Dear AU staff members

Traditionally, the rector holds a Christmas speech shortly before the beginning of the Christmas holiday. The rector wishes all staff and students a merry Christmas and a happy New Year on this occasion, and he also presents next year’s budget, which will have just been approved.

I’ve decided to break with this tradition this year: because of the financial challenges we are facing, I addressed you about the status of the budget process in November. In this Christmas greeting, I’d like to follow up on that financial briefing.

On 18 December, the Board approved the university's budget for the next three-year period. The Board has confirmed that the following budgetary targets must be met: the budget must balance in 2015, and 100 million kroner must be earmarked for new educational and research activities at departments and main academic areas in 2016. Unfortunately, we will have to make widespread budget cuts in the next few years to meet these targets. The Board has also approved the senior management team’s plan to draw on funds from the so-called financial room for manoeuvre for new investments in education and to fund measures to mitigate the impact of the budget cuts on staff, such as voluntary redundancy packages. The senior management team will now continue discussions with union representatives on how to minimise the number of layoffs in connection with the budget cuts.

Very constructive discussions have been held between the Main Liaison Committee, the union representatives and the senior management team. This process must be transparent, fair and correct, and we have to ensure that it doesn’t drain the energy and work motivation of our staff more than is absolutely unavoidable.  And if the situation becomes too overwhelming and difficult to handle, please don’t hesitate to discuss it with your immediate superior.  Tackling problems as early as possible is important. 

While the economic situation is serious, it won’t paralyse this university. Aarhus University is an excellent university that we all have reason to be proud of. And our ambitions for our future remain unchanged for all four of the core activities: research, education, talent development and knowledge exchange.

Aarhus University has been the framework of my world for many years, and meeting you during my round of visits to the departments and centres this spring only served to increase my enthusiasm and respect for this university. The university is a fascinating and diverse world of knowledge, and you communicate excellence, whether through disseminating research findings, teaching, supervising student projects, consultancy or commercial partnerships.

Something else I brought back from these meetings was how openly, honestly and directly you spoke about the situation at the university. The other members of the senior management team also experienced this, and we value it very highly. Your input is a central element in the foundation that forms the basis of our actions. Honesty is crucial if we are to find the right course for the university. This is particularly true of the analysis that we have initiated to solve the problems that have arisen in relation to or that have not been solved by the academic development process. I would like to encourage all of you to contribute and to help clarify the situation, so that we can reach the finish line at long last.

The university's main asset is its employees. Without your wholehearted and dedicated effort and dedication, Aarhus University would not be the strong university it is. My thanks to all of you.

I hope your Christmas holiday will be a well-earned break from work, and that Christmas and New Year will be filled with good experiences and good times with your loved ones.

I wish all of you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Brian Bech Nielsen

Rector