish only) here

Kind regards
The Rectorate
21 April 2009

The Vice-Chancellor’s Office publishes News from the Vice-Chancellor’s Office 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 News from the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, please go to http://info.au.dk/medarbbreve/index.asp?sprog=en. The English version of News from the Vice-Chancellor’s Office is published every Wednesday and is available at http://www.au.dk/en/uni/rectorate/newsletter.

You can read previous editions of News from the Vice-Chancellor’s Office at http://www.au.dk/en/uni/rectorate/newsletter/2009.