Division of work in the Vice-Chancellor's Office

On Monday 10 August, the Vice-Chancellor’s Office held a farewell reception for former Pro-Vice-Chancellor Nina Smith, who took up an appointment as Professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences on 1 August. Along with the rest of the university management, Vice-Chancellor Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen is now considering how the work of the Vice-Chancellor’s Office and cooperation within the university management can be best organised with a view to the future. The Vice-Chancellor will present his recommendation to the University Board at its next meeting on 22 September. For the present, the Vice-Chancellor will be acting chair of the Research Committee and the Study Committee.

Launch of competition regarding public sector consultancy

The Danish Ministry of the Environment informed Aarhus University this summer that it would like to launch competition regarding part of the public sector consultancy currently carried out for the ministry by the National Environmental Research Institute (NERI), and that the contract for the affected consultancy was rescinded.

In its reply to the Ministry of the Environment, the university said that it was prepared for launching competition regarding public sector consultancy as stated in the merger agreements, but that Aarhus University was surprised by the consultancy suggested by the Ministry of the Environment, because competition will now be launched regarding not only research-based public sector consultancy, but also parts of the basic research.

In addition, Aarhus University disapproves of the tight deadlines stated by the Ministry of the Environment in connection with cancelling the consultancy in question, because these put Aarhus University in an unreasonable situation, partly in relation to employees at the university.

Finally, the university points out that the process would have been more acceptable if the Ministry of the Environment had given Aarhus University time to inform the affected members of staff prior to it being reported in the media.

Aarhus University will discuss the matter with the Ministry of the Environment at a meeting on 21 August.

Continuing and further education to be strengthened at AU

The Vice-Chancellor’s Office would like to increase the extent, prominence and quality of continuing and further education offers at Aarhus University. Three working groups have therefore been appointed to produce a final report that will form the basis for the further process of drawing up a definite plan of action for the university’s efforts in the field of continuing and further education. For this purpose, a reference group will be set up consisting of a representative from each main academic area, chairs of the three working groups and two to three resource people appointed by the Vice-Chancellor’s Office. Pro-Vice-Chancellor Søren E. Frandsen will spearhead the project.

Member of international board

On 9 July, the Columbus association held its annual congress for members,and Vice-Chancellor Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen was elected to the eight-member board for a period of two years.

Columbus was founded by the European University Association (EUA) and the Association of Latin American Universities (AULA) to promote cooperation between European and Latin American institutions of higher education. There are currently about 50 member universities and, in addition, Columbus benefits from the support of bodies such as the European Commission and UNESCO.

Calendar

• The international panel for evaluating the university sector 2009 visits Aarhus University on 25 August
• East Jutland Members of Parliament visit Aarhus University on 26 August
• Climate on the Agenda on 9 September at 11.00–17.00 in the Danish Parliament’s Joint Hall ( Folketingets Fællessal ). The aim is to cover central political, scientific, and commercial topics prior to the COP15 conference. The political message will be delivered by Minister for Climate and Energy Connie Hedegaard, President of Parliament Thor Pedersen and Member of Parliament Steen Gade. Organiser: Aarhus University and Jyllands-Posten. Read more (in Danish only) at www.klima.au.dk and www.jp.dk/master
• September meetings at the main academic areas
  • ASB – 1 September at 8.00–12.00
    
  • DJF – 1 September at 13.00–17.00
    
  • TEO – 3 September at 8.00–12.00
    
  • SAM – 3 September at 13.00–17.00
    
  • SUN – 4 September at 8.00–12.00
    
  • NERI – 29 September at 10.00–14.00
    
  • DPU – 29 September at 15.00–19.00
    
  • HUM – 30 September at 8.00–12.00
    
  • NAT – 30 September at 14.00–18.00
• Board seminar for the University Board and the university management at Sandbjerg on 21–22 September
• Seminar for administration managers and joint administration circle of leaders at Sandbjerg on 23–24 September
• Management seminar for university management, administration managers and joint administration circle of leaders at Sandbjerg on 21–22 October

Kind regards
The Vice-Chancellor’s Office
11 August 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 .