AARHUS•DENMARK STRATEGY 2008-2012 - AU · standard. In the coming years, the wide range of subjects offered In the coming years, the wide range of subjects offered by the university

1

STRATEGY 2008-2012

QuAliTY And divERSiTY

U N I V E R S I T Y O F

A A R H U S • D E N M A R K

COnTEnTS

4 Mission,visionandvalues

6 TheroleoftheUniversityofAarhus

9 Strategy

12 Excellentresearch

14 Focusedtalentdevelopment

16 Inspiringconsultancy

andknowledgetransfer

18 World-classeducation

andknowledgedissemination

22 Professionaland

coherentmanagement

24 Effectivesupportandservice

26 Top-classfacilitiesandinfrastructure

27 Cross-cuttingqualityassurance

30 Researchenvironment

32 Studyenvironment

34 Internationalisation

36 Competencedevelopment

38 Profiling

40 Summaryofresultsandexpectations

42 TheMagnaChartaof

theEuropeanUniversities

CORE ACTiviT iES

inTERnAl SuppORT

pRiORiT iES

2

FOREWORd

Academicvaluesformthebasisforall

activitiesattheUniversityofAarhus.

Viacuriousresearch,criticalanalysisand

ongoingdebate,researchersandstudents

endeavourtofindnewwaystogainin-

sight,understanding,spiritualdevelopment

andeducationforthebenefitofsocietyas

awhole.

Sinceitsfoundationin1928,theUni-

versityofAarhushashadastrongtradition

forself-government,whichensuresboth

politicalandideologicalindependence.Un-

til1970,theuniversitywasanindependent

institution,andsubsequentlybecamea

government-ownededucationalestablish-

ment.However,the2003UniversityAct

accordedtheuniversitythestatusofan

independentinstitutionundertheauspices

ofpublicadministration.Theuniversity

intendstoprotectthisautonomywiththe

utmostcare.Thefreedomandindepend-

enceoftheuniversityarecrucialprerequi-

sitesforittobeabletomeetitsobligations

tosociety.

In2006and2007,theUniversityof

AarhusmergedwiththeHerningInstitute

ofBusinessAdministrationandTechnology,

theNationalEnvironmentalResearchIn-

stitute,theDanishInstituteofAgricultural

Sciences,theAarhusSchoolofBusiness

andtheDanishUniversityofEducation.

Thishasaddeddiversitytotheuniversity

intheformofnewsubjects,tasks,staff,

students,structureandgeographicalloca-

tion.Academicstrengthwithinawiderange

ofsubjectsisanadvantageforamodern

university,becausemanydecisivebreak-

throughsoccurasaresultoftheinterplay

betweentheindividualsubjectareas.

Theuniversity’sprofessionalandgeo-

graphicalposition,aswellasitsacademic

depth,providesitwithstrengthinaworld

characterisedbyrapidchangeandcondi-

tionsthatleadtoincreasedcompetition–

bothnationallyandinternationally–forthe

beststudents,staffandresearchresources.

ThemaincampusislocatedinAarhus

and,overtheyears,closeandproductive

collaborationhasbeendevelopedbetween

thecityanditseducationalinstitutions–a

collaborationthatissupportedbytheentire

region.TheMunicipalityofAarhusranks

asoneofEurope’sbestcitiesinwhichto

study,andemphasisestheimportanceofits

educationalinstitutionsforthecity,espe-

ciallytheuniversity.Thecityhascreatedan

inspiringenvironmentthatmakesitattrac-

tivetobothDanishandforeignstudents.

Combined,theninefaculties,schools

andnationalinstitutescovertheentire

researchspectrum–basicresearch,applied

research,strategicresearchandresearch-

basedadvicetotheauthorities.Inalldegree

programmes,researchandteachingare

closelyconnected,andtheresearch-based

instruction–includingteachingthatspans

themainacademicareas–ensuresthe

depthofthedegreeprogrammes.Withits

greatemphasisonresearch,itisnosurprise

thatoneofthekeyareasfortheUniversity

ofAarhusisthedevelopmentofresearch

talentforthebenefitofallsectorsofsoci-

ety.Theuniversityalsowillinglyassumesits

shareofresponsibilityformeetingsociety’s

growingneedfornewflexibledegree

programmesandcontinuingandfurther

educationforthoserequiringadditional

qualificationslaterinlife.

Itiswithprideandpleasurethatthe

UniversityofAarhuspresentsthisstrategy,

acknowledgingitsobligationsandrespon-

sibilitiestosociety.Thisstrategyisbased

ontheuniversity’shistoryand,withits

strengthandenthusiasm,reachesfarinto

thefuture.

Solidum petit in profundis

Jens Bigum

Chair of the University Board

Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen

Rector

3

ThE miSSiOn OF ThE univERSiTY OF AARhuS istodevelopknowledge,welfareand

culturethroughresearchand

research-basededucation,knowledge

disseminationandexternaladvice.

ThE viSiOn OF ThE univERSiTY OF AARhuS istobelongtotheeliteofuniversities

andtocontributetothedevelopment

ofnationalandglobalwelfare.

ThE vAluES OF ThE univERSiTY OF AARhuS arebasedontheethicalidealsoffreedom

andindependencethataredescribed

intheMagnaChartaoftheEuropean

Universities.Staffandstudentsatthe

UniversityofAarhusworkenquiringly

andcritically,inopenanddynamic

interactionwiththesurroundingworld.

miSSiOn, viSiOn And vAluES

4

In1988,therectorsoftheEuropeanuniversitiesagreedonanumber

ofconsiderationsregardingtheroleofuniversitiesinasociety

undergoingconstantchange.See pages 42–43 for more information.

ThE mAGnA ChARTA OF ThE EuROpEAn univERSiT iES

5

ThE ROlE OF ThE univERSiTY OF AARhuS

TheUniversityofAarhusplaysadistinctiveroleinsociety.The

mergersofrecentyearshavegiventheuniversityexceptional

depthandbreadth.Theuniversity’sactivitiesreachouttoallsec-

torsofsociety,andoneofthemaintasksoftheuniversityisalso

toprovidetheauthoritieswithobjective,research-basedadvice.

Knowledgeandeconomicdevelopmentarecloselyrelatedand

crossinternationalboundaries.Mostnationsaroundtheworld

arebecomingincreasinglyinterdependentandthereisagrowing

needforinternationalcompetences,globalunderstandingand

jointresponsibilityforpeople,societiesandtheenvironment.The

UniversityofAarhusthereforeplacesspecialemphasisonhaving

aninternationaloutlookandcommitment.

Thequalityoftheuniversity’sresearchisthefoundationofall

itsactivities.Theuniversityencouragesbreakthroughsinresearch

byprovidingtheindividualresearcherwiththenecessaryspace

topursuehisorhercuriosityandintuition,andtheuniversity

supportsresearchenvironmentsandcorefieldsthathavespecial

potentialfornewinsightandimpact.Specialattentionisgiven

tosettingupnewresearchareasthatcanutilisetheuniversity’s

academicdiversity.Asfarasresearchisconcerned,theUniversity

ofAarhushasassumedresponsibilityforapproximatelyaquarter

ofallDanishPhDstudents.Thescopeoftheuniversity’sdevelop-

mentofresearchtalentthereforebearscomparisonwiththebest

researchenvironmentsintheworld.Thiscreatesuniquedynamics

intheuniversity’sresearch,andtheuniversityhasgreatexpecta-

tionstoresearchdevelopmentinthecomingyears.Considerable

emphasisisplacedoncommunicatingresearchresultstoensure

thatsocietybenefitsfromthenewknowledge.Atthesame

time,theuniversityisexpandingitsclosecollaborationwiththe

businesscommunityandhasplannedinitiativestoincreasethe

commercialisationofresearchresults.Theuniversitywilluseits

combinedresearchstrengthtodeliverknowledgetosocietyand

toprovidetheauthoritieswithobjectiveadvice.

