News from the senior management team no. 11/2017

Study environment: Well-being still high but scope for improvement

The results of the triennial study environment survey of all the university’s students were published on Friday. A high level of satisfaction among students with their degree programmes, a high level of academic commitment and the highest level of satisfaction ever with the physical study environment were some of the positive highlights.

However, even though the general level of well-being is high, there are still challenges related to stress, which is now impacting one in five students. According to Pro-rector Berit Eika, stress is a general problem in society, and three factors in particular are contributing to stress among the students: The study progress reform, uncertainty about expectations and so-called career stress.

The survey was conducted in the autumn with a record high response rate of 46 per cent. A process will now take place locally at the faculties, the departments/schools and particularly on the boards of studies to review the study environment survey. The Education Committee will play a key role in coordinating the measures which will be adopted, which are primarily expected to be initiated locally, as the challenges vary from programme to programme.


Joint or tailor-made solutions? We must dare to ask the question!

In a recent article, University Director Arnold Boon focuses on how the administration can best help the academic environments to solve the administrative challenges they are facing. In this connection, he raises the question of whether we should choose university-wide solutions, or solutions that are tailored to local needs.


DCA and DCE: Impartial consultancy services benefit everyone

On 8 March, Effektivt Landbrug carried several articles about the recently concluded agreement between the Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark and AU. In the newspaper, Lars Hvidtfeldt, vice chairman of the Danish Agriculture & Food Council, throws suspicions on AU’s researchers for having leaked a Novana report two days before it was due to be published.

In an article which was published in Effektivt Landbrug on 25 March, Niels Halberg, director of the Danish Centre for Food and Agriculture, and Hanne Bach, director of the Danish Centre for Environment and Energy at Aarhus University, totally refute the accusations.


Aarhus University to kick-start climate solutions in Central Denmark Region

On 30 March, Aarhus University, Central Denmark Region and a number of municipalities and businesses marked the start of the Coast to Coast Climate Challenge project to safeguard the region against extreme weather events. The project has a total budget of approx. DKK 90 million for the period until 2022. Chairman of the board of AU and former EU Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard accompanied Vice-dean Kurt Nielsen from ST to mark the start of the Central Jutland environmental initiative. They both see very promising perspectives in the climate cooperation between government agencies and institutions, universities and businesses.


Calendar

  • 5 April: Aarhus University Board meeting
  • 19 April: Welcome reception for new dean at Health
  • 20–21 April: AU hosts meeting of the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities
  • 19–24 April: Forum for Arctic Research
  • 27 April: Festival of Research
  • 28 April: Regatta

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.

If you would like to register for the English version of the newsletter from the senior management team, you can do so at http://info.au.dk/medarbbreve/index.asp?sprog&sprog=en