News from the senior management no. 23/2016

More women in research

With a new talent barometer, the Danish Minister for Higher Education and Science is putting equality in research on the agenda and laying the groundwork for an annual discussion with the research institutions.

Rector Brian Bech Nielsen has previously drawn attention to the need to do something about the uneven gender balance at the highest career levels, among other things to ensure that we make the most of the available talent.

Back in the spring, Aarhus University launched a new action plan with specific tools designed to remove some of the structural and cultural barriers women encounter in their work. At the moment, the departments and schools are in the process of identifying which initiatives to include in their local action plans.

Aarhus University therefore welcomes the increased focus on women in research and is looking forward to meeting the minister.

 


ST has decided on plan for cutbacks

As announced before the summer holidays, the budget at ST has to be cut by approx. DKK 150 million between now and the end of 2019 as a consequence of the Finance Act 2016, the study progress reform and the degree programme resizing initiative.

Employees as well as management teams, forums and councils at department, centre and faculty level suggested ways of cutting costs and increasing earnings.

Subsequently, the faculty management team developed up a plan, which was presented on 17 August. The plan entails cuts of approx. DKK 22 million on building maintenance and supervision, of approx. DKK 38 million at the departments, schools, centres and the Dean’s Office, and of approx. DKK 87 million through a reduction in the faculty’s resources for development, strategic investments, co-financing and risk hedging.

Most of the cuts which can be made centrally and at department and centre level can be realised without redundancies. However, redundancies will be necessary at three departments.

The cost cuts resulting from the Finance Act 2016 totalling DKK 280 million in the 2017-2019 period have also been discussed at the other faculties and in the central administration. Here, it is still expected that the cutbacks can be realised through natural wastage and by reducing operating costs. However, individual adjustments in staffing in this period cannot be ruled out.


Focus areas in the administration this autumn

University Director Arnold Boon provides a brief overview of the projects which will be in focus in the administration this autumn. They include, for example, institutional accreditation, digitisation and the study progress reform.


National Centre for School Research officially inaugurated

The National Centre for School Research was officially inaugurated with a festive opening seminar on 18 August 2016. The centre will facilitate collaboration between the Danish School of Education, Aarhus University and VIA UC. At the same time, the ambition is to strengthen collaboration with the teachers, social educators and managers who work with children’s learning in practice.


Congratulations to AU’s Olympic contestants

Aarhus University congratulates the seven AU students who participated in the Olympic games on their excellent performances in Rio.


Topping-out ceremony for new Skou Building

On 25 August, a topping-out ceremony was held for the new Skou Building in the University Park.  The Skou Building is the first step in a comprehensive renovation plan at the Department of Biomedicine. The goal is to significantly improve the facilities for research, development and teaching.

The renovation will also cover the Bartholin Building and Biomedicine South (Anatomy). The plan is for the renovation work to be completed in 2019.


Nine new AIAS fellows

The Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies (AIAS) welcomes nine new fellows. Eight are COFUND Marie Curie fellows, while the ninth is an internal Jens Christian Skou fellow.

The new fellows are junior and senior researchers at an international level. They start on 1 October, and will replace the nine fellows who ended their stays in the summer.

The intake also includes four selected fellows to start on 1 February 2017, of whom two are internal Jens Christian Skou fellows and two are COFUND fellows.


AU researcher is new executive director of Moesgaard Museum

The executive committee at Moesgaard Museum has just announced the appointment of Mads Kähler Holst, current head of the museum’s Antiquarian Department and professor with special responsibilities (MSO) at the Department of Archaeology at Aarhus University, as the museum’s new executive director. AU greatly looks forward to continuing its close cooperation with the museum. 


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.