News from the senior management team no. 10/2017

AU’s PhD graduates have high employment rates and are highly qualified

Employment rates are high for PhD graduates from Aarhus University, who also contribute to the advancement of science and create value at their workplaces.

This is the conclusion of three studies the Danish Centre for Studies in Research and Research Policy has carried out to examine the contribution made by PhD graduates to society: an employment analysis, a number of interviews with employers as well as an analysis of the scientific output of PhD graduates.

The employment analysis shows that 90-95 per cent of PhD graduates find employment one year after earning their degree, while 95-99 per cent are employed five years after obtaining their degree. More than 80 per cent are engaged in research and development work, and the analysis also shows that a third of PhD graduates have managerial responsibility five years after graduating.

The interview-based survey shows that employers value the specialist expertise of PhD graduates as well as their methodological skills, in addition to the professional networks that the graduates bring with them to their jobs. The majority of employers also think that research competencies will continue to be very important in future to ensure innovation and growth in their respective industries.

The analysis of the PhD graduates publications also shows that the they have a high level of scientific output, which is relatively equal across the faculties, but which varies depending on type and language.


More international students applying to Aarhus University

Aarhus University has received 3,676 applications from foreign students for its Master’s degree programmes – almost 500 more than last year.


Final figures for this year’s quota 2 applications now published

All the figures for this year’s quota 2 applications are now available. Aarhus University received a total of 14,305 applications, with 5,100 applicants choosing AU as their first priority – which is slightly more than in 2016.

Medicine in particular has seen a significant increase; with 2,062 applications, the number of applicants is up 13 per cent on last year. There has also been a slight increase in the total number of applicants to the natural science degree programmes in engineering. At Arts, four new degree programmes are being offered this year, which have all received a satisfactory number of quota 2 applications, including the degree programme in International Business Communication – English.


Aarhus University to supply climate solutions in Central Denmark Region

On 30 March, Central Denmark Region is announcing a DKK 90 million climate change adaptation initiative to which Aarhus University will contribute research and education. The initiative is called Coast 2 Coast Climate Challenge, and the event is taking place at MCH Herning Kongrescenter, where the chairman of the board of AU and former EU Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard as well as Vice-dean Kurt Nielsen are participating.


Aarhus University gets its own space programme

Aarhus University has started collaborating with one of the world’s leading space businesses, GomSpace A/S. The aim is to investigate how so-called nanosatellites can be used to carry out scientific studies. The first satellite has been named AUSAT-1, and is being supported by the Aarhus University Research Foundation.


DKK 65 million to two AU researchers

Professor Jens-Christian Svenning from the Department of Bioscience and Professor Bjørk Hammer from the Department of Physics and Astronomy have each received a grant under the Villum FOUNDATION’s new ‘VILLUM Investigator’ programme. The idea is to allow outstanding researchers at Danish research institutions to conduct research into the subjects about which they are most passionate.


Calendar

  • 29 March: AU participates in the Belgian state visit at DTU and Amalienborg Palace
  • 5 April: Aarhus University Board meeting
  • 19 April: Welcome reception for new dean at Health
  • 19-24 April: Forum for Arctic Research
  • 20-21 April: AU hosts meeting of the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities
  • 27 April: Festival of Research

 

The senior management team publishes a newsletter once a week. Here we provide information about decisions and initiatives from the senior management team as well as current activities and discussions. You can register for the newsletter at http://info.au.dk/medarbbreveand you will then receive an email every time the newsletter is published.

At http://www.au.dk/en/about/uni/seniormanagement/newsletter/2016/ it is possible to read previous newsletters from the senior management team.

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