Asfaraseducationisconcerned,theuniversityacknowledges

itsresponsibilityforensuringthatanincreasedproportionofthe

populationcancompleteacademicdegreesofaninternational

standard.Inthecomingyears,thewiderangeofsubjectsoffered

bytheuniversitywillthereforebesupplementedbyadditional

degreeprogrammesandcombinationsbasedontheacademic

breadthattheuniversityandthedepthofitsresearchcompe-

tences.Theuniversitywantstospearheadanewhighereducation

systeminDenmark,characterisedbyflexibilityforthestudents

andbasedonsociety’sneedforawell-educatedpopulation.The

EuropeanBolognaprocessinfluenceseducationalthinkingbeyond

ourownpartoftheworld.Otherregionsalsoworkalongthe

samelinestowardsmakingthedifferenteducationalsystemsmore

transparentandmorecomparableandtowardsimprovingopportu-

nitiesforcombiningdegreeprogrammesinternationally.Thedegree

programmesattheUniversityofAarhusmustbeopentostudents

fromotherhighereducationinstitutionsinDenmarkandabroad.

Theuniversitywillensureacademicprogressionwithinthe

degreeprogrammes,butatthesametimewantstomakethese

programmesflexibleenoughtopromotestudymobilityandac-

tiveselectionanddeselectiontothegreatestextentpossible.In

addition,theuniversitywantstoexpandcontinuingandfurther

educationactivities.Inthiscontext,theuniversityplanstoutiliseits

facilitiesalloverDenmarksothatindividualswhohavediscontinued

short-termorlong-termfurthereducationcancontinuetostudy

andacquirethecompetencestheyandsocietyneed.

Competition and collaboration

TheUniversityofAarhuswillinglyparticipatesinthecompetition

forresearchfunding,goodstudentsandhighlyqualifiedstaff.There

isgrowingcompetitionintheuniversitysector.Thisisaresultof

structuralchangesinresearchfundingandinthechoiceofdegree

programmes,theincreasedmobilityofyoungpeopleanddemo-

graphicalchanges.However,anotherreasonisthatuniversitiesin

thefuturewillcompetetoagreaterextentthanisthecasetoday,

firstandforemostfortalentandknowledgeinaglobalmarket.

TheUniversityofAarhusneverthelessintendstoexpanditscol-

laborationwithotheruniversitiesinalltheareasthatsupportthe

university’soverallstrategy.

Itisapoliticalrequirementthattheincreaseinresearchfunding

mustbesubjecttocompetition.Theallocationofagrowingshare

ofresearchfundswillthereforebesubjecttocompetitionbetween

researchenvironments.Theimportantparametersforbeingas

competitiveaspossiblearethequalityandsizeoftheindividual

researchenvironment,areasofcollaboration,placementwithinthe

nationalandinternationalresearchworld,andthequalityofthe

projectsandapplications.Theuniversityexpectsthatanincreas-

ingnumberofresearchenvironmentswillcompeteinternationally

forresearchfundsinthecomingyears,e.g.fromtheEUresearch

programmes.

ThehighereducationinstitutionsinAarhushaveexperienceda

considerableincreaseinstudentapplicationsinrecentyears.This

increasehasbeenhigherthanaverageforDenmarkasawhole,

6

andisaresultofthelargenumberof

qualitydegreeprogrammesonoffer,

theproportionatelylargernumberof

youngpeopleandthegrowinginterestin

long-termeducation.Anumberofdemo-

graphicandstructuralfactors,includinggreater

mobility,contributetothefactthattherewillbe

competitionforgoodstudentsinthefuture,anditis

The university’s activities reach out to all

sectors of society.

developingnewrelevantandsought-aftereducationandresearch

fields,andbyensuringthetransferofresearch-basedknowledge

tothebusinesscommunityandsocietyasawhole.Weplanto

intensifyourworkingrelationshipwithDanish,Europeanand

otherinternationalpartnersandtouseourspecialcompetences

toincreasethedevelopmentofresearchtalentforthebenefitof

societyasawhole.

Thestrategydeterminesthefourpillarsthatbeartheuniver-

sity:research,talentdevelopment,research-basedadvicetothe

authorities,andeducation.

Thestrategycoverstheperiodfrom2008to2012and

describesthecorrelationbetweenthedevelopmentofthecore

activitieswithinthesepillarsandthedevelopmentoftheinternal

supportfunctionsandinfrastructure.Thestrategyalsooutlines

howtheUniversityofAarhusplanstocreateabalancebetween

thedevelopmentofthecoreactivitiesandtheirinterrelation-

shipandtheconsiderablegrowthincombinedresourcesthatthe

universityexpectsduringthecomingyears.

Intheyearsahead,moredetailedplansofthisoverallstrategy

willbepreparedthroughdialoguebetweenthemainacademic

areasattheuniversityanditstopmanagement.Thestrategic

goalswillbereassessedonanongoingbasisandtightenedup

inconnectionwiththeannualreviewandpresentationofthe

strategytotheUniversityBoard.

TheUniversityofAarhusexpectstoreceiveashareofthe

increasedamountofresearchfundingforwhichitiscompet-

ing,whichmeansthattheuniversity’stotalannualturnoverwill

increasefromDKK4.5billiontoatleastDKK6billioninthe

courseofafewyears.Itisbothaphysicalandanorganisational

challengetoensurethatthisgrowthisgivendirectionandthat

thequalityoftheuniversity’sactivitiesismaintained.

importantforthedevelopmentoftheDanishknowledgesociety

thattheuniversityisincreasinglyabletoattracttalentedstudents

fromabroad.

Bachelor’sdegreestudentsarestilllargelyattachedtotheir

homeland,butthenumberofMaster’sdegreestudentsandpar-

ticularlyPhDstudentswhoarewillingtomoveisontherise.This

trendissupportedbynewrulesthatprovidegrantsandpayment

oftuitionfeesforDanishstudentsstudyingabroad.Theuniversity

willhavetostrengthenitsinternationalprofileconsiderablyifthe

expecteddropinstudyactivitiesresultingfromDanishstudents

studyingabroadistobematchedbyacorrespondingincreasein

thenumberofbrightforeignstudents.

TheUniversityofAarhusisfacingaperiodofconsiderable

growthwithinmostofitsactivitiesatatimewhenmanystaff

membersareretiring.Itisthereforeessentialforitsdevelopment

thattheuniversityisabletoattractmanynewstaffmembers,

includingstafffromtheinternationalworkforce.Inlightofthe

above,theuniversitymustincreaseitsinternationalactivitiesand

strengthenitscollaborationwithstrategicpartners.

From words to action

Withthestrategypresentedhere,theUniversityofAarhuspro-

videsanoutlineofthedirectionthatwillleadtotherealisationof

theuniversity’sgoals.Thestrategymustalsoensurefullutilisa-

tionoftheopportunitiescreatedbythemergersthathavetaken

place.Thestrategywasdevelopedincollaborationbetweenthe

university’smanagement,theninemainacademicareasandthe

universitystaffandstudents.Inthecourseofthisprocess,alarge

numberofuniversitystaffandstudentstookpartinthedebate

andthusinfluencedthecontentsofthestrategy.

ThestrategyfortheUniversityofAarhusdescribeshowthe

universityintendstouseitsresourcesandcompetencestoensure

thebestpossibleoverallcontributiontothecontinueddevel-

opmentofsociety.Theuniversitymusttranslateitswordsinto

actionbymaintaininganddevelopingexistingareasofstrength,

SCIENCE ENVIRON-MENTALRESEARCH

ENGINEERINGSCIENCE

SOCIALSCIENCES

HEALTHSCIENCES

BUSINESS RESEARCH

AGRICULTURALSCIENCES

HUMANITIES

THEOLOGY EDUCA-TIONALRESEARCH

INDUSTRY

PUBLIC SECTOR TRADE AND SERVICE

CU

LTURE A

ND

RECREATIO

N SECTO

R EDUCATIONAL SECTOR AGRICULTURE A

ND FO

OD

PRO

DU

CTI

ON

HEA

LTH

SEC

TOR

7

8

ThemissionandvisionoftheUniversityofAarhusmustbereflectedinitscoreactivities.Accordingtothe

traditionofEuropeanuniversities,researchandeducationarethecornerstonesofauniversity.TheUniversity

ofAarhusthereforehasgreatambitionstoprovideresearch,research-basedadvicetotheauthoritiesand

educationofahighinternationalstandardthatisconstantlybeingdeveloped.Asaprioritisedactivity,the

universityassumesresponsibilityfordevelopingtalentedyoungresearchers.Asadistinguishingfeature,the

universitywishestosupportthedevelopmentoftalentallthewayfromtheMaster’sdegreelevelviaPhD

studiesandtoincludeafirstpostdoctoralappointment.Inordertoimplementitscoreactivities,theuniver-

sityneedstodevelopandfurtherexpandanumberofinternalsupportfunctions.Thefollowingpriorities

representtheareasonwhichtheuniversityplansparticularfocusinthecomingyears.

