News from the senior management team no. 12/2016

Financial statements 2015: Solid finances gearing AU for the future

Last week, the University Board approved the internal financial statements and the annual report for 2015. Having posted losses for the past two years, Aarhus University returned a profit of DKK 52 million for 2015. Thus, the university’s finances have now been balanced as a result of the recovery plan which was implemented in 2014.  

The results provide Aarhus University with a good starting point for overcoming the expected decline in revenue in 2016. In the coming years, we will continue to focus on tight financial management in our efforts to address the financial challenges that we will be facing during the period up until 2019 as a result of cuts in the Danish Finance Act.


Great turnout for Festival of Research at Navitas

Around 1,300 visitors came along to hear about everything from pollen to planets during this year’s Festival of Research, which took place on Friday 29 April at Navitas. A historically high number of researchers from all four faculties contributed to this year’s broad programme of events and talks.    

The dissemination of knowledge and dialogue with the outside world about our research are very important activities. It was therefore extremely gratifying to see so many of our researchers from the various academic environments supporting this year’s event at Navitas.


Niels Lehmann appointed vice-dean for education at Arts

Following the due appointments procedure, acting Vice-Dean Niels Lehmann has been appointed vice-dean for education at the Faculty of Arts. Niels Lehmann has been acting vice-dean since 1 October 2015, and can now continue the important task of tailoring the faculty’s offering of degree programmes to the recent political reforms within the area of education.

As a head of school at Aarhus University for many years, Niels Lehmann comes with extensive experience from similar processes. Among other things, he headed the merger which led to the creation of the department currently known as the School of Communication and Culture. 


New science award went to AU researcher

On 20 April, Professor Jens-Christian Svenning from the Department of Bioscience was presented with the new Queen Margrethe II's Science Award. The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters is behind the DKK 100,000 award, which is given to an outstanding researcher under the age of 50.


Regatta will soon be invading the University Park

The legendary regatta, which this year will be taking place on Friday 6 May in the University Park, will see thirteen student associations competing for the Golden Bedpan trophy.

Organised by students at Aarhus University, the Regatta has grown from what used to be a small race between medicine and odontology students into one of northern Europe’s biggest student-run event. More than 20,000 students from across the city of Aarhus usually show up. This year’s commentators are Lågsus, a popular P3 DJ duo, while Pro-rector Berit Eika will be giving a speech at about 13:00. 


DHL Relay Race – places still available

True to tradition, Aarhus University is inviting all staff members to participate in the DHL Relay Race in Aarhus and Odense on 18 August, and in Copenhagen on 1 September. Last year, more than 2,000 AU staff took part, and the senior management team is hoping that many will seize this chance to meet up with their colleagues. You can choose to register as a team of runners or walkers, and there are free T-shirts for all participants.

Registration is open until 4 May 2016.


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/2015.