News from the senior management team no. 30/2016

AU Engineering wins large EU grant

Researchers from AU Engineering at Aarhus University will be heading a large European innovation project. With an EU grant of more than DKK 25 million, the researchers will develop new technology for tomorrow’s computer chips. The grant comes from the prestigious Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) programme under Horizon 2020, the EU’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.


Ambassador participates in US election debate at Lakeside Lecture Theatres

On Thursday 13 October, more than 400 students and citizens came together for a debate about the US presidential election in the Lakeside Lecture Theatres. Here, the United States Ambassador to Denmark Rufus Gifford once again visited Aarhus University, this time to answer questions from an interested and enthusiastic audience. 

The event was organised by the TV station TV2 Østjylland and the newspaper Aarhus Stiftstidende in collaboration with Aarhus University, which provided the venue. Pro-Rector Berit Eika welcomed everyone, and emphasised the importance of positive cooperation with local resources and the pleasure of opening the doors to the public for an engaging and socially relevant debate.


Conference to strengthen international recruitment

In cooperation with the think tank DEA and the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science, Aarhus University is organising a conference on the possibilities and challenges associated with international recruitment on 22 November. The conference is primarily targeted at researchers.


Competency development in the administration must match the university’s needs 

In connection with this season’s staff development dialogues for administrative staff members, University Director Arnold Boon is urging both employees and managers to think broadly about promoting competency development based on the needs of the organisation. Service, business acumen and change readiness are some of the competencies which the university director and the deputy directors as well as the administrative centre managers have identified as being important for the future.

Thus, competency development is all about raising the combined level of competency in the administration. This can be achieved through courses, but also through other methods such as peer-to-peer training, job swaps and feedback. Arnold Boon is encouraging everyone to come forward with their ideas for competency development.


Start of SDD 2016 season

During the autumn, the annual staff development dialogues (SDD) will be held for all staff at AU.


Overview of AU’s involvement in Aarhus 2017

This week, Aarhus 2017 presented the official programme for European Capital of Culture 2017. Central to AU’s involvement in European Capital of Culture is the rethinkIMPACTS2017 evaluation project, which will ensure a research-based and independent evaluation of Aarhus 2017.

The research findings will be published on an ongoing basis, and will be used by Aarhus 2017 to document and continuously evaluate the planned activities. 


Organisational changes at AU IT

As a result of the increased focus on digitisation, AU IT has implemented several organisational changes. The aim of the changes is to streamline the administration. At the same time, it will ensure that the department is geared to handling the tasks resulting from the forthcoming digitisation strategy, which will support the university’s objectives within the areas of research and education.


Meet AU researchers at NORDISKE NäTTER

At the Danish University Extension’s annual ‘NORDISKE NäTTER’ festival on 4-6 November, the public will be able to meet a number of AU researchers.

True to tradition, the festival focuses on Scandinavia’s cultural heritage, and this year is laying on a sensory-packed programme at Moesgaard Museum that will look at the Nordic region from various angles as it is NOW under the heading Norden NU


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.