About International Centre
Aarhus University (AU) wishes to strengthen its position as a leading and visible international
university and therefore the university has developed an Internationalization Strategy for the
years 2009-2013. The ambition is to seize the opportunities of developing knowledge and talents
offered by globalization, and thereby contribute to shaping the international development of the
knowledge-area.
The International Centre (IC) has been established to meet this challenge. The International Centre
maintains international partnerships and combines a wide range of services for international students,
PhD’s and visiting scholars.
Organisation of the International Centre
The International Centre is the centre of all international activities at Aarhus University.
IC is managed by an International Director and an Assistant Director.
The International Centre is divided into 4 subunits i.e. the Strategy and Partnership Unit,
the Student Mobility Unit, the International Academic Staff Services Unit and the Housing Unit.
The Strategy and Partnership Unit is tasked with promoting AU’s international profile and enhancing
visibility in collaboration with AU Communication; analyses and assessments of the global education
market; the cultivation of strategic partnerships with elite universities abroad; and consultation on
regulations on internationalisation of education. This unit also handles all delegation visits to AU from
universities abroad.
The Student Mobility Unit is tasked with the intake of all exchange students at AU; the maintenance
of student exchange agreements with partner universities; counseling of AU students planning a period
of study abroad; the development of up-to-date service-packages for all international students coming
to AU, the organisation of the AU Intro Weeks as well as the pre-semester language and culture course
“Destination DK”. The unit also operates a service and information desk for international students.
The AU Summer University is part of the Student Mobility Unit. The AU Summer University Unit is
tasked with all practical matters related to AU Summer University, a new initiative set to begin in
July and August 2011. The unit helps AU Faculty and Institutes organise summer courses, recruit
international guest lecturers and market AU Summer University to students and partners. The unit
also assists students and guest lecturers in applying for visas, finding housing as well as answering
all practical questions related to coming to Aarhus and Aarhus University. During the summer term
the Summer University Unit offers a variety of social activities (visits to museums, guided tours and
field trips) as well as running a helpdesk during the day.
The International Academic Staff Service Unit is tasked with helping foreign researchers (including PhD students) and their families deal with the practical challenges connected with their arrival in Denmark; preparing information material and manuals in English; organizing introduction courses for international PhD students and members of staff; checklists for AU researchers planning a period aborad. The University International Club promotes the social integration of new international researchers and PhD students through a broad range of seminars and meetings every week all year around.
The Housing Unit is tasked with administering the housing guarantee for exchange students and the
housing service for full-degree students, PhD students and international researchers. This unit also
handles the financial administration of the IC.