World-classeducationand

knowledgedissemination

Researchenvironment

CORE ACTiviT iES

inTERnAl SuppORT

pRiORiT iES

Inspiringconsultancy

andknowledgetransfer

Focusedtalent

development

Excellentresearch

Studyenvironment

Internationalisation

Competencedevelopment

Profiling

ThE univERSiTY OF AARhuS STRATEGY 2008–2012

Professionalandcoherentmanagement

Effectivesupportandservice

Top-classfacilitiesandinfrastructure

Cross-cuttingqualityassurance

9

10

World-classeducationand

knowledgedissemination

CORE ACTiviT iESInspiring

consultancyandknowledge

transfer

Focusedtalent

development

Excellentresearch

11

TheUniversityofAarhusbelongstotheinternationalelite.Theuniversityisoneof

Europe’sleadingresearchinstitutionsand,amongDanishuniversities,itsresearchcom-

petencecoversthebroadestrangeofresearchfields.Theuniversitywishestocombine

researchinnewways–withnewsubjectareasandacrosstraditionalsubjectborders–in

greaterdepthandinnewandunknownfields.TheUniversityofAarhusoffersalltypes

ofresearchfrombasic,appliedandstrategicresearchtoresearch-basedadvicetothe

authoritiesandknowledgetransfer.

Theresearchactivitiesattheuniversityarewidelyacknowledgedwithintheinterna-

tionalresearchworld.ItischaracteristicoftheresearchattheUniversityofAarhusthat

theindicatorsthatclearlymeasuretheimpactofresearchresultsareintheabsolutetop

classinternationallyand–inseveralfaculties–belongtotheworld’selite.

Theuniversitytakesanactivepartininternationalresearchcollaborationandhasa

considerablenumberofstrategicallianceswithuniversitiesandresearchinstitutionsall

overtheworld.Researchersandresearchtalentattheuniversitytakepartintopinterna-

tionalteams,andtheuniversity’sinstitutes,centresanddepartmentshavestate-of-the-

artequipment,databasesandlibraries.Inanumberofcases,theyalsohostinternational

researchactivities.

In2006,theUniversityofAarhusreceivedDKK2.1billioninresearchgrantsfrom

thegovernmentandotherexternalsources.Nationally,theuniversityobtained26.3%

ofthetotalamountofpublicresearchfundingsubjecttocompetition.Ofthesefunds,

DKK290millioncamefromresearchcouncils,DKK100millioncamefromtheEUand

DKK124millioncamefromtheDanishNationalResearchFoundation.Inaddition,the

universityreceivedathree-figuremillionamountfromanumberofprivatefoundations,

especiallytheLundbeckFoundation,theVeluxFoundation,theNovoNordiskFounda-

tion,theCarlsbergFoundation,etc.Theuniversityhascloseto3,500full-timeacademic

staffmemberswhofrequentlypublishmaterialinscientificbooksandthemostquoted

peer-reviewedjournalswithinallthemainacademicareas.Thisrepresentscloseto25%

ofthetotalnumberofresearchersemployedatDanishuniversitiesandcloseto25%of

thetotalnumberofresearchcontributionspublishedinDenmark.

The aims and objecTives are:

n tostimulatenewresearchdevelopment

n tostrengtheninternationallyacknowledgedresearch

n tohaveresearchgroupswithinallofitssubjectareascontributing

tofront-lineresearch.

Excellentresearch

12CORE ACTiviT iES

The UniversiTy of aarhUs has decided:

n tosupportpioneeringresearchbyestablishingaframeworkfororiginalandinno-

vativeresearchwork,includingresearchthatinvolvesseveralmainacademicareas

n tostrengthenresearchactivitythroughimprovedrecruitmentofresearchers

andincreasedresearchermobilityandexchange

n toincreasethenumberofarticlespublishedinrecognisedjournalsandfocus

thepublishedmaterialtowardsselectedtargetgroups

n toenforcetheimplementationofactionplanstoensurethediversityof

researchstaffasregardsage,genderandnationality

n tosupporttheuniversity’spositionasaneliteuniversitybyallocating75%of

itsresources–directlyorindirectly–toresearch.

13

TheUniversityofAarhusoffersresearchtalentdevelopmentofaninternationalstandard,

anditsPhDprogrammesareanessentialbasisfortheuniversity’swork.Theuniversity

regardsthedevelopmentofresearchtalentandtherecruitmentofresearchersasataskof

highprioritytosociety.ThedevelopmentofresearchtalentattheUniversityofAarhusmust

begenerousinthesensethatolderresearchershaveaparticularresponsibilityforsharing

knowledgeandexperiencewiththenextgenerationofresearchers.Theuniversityalsowants

toensuresufficientspaceandfreedomtodevelopuniquetalents.

Theuniversityhasextensiveexperiencewiththistask,andtheimportantinvestmentsin

researchanddevelopmentplannedforthecomingyearsrequirethattheuniversityoptimises

itsconsiderablecoachingcapacityanddoublesthenumberofitsPhDstudents.Inaddition,

theuniversityneedstocreatenewdynamiccareerpathsforyoungresearchers.Theuniver-

sityhasconcentrateditsPhDprogrammesingraduateschoolsandparticipatesinnational

graduateprogrammestogetherwithotherinstitutions.ThePhDprogrammeoftheuniversity

isorganisedinthreedifferentways.Inordertorecruityoungtalentasearlyaspossible,the

universityusestheso-called4+4model,thetraditional3+2+3(Bologna)modelandanew

3+5model1.

TheUniversityofAarhusisoftheopinionthatthedevelopmentofresearchtalentisan

ongoingprocessthatinvolvestheMaster’sandPhDprogrammesaswellassubsequentpost-

doctoralappointments.Theuniversityhasapproximately14,500Master’sdegreestudents,

about1,250PhDstudentsandcloseto700postdoctoralscholars.In2006,approximately

2,800Master’sdegreestudentsand227PhDstudentsgraduatedfromtheuniversity.

PhDgraduatesfindemploymentinallsectorsofsocietybothinDenmarkandabroad.


n toensurethatthequalityofthePhDprogrammescomparesfavourablywiththebest

Focusedtalentdevelopment

1Accordingtothe4+4model,thePhDstudentsarerecruitedwhenstudyingforaMaster’sdegree.Accordingtothetraditionalmodel,thePhDstudentsarerecruiteduponcompletionoftheirMaster’sdegree,whereasrecruitmentofthePhDstudentsaccordingtothe3+5modeltakesplaceuponcompletionoftheBachelor’sdegree(firstdegree).TheuniversitymonitorsdevelopmentcloselytoensurethatitsPhDprogrammesareattractivetostudentsfromotheruniversi-tiesanduniversitysystems.

CORE ACTiviT iES

intheworld

n torecruittoptalentsfromDenmarkandabroadtouniqueenvironments,wherethey

feelfreetopursuetheunexpected

n todoublethenumberofresearcherseducatedanddevelopedattheuniversity

n toofferacontinuousresearcherdevelopmentprogrammeforthegreatesttalents

fromtheBachelor’sdegreelevel.


n tostrengthentheuniversity’sstrategicinternationalalliances

n tocreateafinancialframeworkthatenablestheresearcherdevelopment

environmentstobecharacterisedbycreativityandcuriosity

n toensurethattheuniversity’sbestresearcherscangiveprioritytoadvisingand

coachingatMaster’sdegree,PhDdegreeandpostdoctorallevels

n tooffer5-yearresearcherdevelopmentprogrammesthatcankeepqualified

individualsinalong-termdevelopmentprogramme,e.g.fromtheBachelor’stothe

PhDlevelorfromtheMaster’sdegreeleveluptoandincludingthepostdoctorallevel.

