Discuss the university evaluation and degrees of freedom with the vice-chancellor

On Wednesday 17 June, all members of staff are invited to the annual summer event in the Lakeside Lecture Theatres in Aarhus. The vice-chancellor will speak here about the major evaluation of the university sector, with a focus on the section about degrees of freedom and the recently completed assessment of the psychological workplace environment (APV).

After the vice-chancellor’s speech, three members of staff will open the debate with reactions to the speech and suggestions regarding the challenges of the future – we hope that many members of the audience will take part in the discussion. The Vice-Chancellor’s Office will provide a light buffet and refreshments afterwards. Weather permitting, coffee tables will be set up outside. Come along, let us here what you have to say, and wish your colleagues a good summer.

The summer event takes place at 14.00–16.00 in Lakeside Lecture Theatre no. 1. The summer speech and subsequent debate will also be transmitted online.

Those university departments that are not located in Aarhus have the opportunity to organise a joint arrangement with refreshments.

More funds to Aarhus University from the Danish Councils for Independent Research

Aarhus University is in a really good stage of development as regards the ability to attract external research funds. Researchers acquired a total of DKK 232 million (approximately EUR 31 million) from the Danish Councils for Independent Research (DFF), corresponding to an increase of DKK 22 million (approximately EUR 3 million) compared with 2007. These figures are shown in a recently published report from the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation.

According to the figures, Aarhus University has made progress in four of the five research councils covered by DFF. Aarhus University’s success includes maintaining a leading position in the humanities, with a fine increase of DKK 13 million (approximately EUR 1.7 million) from the Research Council for Culture and Communication, which is 30% better than in 2007.

The increase in research funds from DFF is in line with the overall picture of research funds acquired in free competition with researchers at other universities in Denmark and abroad in 2008. In this area, Aarhus University experienced an impressive increase of more than DKK 200 million (approximately EUR 27 million), amounting to a total of DKK 1,283 million (approximately EUR 172 million) – 18% better than in 2007.

Easy guidance around Denmark

This year, Aarhus University is repeating its “easy guidance” recruitment campaign. This means that from now until 5 July, our student guidance staff will be busy helping future students to choose the right degree programme. A new initiative is that the university’s mobile guidance office will also visit Northern Germany this year. All in all, the guidance office on wheels will visit 19 major towns and cities, including Aalborg, Aarhus, Odense and Copenhagen.

The mobile guidance office is a vehicle that is specially fitted out, and filled with material about the university’s studies. In addition, two student counsellors travel in the vehicle, ready to answer questions from the many young people who are currently considering higher education.

Information about dates for the visits to the 19 different towns and cities is available (in Danish only) at nemvejledning.dk.

This website also contains information about the choice of degree programmes, application and admission. You can also chat here or find contact details for the university’s student counsellors. Find information (in Danish only) at www.nemvejledning.dk

Board meeting

The University Board is holding its next meeting on 15 June. The agenda is available (in Danish only) at www.au.dk/da/bestyrelse/2009/3-2009/dagsorden

Kind regards
The Vice-Chancellor’s Office
9 June 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.