News from the Senior Management Team no. 36/2014

New university director to start on 1 January 2015

On 1 January, a new university director will have her first day of work at Aarhus University – Jane Kraglund, who is 54 years old.

She has been hospital CEO at Odense University Hospital for more than five years, before which she was health director for the Region of Southern Denmark and county health director for the former South Jutland County.

At the meeting of the university board on 5 November, there was unanimous support for the rector's recommendation to offer Jane Kraglund the position of university director at Aarhus University.

Jane Kraglund holds an MSc in political science from Aarhus University (1988).

The senior management team warmly welcomes Jane Kraglund, and is looking forward to working with her.


Connie Hedegaard new member of Aarhus University Board

The University Board at Aarhus University has just appointed outgoing EU Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard as a new external member of the board.

She will be replacing Mariann Fischer Boel, who has chosen to step down at the end of her appointment.

Connie Hedegaard officially joins the University Board on 1 December 2014, and will attend her first board meeting on 17 December 2014.


Agreement on new plan for degree programme resizing

A common groundwork has now been laid for dialogue between the Danish university rectors and the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science on a new plan for degree programme resizing.

This was the outcome of a meeting late last week between Universities Denmark and the minister. The phase-in time for the cuts to the Master’s degree programmes will now be postponed until 2018, while the cuts to the Bachelor's degree programmes will already be implemented starting next year. In addition, the universities will have greater freedom to decide which degree programmes are to be reduced.

Aarhus University will now start negotiating with the Ministry of Higher Education and Science on the details of the plan, a process which must be concluded by 1 December at the latest.


Vote in the university elections

Elections will soon be held at Aarhus University to a number of bodies for both employees and students, and it is possible to nominate yourself as a candidate until Friday 7 November at 12 noon.

This year, students can stand – and vote – for the University Board, boards of studies, academic councils and PhD committees, while academic staff (VIP) can stand and vote for boards of studies and PhD committees.

The elections will be held on 24-27 November and take place electronically.

The senior management team urges all students and members of academic staff to vote in the elections.

  • Read more about the AU elections 2014
  • See the FAQ about the elections

Registration for the launch of the Expert Committee on Quality's Report II

It is now possible to register for the launch of the Expert Committee on Quality in Higher Education's Report II at Aarhus University on 26 November 2014.

Where Report I focused on the overall system level, Report II will focus on quality and relevance in the study programmes, and how it is possible to strengthen the students' learning outcome.

The deadline for registration is 13 November 2014, and the places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.


Aarhus Symposium with royal visit

On 7 November 2014, the Aarhus Symposium invited leaders and students to participate in discussions for the fourth year running. This year, the theme was ‘Leadership and Strategy’.

The purpose of the symposium is to establish direct contact between students and business leaders. On this occasion, the participants included HRH Crown Prince Frederik, Thomas F. Borgen, CEO of Danske Bank, Peder Tuborgh, CEO of Arla Foods, and General Peter Bartram, Danish Chief of Defence.

The event was organised by 24 Aarhus University students.


AU enters into an agreement with Indian Council

Aarhus University has just signed an agreement with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) to serve as a host university for professors and associate professors from India.

The agreement means that visiting professors from India can be affiliated with Aarhus University for up to six months and help to strengthen and develop the Asian studies programme – particularly the newly established Master's degree programme in Asian studies (India and South Asia studies).

The agreement will run until the end of the academic year 2016-17.


Stanford University opens new research unit in Herning

Recently, Stanford University (California, USA) opened a new Stanford Peace Innovation Lab together with AU Herning.

Aarhus University and Stanford have collaborated on the establishment of a new laboratory, which will form the basis for joint research projects in future.

The partnership opens new doors for the Danish business community and AU Herning, which now has improved access to research at the highest level.


Calendar

 

The Senior Management Team publishes a newsletter every week. This newsletter includes a brief description of current activities and discussions. You can sign up for the Danish version of the newsletter at http://info.au.dk/medarbbreve, after which you will receive an e-mail whenever the newsletter is issued.

If you would like to subscribe to the English version of News from the Senior Management Team, please go to http://info.au.dk/medarbbreve/index.asp?sprog=en. The English version of News from the Senior Management Team is available at http://www.au.dk/en/about/uni/seniormanagement/newsletter/. You can read previous editions of News from the Senior Management Team at
http://www.au.dk/en/about/uni/seniormanagement/newsletter/2014.