14

15

TheUniversityofAarhusprovidesindependentandinspiringknowledgeasabasisfor

thedevelopmentofsociety.TheuniversitysuppliesDanishandinternationalauthori-

ties,institutionsandcompanieswithresearch-basedadviceandtop-qualityknowledge

transfer.Itisessentialforprogressinsocietythattheentireknowledgebasedeveloped

attheuniversitybemadeavailableandthattheresearchcarriedoutattheuniversitycan

functionasagatewaytotheglobalknowledgemarket.Theuniversityguaranteesthe

necessaryconfidentialityregardingthetasksitcarriesoutonbehalfofothers.

Inspiringconsultancyandknowledgetransfer

CORE ACTiviT iES16

Theuniversitymakesitsresearchbaseavailablewhenadvisingauthoritiesand

hasnationalobligationswithinitsmainareas,particularlyregardingtheenvironment,

agricultureandtheclimate,aswellasinthefieldofpedagogy.Inaddition,theuniver-

sityprovidesresearch-basedadvicetotheauthoritiesinotherareas,suchasforensic

medicine.Theacademicscopeattheuniversitymakesitpossibletointensifyandexpand

theconsultancyservicestootherresearchareas.

Theuniversityencouragesknowledgetransferandcontributestobusinessdevelop-

mentandadvancementofsociety.Hence,knowledgeandtechnologytransferfrom

researchtothebusinesscommunityhashighpriority.Theuniversityisthusoneofthe

drivingforcesbehindtheIncubaSciencePark,whichiscurrentlyoneofDenmark’s

leadingentrepreneurandinnovationenvironments,andtheAlexandraInstituteintheIT

CityKatrinebjerg,whichservesasamodelfortechnologytransferandentrepreneurship.

In2006,theuniversity’srevenuefromresearch-basedadvicetotheauthorities

amountedtoapproximatelyDKK450million.Inthesameyear,theuniversityentered

into276researchcollaborationagreementswithprivateandpublicsectorcompanies.

Alsoin2006,theUniversityofAarhusreported59inventionswithapotentialforfurther

development.


n toprovideindependentresearch-basedconsultancyservicesandcommunication,

andthushelpensurethatdecisionsinthepolitical/administrativeprocessare

takenonthebestpossiblebasis

n todevelopauser-oriented,holisticandinternationallycompetitiveresearch-based

consultancytoauthorities

n toworkwiththebusinesscommunitytodevelopnewbusinessesandstrengthen

Denmark’scompetitiveness.


n tousetheentireresearchbaseattheuniversityinprovidingadvicetotheauthorities

n toensure,incollaborationwithitspartners,thattheknowledgenecessaryfor

futureresearch-basedadvicetotheauthoritiesisavailablenationally

orininternationalcollaboration

n toexpandandstrengthennewareasofresearch-basedadvice,aswellas

interdisciplinaryresearch,fundamentalforadvisoryservices

n toincreasethescopeoftechnologytransferandresearch-basedinnovation

betweentheuniversityandthebusinesscommunity.

17

Inaninternationalcontext,theUniversityofAarhusisalargeanddistinctiveeducational

institution.Theuniversityconstantlyassessesandfurtherdevelopsitsofferofdegree

programmesandmakessurethatnewdegreeprogrammesaredevelopedonanongoing

basis.Thesemeettherequirementsofboththeoutsideworldandtheuniversity’squality

standards,thusensuringthatthenextgenerationistrainedtofacethechallengesof

thefuture.Theuniversityoffersuniquepossibilitiesforsubjectcombinationsthanksto

itsacademicdiversity.Itexpectsthatthenumberofstudentsapplyingforitsdegree

programmeswillincreaseintheforthcomingyears.

Mostoftheuniversity’sdegreeprogrammestakeplaceinandaroundtheUniversity

Park.Inordertoestablishacoherenthighereducationsystem,theuniversitycollaborates

closelywithothereducationalinstitutionsinAarhusundertheheadingoftheAarhus

Campus.

Itistheuniversity’sgoaltobealeaderinthefieldofknowledgetransferwithsociety

ingeneral.Themostimportantcontributiontoknowledgetransfertakesplacethrough

theuniversity’sstudentsandgraduates.However,aconsiderableamountofcommunica-

tionalsotakesplaceviatheAarhusUniversityPress,andtheDanishUniversityExtension

inAarhus(Folkeuniversitetet),whichhas23,000courseparticipantsandisthelargestex-

tensionuniversityinDenmark.Inaddition,theuniversityisanactivepartnerinanumber

ofmuseumsandothersimilarinstitutions,whichrecordmorethan260,000visitorsper

year.Finally,staffmembersareencouragedtocontributetothepublicdebate.

In2007,theuniversityhas35,427students,30,296ofwhomarefull-timestudents

and5,131ofwhomarepart-timestudents,distributedamong74Bachelor’sdegree

programmes,90Master’sdegreeprogrammesandaconsiderablenumberofcontinuing

andfurthereducationprogrammes.Approximately2,700Bachelor’sdegreestudents

and2,800Master’sdegreestudentsgraduatefromtheuniversityeveryyear.Inaddition

in2006,inthefieldofcontinuingandfurthereducation,theuniversityhad4,215fee-

payingstudents.754individualscompletedthepart-timeMaster’sdegreeanddiploma

degreeprogrammes.


n tooffertop-qualitydegreeprogrammeswithin

alltheuniversity’sfieldsofcompetence

n toutilisetheentirerangeofitscompetencetodevelop

newdegreeprogrammesthatreflecttheneedsofthefuture

n toincreasethescope,relevanceandqualityofitscontinuingand

furthereducationcourses

n toattractthebeststudentsandbeanattractivechoicefor

newgroupsofDanishandforeignstudents

n tostrengthentheknowledgesocietyviaindependentand

inspiringcommunicationofknowledge.

World-classeducationandknowledgedisemmination

CORE ACTiviT iES18


n thatitsdegreeprogrammesmustsetthestandardfornationaland

internationalaccreditation

n toestablish“mainroutes”withinthedegreeprogrammesbylimitingthe

numberofBachelor’sdegreeprogrammesandatthesametimeexpanding

therangeofMaster’sdegreeprogrammes

n toofferthebestandmostattractivecontinuingandfurthereducationprogrammes

tobothBachelor’sdegreeandMaster’sdegreegraduates,andthatcontactwith

thegraduatesmustbemaintainedviaanalumninetwork

n toestablishaflexiblecreditsystemthatprovidesthestudentswithmoreoptions

fornewandunusualsubjectcombinations

n thatthecommunicationofresearch-basedknowledgetocitizens,politicians

andkeysectorsofsocietymustbequalifiedandintensifiedinawiderangeof

mediaandbystrengtheningtheuniversity’smuseumenvironment.

