No. 17, 6 May

Familiarity with humanistic research must be strengthened

It is thought-provoking that 33.8% of Danish politicians believe that humanistic research is of little or even very little use to society – and it does not help matters that this percentage has risen from 26% in 2000 to 33.8% in 2008. The latest figures are from the Danish Centre for Studies in Research and Research Policy, but it should be emphasised that almost twice as many politicians – amounting to 63.4% – believe that humanistic research is of great or very great use to society. By way of comparison, all the other fields of research amount to more than 90% as regards great or very great use to society.
There is apparently a need to extend familiarity with humanistic research. This is a focal point for a widely based university, and absolutely crucial for making sure that society can hold its ground in the global market. It is therefore also positive that humanists at Aarhus University have now taken the initiative to hold a seminar for the purpose of formulating an up-to-date, suitably precise and well-thought-out usefulness concept for their research.
Read more about the seminar (in Danish only) at http://www.humaniora.au.dk/nyheder/arkiv/2009/nyttig .

New ruling in the Erasmus Mundus case

Following a new ruling by the Danish University and Property Agency (UBST), Aarhus University is now paying compensation to all the 26 EU/EEA citizens who were enrolled in the Erasmus Mundus degree programmes Lifelong Learning: Policy and Management and Journalism and Media within Globalisation in the period 2005–2007.
In January, Aarhus University paid compensation to four Danish Erasmus Mundus students on the advice of UBST, which stated that students with a Bachelor’s degree from a Danish university should have their fees refunded. The new ruling from UBST makes it clear that Aarhus University was obliged to inform Erasmus Mundus applicants that a parallel study programme existed at the university, for which no fees were required, and that compensation should be paid if this information was not provided.
With the new ruling from UBST, the university now has authority to pay compensation. The vice-chancellor has therefore decided that all 26 EU/EEA students, including 7 with Danish citizenship, should have their fees refunded. The compensation is approximately DKK 60,000 per student, amounting to about DKK 1.56 million in all.

Future of the Bologna Process assured

On 28–29 April, ministers from the 46 countries participating in the Bologna Process met in Leuven, Belgium. The purpose of the ministerial conference was to discuss the results of the process to date and to determine its priorities up to 2020. Vice-Chancellor Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen attended as part of the delegation from the European University Association (EUA). The 46 ministers attending the conference adopted the Leuven/Louvain-la-Neuve Communiqué – a statement to ensure a competitive knowledge society via the greatest possible accessibility to higher education and lifelong learning for everyone. Read the entire Leuven/Louvain-la-Neuve Communiqué on the official website of the ministerial conference http://www.ond.vlaanderen.be/hogeronderwijs/bologna/conference/index.htm .

New principles for financial support for student organisations

A good study environment will help determine the amount of funds paid to the individual student organisations in future. From now on, payments will be made to organisations that carry out tasks promoting a good study environment.

Subsidies to student organisations are currently allocated on the basis of the number of votes for representatives on the University Board. This principle will not be entirely abandoned, but will gradually be replaced by collaborative agreements based on the above-mentioned principles between the university and the student organisations.

New fitness centre for students

Aarhus University Sports (AUS) has for some time wanted to improve the layout of its fitness centre, and this has now been assured via an agreement with the Vice-Chancellor’s Office. In autumn, AUS will move from its current fitness centre to premises in the suburb of Trøjborg, the former location of the fitness centre for university staff. Aided by joint finances, these premises will be done up to provide students with an inviting fitness centre that is both modern and well run.

Spectacular show in the University Park

The most spectacular student event of the year will be held in the University Park in Aarhus on 7 May, when 12 selected student social committees battle out the traditional regatta http://www.kapsejladsen.dk/ (available in Danish only). The Vice-Chancellor’s Office very much appreciates the volunteer work carried out by the students to organise a festive and entertaining day for their fellow students. The regatta is a unique event, where students from different degree programmes and departments get together and contribute to making Aarhus an attractive university city.

Joint initiative on independent and qualified research-based advice to the authorities

Universities Denmark has prepared a white paper that describes the consequences of the 2007 merger between universities and governmental research institutions. You can download the new publication (contains an English summary) from Universities Denmark’s website http://dkuni.dk/ .

Kind regards
The Vice-Chancellor’s Office
6 May 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.