Quality work is a central feature of the University of Aarhus’ development contract with the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Development

In spring 2005, the Faculty of Theology carried out a pilot project that included a review of the quality work in the faculty’s own research and education. Experience from this project – carried out in collaboration with the Danish Evaluation Institute (EVA) – will be dispersed to all relevant areas throughout the university.

Where a traditional evaluation is about the quality of a specific product, such as research and training, an audit is about reviewing the processes and methods that an educational institution must encompass in order to be able to ensure and improve the quality of its own activities.

Systematic, thorough quality work

The concluding evaluation report showed that the Faculty of Theology has a systematic, thorough approach to the quality work concerned in complying with demands made by the Danish University Act, Executive Orders and the university’s own regulations.

“The report on the Faculty of Theology provides an excellent, well-prepared result,” says Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen, Rector at the University of Aarhus. “We must maintain and strengthen quality throughout the university.”

Since 2005, the University of Aarhus – the first university in Denmark to do so – has required all applicants for academic appointments to document their teaching experience in a so-called teaching portfolio.

“In future, we’ll have to compete for a larger share of our funds, and a focus on quality is necessary if we’re to take up a strong position among the competition,” adds Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen.