Dear all

In the summer of 2021, the government and a number of other political parties drew up an agreement whose stated aim was to increase and improve educational opportunities throughout Denmark. The plan involved reducing the number of admissions to higher education in major cities and creating more study places elsewhere in Denmark. Since early January 2022, the parties behind this agreement have been involved in negotiations based on input from the higher education sector, including AU’s plan.

On March 22, 2022 the government and the other parties reached an agreement about how the plan is to be carried out in practice.

AU’s draft plan has been approved, resulting in the following changes at Faculty of Arts:

• A reduction of 315 study places, including the termination of the programmes in semiotics and diaconia.
• The transfer of the programme in experience economy to the Herning campus (corresponding to 33 study places).

We will continue to focus on making Faculty of Arts an attractive place to work with a strong research and teaching environment, ensuring that the faculty continues to have the potential for strategic recruitment and academic development. The changes will result in an appreciable loss of income. Therefore, the faculty may be forced to go through considerable financial reductions.

You can learn more about our financial expectations in my report to the Academic Council/FAMU/FSU on 26 October 2021.

Read the minutes of the meeting of the Academic Council/FAMU/FSU on 26 October 2021 (in Danish)

The next step

Aarhus University now knows the extent of the reductions in study places. The next step involves drawing up a financial plan for how to cope with the loss of income and the financial challenges facing us in future – both at the university as a whole, and at the faculty.

We will keep all the relevant collegiate bodies, liaison committees and local managements informed about the various options under consideration.

As mentioned in the agreement, a task force for the humanities has been established with participants from all universities. The taskforce will discuss the future development of the humanities.

Read the full text of the agreement (in Danish)

Read the news from Aarhus University (in Danish)

Kind regards

Johnny Laursen

Dean