19

20

inTERnAl SuppORTProfessionalandcoherentmanagement




21

Professionalandcoherentmanagementisaprerequisitefortheeffectiverunningofa

largeuniversity.Theuniversitysectorisundergoingaprocessofadaptationtoensurethat

growthinthesectorcanbehandledefficientlyandthattheincreasedresourcescanlead

tomoreresearch,betterresearch-basedadvicetotheauthoritiesandthedevelopment

ofasupplyofdegreeprogrammesorientedtowardsthefuture.Thisprocessplacesheavy

demandsonmanagementatalllevels.Intheacademicfield,theuniversityhasundertaken

amajorshiftfromcollegialtoemployedmanagement.Inaddition,theUniversityofAarhus

hastointegratetheadministrationofsixindependentinstitutionsintoonecohesive,

user-friendlyandeffectiveadministration.Thisiswhytheuniversityisestablishinganew,

effectiveandcohesivemanagementbodythatisabletohandlethelargerandbroader

portfoliooftasksthattheUniversityofAarhuswillbefacinginthefuture.


n tohaveaneffective,trustworthyanduser-friendlyadministrationthatsupportsthe

university’sobjectivesandactivities

Professionalandcoherentmanagement

inTERnAl SuppORT22

n thattherectorate,aswellasacademicandadministrativemanagers,mustestablish

clearguidelinesforhowtheuniversitycanstrengthenitsstrongnationalandinterna-

tionalposition,howtheuniversity’ssharedidentitycancontainitsdiversity,andhow

theuniversitycancreatestrategiccoherenceandsynergywithinitscoreactivities.


n thatmanagementmustbeopen,visibleandmotivating

n thatcompetencedevelopmentmustbeundertakenatallmanagementlevels

withintheorganisationandprioritygiventotherecruitmentofleaders

n thatthedistributionofcentralisedanddecentralisedmanagementtasks

mustbedetermined

n thattheuniversity’sorganisationalchartmustbereviewedandtasksclearly

delegatedtodeans,academicdirectors,headsofdepartmentsandinstitutes,

andadministrativemanagers.

23

Theneedsofexternalandinternalusersandclientsrequirefromanattractiveeliteuni-

versityaveryhighlevelofsupportandservices.Supportandservicesmustbeundertak-

enbyaflexible,service-orientedorganisationandcomprisetasksrangingfromexternal

businesspartnersandministriestothemaintenanceoftechnicalinstallations,serviceand

guidancetostudentsandstaff,andthesupportofmanagementdecisions.

Thetechnicalandadministrativesupportstaffprovideservicestothestudents,

academicandothertechnical/administrativestaff,andtobusinesspartners,guestsand

visitors,etc.Thesupportandservicedeliveredbytheuniversityincludehighlyqualified

technicalassistanceinlaboratories,professionalfinancialandlegaladviceandmanage-

ment,organisingofmeetings,workshops,symposiaandconferences,presentationof

results,studentguidanceandmaintenanceofadministrativeroutines.Theservicetakes

theformofpersonalassistanceaswellasthedevelopmentandoperationofresearchand

administrativesystems.

Theratiooftechnicalandadministrativestafftostudentsandacademicstaffvaries

accordingtothefunctionsoftheindividualacademicfields,withthehighestratiobeing


inTERnAl SuppORT24

infacultiesdependingonadvancedlaboratories.Supportandservicesareprovidedat

bothacentralisedandadecentralisedlevel.Altogether,thetechnicalandadministrative

staffaccountfor3,484full-timeemployeesorapproximately40%ofthestaff.


n toprovideprofessionalsupporttotheuniversity’scoreactivities

n toensureefficientanduser-orientedtechnicalandadministrativeserviceto

theentireuniversity

n todevelopaholistic,flexibleandinterdisciplinaryapproachtothehandlingoftasks.


n toestablishaneffective,professionalandproactiveresearchsupportunit

n torethinkthetechnical/administrativeorganisation,includingassessing

therelevanceofcurrentandfutureadministrativeroutinesandtasks

n thattheuniversitywillworktowardssharedsolutionswithintheuniversitysector

andthegovernment,andintroducethenecessarysharedadministrativesystems,

including:asystemfortheadministrationofdegreeprogrammes,afinancesystem,

ITcommunicationplatforms,salaryandstaffsystems,aswellassystemstohandle

purchasingagreements

n thatserviceandadministrationmustbeadaptedtotheactualneedsoftheindividual

unitbasedongeography,academicfieldandothercharacteristics

n thattheuniversitymustdefineservicegoalsforallthemainadministrativeand

technicalareas,andworktowardsmakingtheadministrativeroutinesmoreefficient.

25

Rønbjerg

AalborgKlim

Kalø

Aarhus

Skejby

FoulumMønsted

SilkeborgHerning

Sandbjerg

AarslevFlakkebjerg

Roskilde

Lyngby

Frederiksberg

Bygholm

Askov

Jyndevad

Jels

Copenhagen

Astate-of-the-artinfrastructureisamustforaninternationalresearchuniversity.

Theuniversitythereforehasaconsiderableamountofbuildingspaceatitsdisposal,

aswellasadvancedlaboratories,laboratoryequipment,technicalequipment,anumber

ofnationaldatabasesandresearchships.

TheuniversityhasawirelessnetworkandisworkingonlinkingthedifferentIT

systemswithintheuniversity.Anew,sharedITstrategyisintendedtobridgethegap

betweenallthemainacademicareasattheuniversity.Itisimportantforthefurther

developmentoftheuniversity’scompetencesthatitstechnicalequipmentbemaintained,

updatedandreplacedatregularintervals.ThelibrariesattheUniversityofAarhusconsist

ofseveralcampuslibrarieslocatedclosetotheusersineachindividualfaculty,school,

departmentorinstitute.TheStateandUniversityLibrary,Aarhus,isaninstitutionthat

fallsundertheauspicesoftheMinistryofCultureandfunctionsastheuniversitylibrary.

Therearealso27libraryunits,twoofwhicharequitelarge–theLibraryoftheAarhus

SchoolofBusinessandtheNationalLibraryofEducation.

Thetotalamountofbuildingspaceatthedisposaloftheuniversityisconsiderable,

andextendsover513,099m2,with1,356hectaresoffacilitiesdividedbetweenmany

differentlocationsaroundDenmark.Thebuildingsinvolvedrepresentmanydifferent

stylesandperiodsandhavemanydifferentfunctions.Theuniversityisresponsibleforthe

buildingsattheUniversityParkinAarhus,whicharelistedamongthe10mostimportant

architecturaliconsinDenmarkintheCanonofDanishArtandCulture.


Rønbjerg

AalborgKlim

Kalø

Århus

Skejby

FoulumMønsted

SilkeborgHerning

Sandbjerg

ÅrslevFlakkebjerg

Roskilde

Lyngby

Frederiksberg

Bygholm

Askov

Jyndevad

Jels

København

The total amount of building

space at the disposal of the

university is considerable, and

is divided between many dif-

ferent locations in Denmark.

inTERnAl SuppORT


n tocreateaninfrastructurethateffectivelysupportstheuniversity’swork

n toensurethattheuniversityhasstate-of-the-artfacilitiesatitsdisposalforitscoreactivities

n toprovideefficientITsystemscoveringalluniversitypremises.


n toprepareavisionplanforthephysicaldevelopmentoftheentireuniversityup

to2028,includingadescriptionofhowtheAarhusUniversityHospitalcanfitintotheplans.

Thisvisionwillbebasedontheacademicstrategiesandtheexpecteddevelopmentin

studentenrollmentandstaff

n toprepareaninvestmentplanfortheuniversity’sresearch,teachingandinformationfacilities

n toprepareadevelopmentplanfortheuniversity’slibraryfacilities

n toprepareacoherentITstrategywithasharedcampusnetworkandsystemssupportthat

effectivelylinkthewholeuniversity

n toensurecontinueddevelopmentofthenationalenvironment,agricultureandhealthdatabases.

26

Qualityassurance(QA)ofalluniversityactivitiesisanessentialpartoftheuniversity’s

work.TheuniversityisabouttointroduceQAproceduresforitsadministrativeprocessesin

additiontothesafeguardsinherentinthesector’swell-developedauditingandinspection

systems.

Traditionally,theuniversityhasalwayscarriedoutqualityassuranceofitsacademic

activities.Theuniversitythusevaluatesresearchactivitiesrangingfromtheemployment

ofacademicstaffmembersandtheassessmentofacademicdissertationstopublication

strategiesandthechoiceofattractivechannelsofpublication,aswellaspeerreviewsof

submittedpublications.Inaddition,theuniversity’ssuccessrateinsecuringfundsfrom

nationalandinternationaltrusts,programmesandcouncilsincompetitionwithotherinsti-

tutionsisagoodexternalindicationofthequalityofthebasicresearchactivities.

Inthefieldofeducation,theactiveuseofthecompetencesofreceiverpanels,external

examinersandadvisorygroupsensuresexternalqualityassuranceoftheentireportfolio

ofdegreeprogrammes.Inaddition,localevaluationsoftheteachingtakeplaceinthe

university’sboardsofstudies.Theuniversityalsotakespartinanumberofinterdiscipli-

naryQAprocessesatthelevelsoftheindividualfaculty,school,departmentorinstitute.

