About AU at RIO+20
Aarhus University Delegation
13-23 June a delegation from Aarhus University will participate in a broad range of activities at the UN Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development.
They will be blogging daily about the political process, discussions, events, people they meet, and all the interesting new things they learn.
Hopefully, you will enjoy their reports. They look forward to sharing their experiences with you.
Representatives of the Aarhus University delegation
Dean Brian Bech Nielsen is leader of the delegation from Aarhus University, representing the university management.
Other representatives from Aarhus University are:
- Prodean Frank Pedersen, BSS
- Professor Jacob Kjær Eskildsen, ICOA, BSS
- Director Pernille Kallehave, BSS
- Senior advisor Claus Bo Andreasen, ST
- Senior advisor Rune Heiberg Hansen, Knowledge Exchange
- Project Manager PRME LEADERS+20 Melissa McCann Thomsen
Dean Brian Bech Nielsen and director Pernille Kallehave are members of the official Danish delegation. They were offered these seats by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark because of the global competition PRME LEADERS+20.
The PRME LEADERS+20 competition has been developed by director Pernille Kallehave and project manager Melissa McCann Thomsen from Aarhus University, School of Business and Social Sciences, in cooporation with the UN PRME initiative. PRME LEADERS+20 sets focus on the role of universities and business school in educating a new generation of leaders of business and society responsible for creating sustainable development in the future.
State of Green
Aarhus University is one of five partners in State of Green, the Danish pavilion and Green Knowledge Platform in Rio. Other partners are Maersk, Novozymes, Grundfos and Danfoss. State of Green is managed by the Danish Industry Federation (DI).
The delegation from Aarhus University will participate in State of Green for various reasons: The world’s global challenges are of such scale, complexity and pace that we need to join forces across sectors. The Triple Helix model, designed by Etzkowitz and Leydesdorff (2000), focuses on the relations of universities, industries and governments and Aarhus University wants to show commitment to strengthen this relationship by participating in Rio+20 in close cooperation with leading businesses and governments. In addition, Aarhus University wishes to demonstrate the commitment of the University to sustainable development.
Apart from being a partner in State of Green, Aarhus University has signed the Declaration of Higher Education, thus committing the university to get involved in sustainable practices. On 19 June the delegation from Aarhus University will participate in the launch of a higher education sustainability initiative.
Lastly, the aim is also to create new global relationships across academia, business and government.
4/07 - 2012 | Uncategorized
Aarhus University signs Declaration for Higher Education and Sustainable Development
Dean Svend Hylleberg has – on behalf of Aarhus University – signed the Declaration for Higher Education Contribution to Sustainable Development announced at the Rio+20 conference. DECLARATION “As Chancellors, Presidents, Rectors, Deans and Leaders of Higher Education Institutions and related organizations, we … Continue reading 
26/06 - 2012 | AU faculty about Rio+20
Associate professor Martin Brynskov: Rio+20 comment on CITIES
One of the main themes of Rio+20 was CITIES. Before we left for Rio, I interviewed associate professor Martin Brynskov about CITIES: Cities is one of the themes in Rio. Why are CITIES important for a sustainable development? There are … Continue reading 
26/06 - 2012 | Uncategorized
Danish companies in Brazil looking for AU interns
The Brazilian economy is booming and attracts entrepreneurs and capital from all over the world – also from Denmark. We met a number of them at a special dinner arranged by the Danish-Brazilian Chamber of commerce and especially Jan Lomholdt … Continue reading 
26/06 - 2012 | Our blog reports from Rio+20
Demand for visionary and open minded candidates
I met with Claus Stig Pedersen, Senior Director and Head of Sustainability Development at Novozymes, at the Rio+20 summit on sustainable development. He explained to me how sustainability has been an integrated part of the Novozymes DNA since Rio 1992. … Continue reading 
23/06 - 2012 | Our blog reports from Rio+20
Universities play a vital role in the transition to a sustainable and green economy
Here is a sum up of our Rio activities from the PRME Global Forum: The 3rd PRME Global Forum on 14-15 June 2012 was the official platform for management-related Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) at Rio+20 – the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development – and … Continue reading 
PRME Leaders+20
Educating leaders for the future we want.
State of Green
Denmark has decided to lead the transition to a green growth economy and will be independent of fossil fuels by 2050. State of Green gathers all leading players in energy, climate, water and environment. Find Aarhus University’s profile here
Building Stronger Universities
