Comments from Rector Brian Bech Nielsen
Next year's Finance Act sets a positive course for Denmark as a knowledge society. Removal of the reallocation contribution and extension of the higher taximeter rate for the humanities and social sciences will remove the uncertainty around the financing of our degree programmes. It means we can maintain the quality of our degree programmes.
Abolishment of the degree programme cap and of tuition fees for Danish courses for international students are also important initiatives, and they will have a positive effect for students in particular, as well as for society in general.
Combined with the investments in research – including research into the green transition – I see the Finance Act as an acknowledgment of the immense importance of knowledge for progress and development in Denmark. This is an encouraging political vote of confidence, and we will do our very best to live up to it.
AU will present its first climate accounts at the last meeting for the year of the university’s sustainability network on Wednesday 18 December. At the meeting, University Director Arnold Boon will give an update on work on AU’s sustainability strategy, and the new AU Garden will be presented. All employees and students are welcome. Glögg (mulled wine) and other Danish Christmas treats will be served to those who attend. It will also be possible to watch a live stream of the meeting.
Aarhus University heads a consortium which just received a grant of DKK 51.5 million from the Ministry of Higher Education and Science for a joint high-tech laboratory centre, FOODHAY. The aim is to develop healthier and more sustainable food and to reduce food waste.
FOODHAY is a proposal from the Danish Roadmap for Research Infrastructures 2015, and the consortium behind FOODHAY consists of a group of Danish universities and companies. The consortium will contribute a similar amount to the ministry, and consequently, total investment will amount to approx. DKK 103 million (EUR 13.8 mill.).
Michelle Williams, professor and head of the Department of Food Science, heads the consortium, and the department's new laboratory and office premises at Agro Food Park will be home to a considerable part of the new infrastructure.