AccreditationswillbethefutureframeworkforteachingandresearchinDenmark.In

selectedareas,theuniversitytakespartinbenchmarkingcollaborationwithanumberof

renownedNorthernEuropeanuniversitieswithalargeresearchcomponent.



n tomakequalityassuranceanessentialpartofthemanagementtask

n toensurethattheuniversity’sservicesandactivitiesfullycomplywithexistingagreements

andestablishedqualityrequirements

n todevelopeffectiveinternalqualityassurancesystems

n toensurethattheuniversityobtainsthebestandmostrecognisedexternalquality

assessmentsandaccreditationsforallunits/mainacademicareas.


n toincludequalityassuranceinallactivitiesandsystemdevelopmentprocesses

n todocumentqualitystandardsandQAsystemsandtoensurevisibilityofthequalitycriteria

n todevelopaQAsystemwithintheresearch-basedadvicetotheauthorities

n toevaluatetheresearch-basedadvicetotheauthoritiesinaccordancewithacceptedstandards

n tobenchmarktheuniversity’scoreactivitieswithagroupofstronginternationaluniversities.

27

28

ResearchenvironmentpRiORiT iES

Studyenvironment



Profiling

29

Creatingexcellentresearchrequiresfar-sightedandexperiencedresearchmanagement

withhighlyqualifiedstaff.Thisleadstoexcellent,creativeandinnovativeresearchenvi-

ronmentswheretheverybesttalentsarefreetopursuetheirintuitionandcuriosity.

Astrongandcohesiveresearchenvironmentfunctionsbestinsharedphysicalsur-

roundings,butcanalsobeofamorevirtualnature.Inthisconnection,itisgenerally

essentialthatexcellentenvironmentsalwaysworkcloselywithotherinternationalelite

environmentsintheformofspecificresearchcollaborationornetworks.

TheUniversityofAarhushasmanystrongresearchenvironments.Theseenvironments

mustbestrengthenedandnewonesdeveloped.Theresearchenvironmentsthemselves

Researchenvironment

pRiORiT iES30

contributetomeetingtheoverallstrategy.Goodresearchenvironmentsmakeitpossible

torecruitthebeststaffmembers,resultinconsiderableresearchproductionofahigh

quality,andarelargelyresponsibleforthedevelopmentofresearchtalent.

Insomesubjectareas,itisessentialtocreateenvironmentsthataresufficientlylarge

tohaveuniquefacilitiesanddatamaterialthatenablemajorissuestobetackledatthe

cuttingedge.Suchenvironmentsoftencrossdepartmentorinstituteandfacultybounda-

ries.Strongresearchenvironmentsarecreatedandstimulatedbyanumberoffactors

relatingtomanagementandstaffresources,aswellasexcellentphysicalandeconomic

conditionsthatmatchtheverybestinthefield.


n toestablishaframeworkthatfacilitatesthedevelopmentofnewcreativeinternational

researchenvironmentsattheuniversity.


n toattractmoreinternationalresearcherswithapotentialforresearchmanagement

n toavoiddetailedcontrolandcreateanopportunityforlong-termstrategicresearch

planning

n toensurethatthefinancialandadministrativeprinciplessupportthelong-term

staffandtalentdevelopmentoftheresearchenvironments

n todevelopnewflexibleorganisationalstructuresandformsofemployment

n toprepareindicatorsfor“agoodresearchenvironment”andmonitordevelopment

onanongoingbasis.

31

Thebestuniversitieshaveaninspiringstudyenvironment.TheUniversityParkislocated

inthecentreofAarhusandthestudyenvironmentrevolvesaroundit.Far-sightedplan-

ningmustensuretheongoingdevelopmentoftheUniversityPark.Morethan50,000

individuals,oreverysixthresidentofAarhus,iseitherastudentoranemployeeat

theuniversityoranotherhighereducationinstitution.Asaresult,Aarhusisthecityin

Denmarkthathasthelargestnumberofyoungpeopleaged17–34years,whichgivesthe

cityaspecialpulseandcreatesafertileenvironmentforthemultitudeofextraordinary

culturalandsocialactivitiesthatcharacterisetheuniversity’sstudyenvironment.

Studyenvironment

pRiORiT iES32

CollaborationaroundtheAarhusCampusisintendedtointegratecitylife,cultural

lifeandstudylife,andtostrengthenthisexcitingcitycampusinoneofEurope’sbest

universitycitiesbymeansofanumberofconcrete,sharedactivities.

Byfarthelargestpartoftheteachingattheuniversitytakesplacewithinarelatively

limitedgeographicalarea,withmostdepartmentsandinstitutes,andalargenumberof

othereducationalinstitutionswithinwalkingdistance.Thisgivestheuniversityandthe

studentsgoodopportunitiesforrealisingtheintentionoftheBolognaprocessforflexible

degreeprogrammesadaptedtotheneedsoftheindividualandmeetingcurrentrequire-

mentsforthedevelopmentofnewcombinationsofdegreeprogrammes.AttheAarhus

Campus,studentscancombinesubjectsfromdifferentareasandexchangeexperiences

acrosstheentireacademicspectrum.TheUniversityofAarhusalsointendstousethis

experiencetodevelopexceptionalstudyenvironmentsatallitspremises,andtointegrate

thesevirtuallyintotheAarhusCampus.


n tofurtherdevelopanattractivestudyenvironmentthatconsistentlyattractsand

maintainsthebeststudents

n tomaketheyearsofstudyaveryspecialpartofeachstudent’slife

n toensurethattheuniversityhasastudyenvironmentthatpromoteseffectivestudies

andisaleaderinthedevelopmentofteachingandlearningmethods.


n thattheAarhusCampusmustbecomeknowninternationallyasoneofEurope’s

beststudyenvironments

n thatthenumberofstudenthallsofresidencenearthecampusmustbeincreased

n thatthephysicalframeworkforagoodstudyenvironmentmustbedeveloped

onanongoingbasisasneedschange

n thatstudentguidancemustbemodernised,andthatitmustbeensuredthatall

students,includinginternationalstudents,beintegratedintothestudyenvironment

e.g.bysettingupreadinggroups,mentorandtutorschemes,theuseofinteractive

teachingmethods,thepromotionofforeignlanguageskills,etc.

n thatclosecollaborationbetweentheuniversityandusergroupsisdeveloped,

includingthecreationofmoreattractive,relevantstudy-workprogrammesand

jobsforstudents

n thattheuniversitymustundertakeandfollowuponstudyevaluationsandstudy

environmentsurveys.

33

TheUniversityofAarhusisaleadingEuropeanuniversitythatcompetesinternationally

withtheverybest.TheuniversityisafoundingmemberoftheesteemedCoimbraGroup

ofeliteEuropeanuniversities.

Theresearchareasattheuniversitytakerelevantnationalandinternationalresearch

groupsintoconsideration,anditistheuniversity’spolicytoincreaseinternationalcol-

laborationandrecruitment.Inaddition,theuniversityspecificallypromotesinternation-

alisationthroughresearchermobility,visitingprofessorships,sabbaticalleaveschemes

andinternationalalliancesregardingPhDprogrammes.

Traditionally,theinternationalisationofresearchhasbeenfullydecentralised,whereas

aconsiderablenumberofcentralisedexchangeagreementshavebeenestablishedforthe

university’sstudyprogrammes.Theseagreementsaresupplementedbyalargenumberof

decentralisedpartnershipswithselecteduniversitydepartmentsabroad.

