News from the senior management team no. 23/2017
Status on admissions
So far, 7,074 applicants have accepted the place which they have been offered at Aarhus University – and by far the majority of them had AU as their first choice (83 per cent). ST in particular has contributed to this development, with more than 100 extra students accepting places this year. At degree programme level, the engineering degree programmes and the computer science programmes are particularly popular this year.
The final admission figures will not be known until October, i.e. once the standby places have been offered and accepted, and once the second round of admissions has been concluded. In addition, commencement of studies exams will be held for most degree programmes. These are non-academic tests which take place in September with the aim of quickly identifying non-active students. Students who do not show up for and complete the exam will be automatically disenrolled as at 30 September.
Up until the commencement of studies, applications for the remaining available student places will be processed as and when they are received.
AU maintains its position on Shanghai ranking list
Aarhus University is still number 65 on the new Shanghai ranking list of the best universities in the world. This is the same place as last year when Aarhus University achieved its best ranking ever.
The Shanghai ranking list looks at, among other things, the number of frequently cited researchers, the number of articles published in scientific journals, and the number of alumni and staff winning Nobel Prizes.
The ranking is dominated by the American universities at the top. However, over the past decade, Aarhus University has climbed the ranking steadily, and has been in the top 100 since 2008.
Earlier this summer, the Shanghai Ranking Consultancy announced 52 so-called subject rankings. Here, Aarhus University stands out in several fields. Within the natural sciences, it is worth mentioning the following positions: Agricultural Sciences (8), Food Science & Technology (17) and Environmental Science & Engineering (32). And within the social sciences: Public Administration (6), Political Sciences (30) and Economics (44), and within Clinical Medicine, AU ranks number 29.
New centre for materials research to solve tomorrow’s challenges
Aarhus University has a new interdisciplinary centre: iMAT – Centre for Integrated Materials Research. The aim of the centre is to conduct research into and develop new materials which are crucial for addressing some of the major challenges facing society today within, for example, energy, construction and eco-friendly technologies.
In his welcoming speech at the inauguration ceremony last Tuesday, Rector Brian Bech Nielsen mentioned that iMAT is unique in that it brings together many different research environments as well as through its focus on how basic research can create new business opportunities.
The university’s materials research initiative combines research activities within physics, chemistry, nanoscience, geoscience and engineering, and according to ST Dean Niels Christian Nielsen is helping to ensure that Aarhus University enjoys a strong position in the area – both in Denmark and internationally.
iMAT is one of several interdisciplinary research centres which Science and Technology will be establishing in the near future within areas of particular importance to society. In the spring, the first centre was inaugurated – the Centre for Circular Bioeconomy.
iMAT is headed by AU professor Bo Brummerstedt Iversen.
ST dean: Investments in education must provide digital skills
Investments in education are needed that focus on digital technology if we are to keep pace with the technological developments taking place worldwide. This was the thrust of an article published on 15 August on Altinget.dk by Dean of Science and Technology Niels Christian Nielsen. In the article, he welcomes the Danish government’s forthcoming Teknologipagt, while emphasising that Aarhus University is already taking the necessary steps with its new digitisation strategy.
Alumni inspire new students
The commencement of studies is just around the corner, and next week many new students will be starting their freshers’ programme at Aarhus University. Thus, they are embarking on a completely new phase in their lives which will open up countless opportunities in the future.
As part of the work to inspire, motivate and prepare new and future students for their studies and future careers, a number of alumni and one current student have chosen to share their experiences. This is happening with a series of videos which are being released now and over the autumn months.
- See the latest video with senior executive, philosopher and AU alumnus Morten Albæk (in Danish)
- Read more about the project (in Danish)
AU employees defied the rain and mud for DHL 2017
Despite the rain and mud, there was huge support for this year’s DHL Relay Race which saw Aarhus University in action last Thursday. More than 1,800 were registered in Aarhus and about 60 in Odense.
At Emdrup Campus, everyone is now warming up for the relay race in Copenhagen on 31 August.
Dean’s Office at Health moves into the park
The staff at Health are relocating from Nordre Ringgade to the Victor Albeck building in the middle of the University Park. The move will take place on 1 February 2018. The reason for the move was a desire on the part of the dean to be closer to the students and the academic environments at Health.
- Read more (in Danish)
Calendar
- 25 August: Opening of Aarhus Festival
- 28 August: Information meeting at AU with Independent Research Fund Denmark
- 4 September: Student Fair
- 5 September: All-day meeting of Universities Denmark
- 8 September: Education Day 2017 at VIA with the participation of AU’s pro-rector
- 14 September: Inspiration day on education
- 15 September: The Danish ambassador to Germany visits AU
- 15 September: Annual celebration
- 15 September: Denmark’s biggest Friday bar and Sports Day
- 20 September: Rector starts his round of visits to the various departments/schools/institutes
- 25 September: Opening of the Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research (SDC) in China
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. 