No. 5, 3 February

Yes please to more medical students

Aarhus University is prepared to increase the number of medical students if the Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation succeeds in having his proposal approved. It is the growing shortage of doctors in Denmark, especially west of the Great Belt, that has now caused Helge Sander, Denmark’s Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, to suggest admitting at least 200 more medical students per year. The initial response indicates a majority for his proposal at Christiansborg, seat of the Danish Government, as the Social Democrats have responded positively to the idea. Most of the new student places are expected to be established at Aarhus University and the University of Southern Denmark. It is still unclear as to whether the extra intake will take place this autumn or from summer 2010 at the earliest. Approximately 1200 medical students were admitted to universities in Denmark last year, 365 of whom were enrolled in Aarhus.

17 applicants for director position

By the deadline for application on 2 February, 17 people had applied for the position of director of administration.
An advisory group consisting of both the administration managers of the main academic areas and Mercuri Urval consultants will now prepare a recommendation to the appointment committee, which consists of the rectorate and Dean Søren Mogensen, Faculty of Health Sciences. At its meeting on 23 February, the Board is expected to be able to process the recommendation from the rectorate, so that the new director of administration can commence duties on 1 April.

New head of administration for the international area

On 1 March 2009, Kristian Thorn takes up his new position as head of administration for the international area. In close collaboration with the International Secretariat and the main academic areas, he will be responsible for the ongoing joint internationalisation. Kristian Thorn is currently chief consultant at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, and is responsible for bilateral cooperation and cases from the CIRIUS administration, just as he is project manager for the ministry’s strategy for knowledge collaboration with China. He has previously worked at the Ministry of Finance, Denmark’s permanent delegation to the United Nations in New York, and Denmark’s National Survey and Cadastre. He completed his MSc (Political Science) at Aarhus University, with extended study periods at the University of Florida and Piedmont Virginia Community College, USA.

Analysis of the universities’ and sector research institutions’ financing and organisation

As a lead-up to the forthcoming negotiations about the distribution of globalisation funds, the Danish Government has decided to carry out two analyses in one combined process: an analysis of the universities’ and sector research institutions’ financing (distribution of basic funds and external financing) and an analysis of the taximeter subsidies for the “dry” areas (Humanities, Social Sciences, School of Education, School of Business and Theology). The analyses will be carried out by an external firm of consultants and will take place at the same time as the evaluation of the Danish Universities Act. At Aarhus University, the Faculty of Science has been selected to take part in the survey. Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen will participate in a reference group, while Acting Director of Administration Søren E. Frandsen will join a working group.

10 EliteForsk prizes to Aarhus University

At the EliteForsk conference on 29 January, Denmark’s Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Helge Sander, along with HRH Crown Princess Mary, awarded a number of EliteForsk prizes in three different categories. Ten of the prizes went to researchers and PhD students at Aarhus University. The EliteForsk prizes are awarded each year to outstanding young researchers under 45 years of age who are in an international class of their own and contribute in an exceptional way to strengthening Danish research.

“It’s really good that Aarhus University has once more done so well in this competition. Not only was the physicist Bjørk Hammer honoured with the fine EliteForsk prize for his great efforts in nano research at Aarhus University, but this also gave our younger scientists significant and well-deserved recognition,” says Pro-rector Nina Smith, who attended the presentation.

Read more about the EliteForsk prizes here

More funds from the Michael J. Fox Foundation to Aarhus group

The Michael J. Fox Foundation recently allocated USD 2 million to the development of new ways of showing pathological changes in the brain, using live patients with Parkinson’s disease. In this connection, a research group at Aarhus University was awarded DKK 1.4 million (approximately USD 250,000).

“Our collaboration with Jørgen Kjems from the iNANO Centre meant that the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s advertisement was made to measure – and we’re therefore proud of making our way through the competition with applications from all over the world,” says Professor Poul Henning Jensen, who heads the Neurodegenerative Research Group at Aarhus University.

Heartiest congratulations from the rectorate on achieving such a fine result.

Read more (in Danish only) here

Kind regards
The Rectorate
3 February 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/2008 .