In2006,theuniversityhadatotalofapproximately600visitingresearchersfrom

abroadandabout2,500foreignstudents.Theuniversityhasapproximately750foreign

exchangestudents,whileabout750Danishstudentsgoabroadeveryyear.Inaddition,

around1,750foreignstudentscompleteanentiredegreeattheuniversity(degree

students).Finally,theUniversityofAarhusoffersagrowingnumberoffull-timeand

part-timeprogrammesinEnglish,andthesummeruniversity–alsotaughtinEnglish–is

growingrapidly.


n toestablishitselfasaleading,openandinternationaluniversity

n tointegrateinternationalisationintoallitsactivitiesandstrengthentheexchangeof

studentsandstaff

n tosecuretheUniversityofAarhusapositionofstrengthintheglobalmarketthrough

research,knowledgetransfer,research-basedadviceandeducation.


pRiORiT iES34


n toassumeleadershipandrepresentationininternationalnetworksandforums

n toreviewtheconsiderablenumberofinternationalagreementsforallthedepartments,

schoolsandfacultieswithaviewtoconcentratingkeyagreementsonstrategicpartners

n toconsolidatetheuniversity’sfar-sightedlanguagepolicyanddevelopashared

interculturalcompetencecentretoensurethequalityofthedegreeprogrammesand

ofstudentcommunication

n tostrengthentheadministrativesupportofinternationalisation,includingthe

developmentofservicepackagesforDanishandinternationalstudentsandstaff

n tostrengthentheincentivesforinternationalresearchermobility

n thatallstudentsmusthaveanopportunitytotransfercreditsequaltominimum

30ETCSfromstudyabroad

n tocreateabroadportfolioofdegreeprogrammestaughtinEnglishandtoincrease

thenumberoftheuniversity’sinternationalsummerschools.

35

Thequalityoftheuniversity’scoreactivitiesdependsonthestaffperformingthework.

TheUniversityofAarhushasalargenumberofcommittedandloyalstaffmembers.

Theuniversitywantstobeaworkplacewherethestaffhaveanopportunityforboth

professionalandpersonaldevelopmentandasmuchindependenceaspossibleinthe

planningoftheirwork.Itistheuniversity’sintentiontoutilisethemanyopportunities

thatexistforinternalmobilityacrosstheentireorganisation.Inthisway,itintendsto

ensurethatitsstaffmembershavethenecessaryopportunitiesfordevelopingskillsand

competences,andthattheyareabletomaximisetheirtalentthroughouttheirlifelong

associationwiththeuniversity.

Itistheuniversity’spolicythatthestaffshouldbeasdiverseaspossible,asthisis

thebestwaytoensureflexibilityandtocreateaninspiringandcreativeworkplace.The

universitywantsmanagementatalllevelstoplacespecialemphasisonthecomposition

ofitsstaffintermsofskills,age,genderandnationality,anditisimportantthatthe

university’shumanresources(HR)developmentstrategymakesallowanceforcomple-

mentarycompetences.


pRiORiT iES


n tocompeteforthebeststaff

n tohavestrategiccompetencedevelopmentschemesinplaceforallstaffgroups

n toensuregreaterdiversityamongtheuniversitystaff.


n toestablishaninternalHRorganisation

n todevelopaworkenvironmentandincentivesystemsthatpromotemotivation,

worksatisfactionandinnovation

n toestablishcontinuingeducationprogrammesthatensurethatuniversitystafffurther

developtheskillsandcompetencesnecessarytocarryouttheuniversity’scoreactivities

n toadjustprocedurestopromotediverserecruitment.

36

37

TheUniversityofAarhushasawidefieldofresearchthattargetsallthemostimportant

sectorsoftheknowledgesociety.Theresearchimpactisthebasisofalloftheuniversity’s

activities.Theuniversityisopenandcommunicative,andlikestocontributetothepublic

debateinitsmanyareasofspecialexpertise.TheUniversityofAarhuscountsamong

theEuropeanuniversitiesthatbothacknowledgeacademicvaluesandchallengeother

sectorsofsocietytocollaborate–apartnershipthatshouldpreferablyextendbeyondthe

traditionalframework.

Throughcuriosity-drivenresearch,criticalanalysisandongoingdebate,researchers

andstudentsattheuniversityendeavourtoestablishnewwaystogaininsight,under-

standing,spiritualdevelopmentandeducationforthebenefitofsocietyasawhole.With

itsresearch,research-basedadvicetotheauthorities,anditslargespectrumofdegree

programmes,theUniversityofAarhusismeetingthechallengesoftheknowledgesociety.

Theuniversityisintheprocessofimprovingthetargetingandrelayingofcommuni-

cationaboutitsactivitiesinorderfortheknowledgedevelopedattheuniversitybetter

tobenefitsocietyasawhole.Theindependence,internalstrengthsandvalues,and

thesharedgoalsforthefutureformthebasisofastrongprofilethatistocementthe

perceptionoftheUniversityofAarhusasaversatileandindependentuniversitybasedon

theacademicvaluesoffreedomandobjectivity.


n toincreasetheuniversity’svisibility,reputationandinfluenceviastrongprofiling

oftheuniversityasawholeandoftheindividualfaculties,schools,departments

andinstitutes

n tosupporttheuniversity’smission,visionandvaluesbymeansofnationaland

internationalprofiling.


n tomakeprofilingakeytaskformanagement

n todevelopanewdesignprogramme

n toanalysetheuniversity’smediaprofileanddevelopacommunicationstrategy

aimedattheuniversity’smaintargetgroups

n tosupporttheresearchenvironments’definitionoflocalcommunicationstrategies

n tostimulatethedevelopmentofinnovativescientificjournalism

n toutilisethemediathatcansupporttheUniversityofAarhusasacommunicative

university.

Profiling

pRiORiT iES38

39

ExCEllEnT RESEARCh

n TheUniversityofAarhusexpectsthatitsresearchfundswill

amounttoapproximatelyDKK2.2billionin2007andtoapproximately

DKK2.6billionin2008.

n In2006,theUniversityofAarhuswasawardedthreeoutofsix

NielsBohrvisitingprofessorshipsfinancedbytheDanishNational

ResearchFoundation(DNRF).Theuniversityhas12outof36DNRF

CentresofExcellence.

n The12DNRFCentresofExcellenceare:

– CentreforBlackSeaStudies(Pontos)

– CentreforCarbohydrateRecognitionandSignalling

– CentreforCatalysis

– CentreforDNANanotechnology

– CentreofFunctionallyIntegrativeNeuroscience(CFIN)

– CentreforInsolubleProteinStructures(inSPIN)

– CentreforMassiveDataAlgorithmics(MADALGO)

– CentreformRNPBiogenesisandMetabolism

– CentreforOxygenMicroscopyandImaging(COMI)

– CentreforResearchinEconometricAnalysisofTimeSeries(CREATES)

– PUMPKIN–membranepumpsincellsanddisease

– WaterandSaltResearchCentre(V&S)

n In2007,theGermanMaxPlanckSocietyandtheDanish

NationalResearchFoundationopenedthejointCentreforGeomicro-

biologyattheUniversityofAarhus.

n In2006,theDanishNationalFoundationforAdvancedTechnology

allocatedmorethanDKK70milliontoiNano–theInterdisciplinary

NanoscienceCentreattheUniversityofAarhus.

n In2006,theUniversityofAarhusreceivedathree-figure

millionamountfromprivatefoundations,includingtheLundbeck

Foundation,theVeluxFoundation,theNovoNordiskFoundation

andtheCarlsbergFoundation.

n Onanationalscale,theUniversityofAarhusobtained26.3%ofthe

totalamountofpublicresearchfundingavailableincompetitionin2006.

n In2006,theUniversityofAarhushad622visitingresearchers.

SummARY OF RESulTS And ExpECTATiOnS

FOCuSEd TAlEnT dEvElOpmEnT

n In2007and2008,theUniversityofAarhusexpectsto

admit400and480PhDstudents,respectively.

n In2006,theuniversityadmitted318newPhDstudents.

n In2006,sevenoutoftwenty-fouryoungeliteresearchers

selectedbytheMinistryofScience,TechnologyandInnovation

werefromtheUniversityofAarhus.

n In2006,theuniversityhad1,084PhDstudentsand722

postdoctoralscholars.

inSpiRinG COnSulTAnCY And knOWlEdGE TRAnSFER

n In2007,theuniversityexpectsitsrevenuefrom

research-basedadvicetotheauthoritiestoamountto

DKK460millionandin2008,toDKK480million.

n In2006,theuniversity’srevenuefromresearch-based

advicetotheauthoritiesamountedtoDKK454million.

n Theuniversityexpectsthatitsrevenuefromthesaleof

patentsandlicenceswillincreasefromDKK1.4millionin

2006toDKK3.8millionin2008.

n In2006,theuniversityenteredinto276research

agreementswithbothprivateandpublicsectorcompanies.

n 59inventionswithapotentialforfurtherdevelopment

werereportedtotheUniversityofAarhus.

40

nResearch 2,014,604

nEducation 976,326

nCommunicationandknowledgetransfer 194,363

nGeneralmanagement,adm.andservice 257,941

nBuildings 661,681

(DKK 1,000)

WORld-ClASS EduCATiOn And COmmuniCATiOn

n In2008,theuniversityexpectstohaveapproximately36,000

students.

n Theuniversityisapplyingforaccreditationof14new

degreeprogrammeswitheffectfrom2008.Thesenewdegree

programmesare:

– Graduateengineerdegreeinmechanics

– Master’sdegreeinphysicaleducationandsport

– Masteroftechnologymanagement

– Bachelor’sdegreeinbiologicalproduction

– Bachelor’sandMaster’sdegreesinagriculturalproduction

– Master’sdegreeinagriculture,natureandtheenvironment

– Master’sdegreeinbiosystemsengineering

– Master’sdegreeinIT-didacticdesign

– Master’sdegreeintheevaluationoflearning,teaching

andeducation

– Bachelor’sdegreeininternationalculturalstudiesandlanguages

– Master’sdegreeinmanagement

– Bachelor’sandMaster’sdegreesinpublichealthscience

– JointNordicMaster’sdegree:Masterinthe

ReligiousRootsofEurope

– Teacher’strainingdegree

n Theuniversityofferedin200774Bachelor’sdegreeprogrammes

and90differentMaster’sdegreeprogrammes.

n In2007,theuniversityhas35,427students,30,296of

whomarefull-timestudentsand5,131part-timestudents.

n In2007,theuniversityadmitted2,985newBachelor’sdegree

studentsand1,793newMaster’sdegreestudents.

n 2,707Bachelor’sdegreestudentsand2,810Master’sdegree

studentsgraduatedfromtheUniversityofAarhusin2006.

n In2006,theUniversityofAarhushad824exchangestudents,

and712studentsfromtheuniversitywentabroadtostudy

atforeignuniversities.Inaddition,1,750foreignstudentswere

studyingdegreeprogrammesonafull-timebasis.

OThER kEY FiGuRES

n Theuniversity’sexpectedturnoverfor2007is

DKK4.5billionandfor2008,DKK4.6billion.

n In2006,theuniversity’sturnoverwasapproximately

DKK4billion.

n TheUniversityofAarhushasapproximately

8,500employees(full-timeequivalent).

n Thebuildingspaceavailablefortheuniversity

amountsto513,099m2.

n Theuniversityareaextendsover1,356hectares.

diSTRibuTiOn OF FundS

FuRThER inFORmATiOn

FurtherinformationabouttheUniversityofAarhusis

availableatwww.au.dk/publikationer,includingannual

reportsandtheuniversity’sdevelopmentcontractwiththe

MinistryofScience,TechnologyandInnovation.

EditingcompletedOctober2007.Front-pagephoto:LarsKruse/AUphotoPhotos,contents:LarsKruse/AUphoto,SørenKjeldgaard/AUphoto,JakobMark/AUphoto,LarsBroslet,PoulIbHenriksen,ErikW.Olsson,GettyimagesandScanpix/Corbis.

41

pREAmblE

TheundersignedRectorsofEuropeanUniversities,gatheredinBolognafortheninth

centenaryoftheoldestUniversityinEurope,fouryearsbeforethedefinitiveabolition

ofboundariesbetweenthecountriesoftheEuropeanCommunity;lookingforwardto

far-reachingco-operationbetweenallEuropeannationsandbelievingthatpeoplesand

Statesshouldbecomemorethaneverawareofthepartthatuniversitieswillbecalled

upontoplayinachangingandincreasinglyinternationalsociety,

Consider

1. thatattheapproachingendofthismillenniumthefutureofmankinddependslargely

oncultural,scientificandtechnicaldevelopment;andthatthisisbuiltupincentresof

culture,knowledgeandresearchasrepresentedbytrueuniversities;

2. thattheuniversities’taskofspreadingknowledgeamongtheyoungergenerations

impliesthat,intoday’sworld,theymustalsoservesocietyasawhole;andthatthe

cultural,socialandeconomicfutureofsocietyrequires,inparticular,aconsiderable

investmentincontinuingeducation;

3. thatuniversitiesmustgivefuturegenerationseducationandtrainingthatwillteach

them,andthroughthemothers,torespectthegreatharmoniesoftheirnaturalenvi-

ronmentandoflifeitself.

TheundersignedRectorsofEuropeanuniversitiesproclaimtoallStatesandtothecon-

scienceofallnationsthefundamentalprinciples,whichmust,nowandalways,support

thevocationofuniversities.

FundAmEnTAl pRinCiplES

1. Theuniversityisanautonomousinstitutionattheheartofsocietiesdifferently

organisedbecauseofgeographyandhistoricalheritage;itproduces,examines,

appraisesandhandsdownculturebyresearchandteaching.

Tomeettheneedsoftheworldaroundit,itsresearchandteachingmustbemorally

andintellectuallyindependentofallpoliticalauthorityandeconomicpower.

2. Teachingandresearchinuniversitiesmustbeinseparableiftheirtuitionisnot

tolagbehindchangingneeds,thedemandsofsociety,andadvancesinscientific

knowledge.

3. Freedominresearchandtrainingisthefundamentalprincipleofuniversitylife,

andgovernmentsanduniversities,eachasfarasinthemlies,mustensurerespectfor

thisfundamentalrequirement.Rejectingintoleranceandalwaysopentodialogue,

auniversityisanidealmeeting-groundforteacherscapableofimpartingtheir

knowledgeandwellequippedtodevelopitbyresearchandinnovationandfor

studentsentitled,ableandwillingtoenrichtheirmindswiththatknowledge.

mAGnA ChARTA univERSiTATum

42

4. AuniversityisthetrusteeoftheEuropeanhumanisttradition;itsconstantcareis

toattainuniversalknowledge;tofulfilitsvocationittranscendsgeographicaland

politicalfrontiers,andaffirmsthevitalneedfordifferentculturestoknowandinflu-

enceeachother.

ThE mEAnS

Toattainthesegoalsbyfollowingsuchprinciplescallsforeffectivemeans,suitableto

presentconditions.

1. Topreservefreedominresearchandteaching,theinstrumentsappropriatetorealise

thatfreedommustbemadeavailabletoallmembersoftheuniversitycommunity.

2. Recruitmentofteachers,andregulationoftheirstatus,mustobeytheprinciplethat

researchisinseparablefromteaching.

3. Eachuniversitymust–withdueallowanceforparticularcircumstances–ensurethat

itsstudents’freedomsaresafeguarded,andthattheyenjoyconcessionsinwhichthey

canacquirethecultureandtrainingwhichitistheirpurposetopossess.

4.Universities–particularlyinEurope–regardthemutualexchangeofinformation

anddocumentation,andfrequentjointprojectsfortheadvancementoflearning,as

essentialtothesteadyprogressofknowledge.

Therefore,asintheearliestyearsoftheirhistory,theyencouragemobilityamong

teachersandstudents;furthermore,theyconsiderageneralpolicyofequivalentstatus,

titles,examinations(withoutprejudicetonationaldiplomas)andawardofscholarships

essentialtothefulfilmentoftheirmissionintheconditionsprevailingtoday.

TheundersignedRectors,onbehalfoftheirUniversities,undertaketodoeverything

intheirpowertoencourageeachState,aswellasthesupranationalorganisations

concerned,tomouldthispolicysedulouslyonthisMagnaCharta,whichexpressesthe

universities’unanimousdesirefreelydeterminedanddeclared.

Bologna,18September1988

43

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Denmark

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Web www.au.dk

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