tomorrow's aarhus university 15 june 2011 …medarbejdere.au.dk/fileadmin/ · tomorrow's...
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15 JUNE 2011
TOMORROW'S AARHUS UNIVERSITY - RIGHT NOW
SUMMER SPEECH - 15 JUNE 2011
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
AN ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
• 2011 is a year of change – and the changes will continue.
• We have set ambitious goals for Aarhus University.
• Reaching ambitious goals demand great effort; the university's staff is putting enormous energy into making this a success.
• Academics are in focus, even though changes in this area inevitably produce changes in the rest of the organisation.
• AU IDEAS and the initiative to establish new interdisciplinary centres have been launched.
• The main academic areas are fully engaged in the transition to the new structure.
• But where is Tomorrow's AU - right now?
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
TOMORROW'S AARHUS UNIVERSITY-RIGHT NOW
• Making a strong university even stronger
• A university for its students
• A university which exchanges knowledge
• An international university
• A university which involves its staff in decision-making
• A university with attractive research platforms
• New ideas, new initiatives
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
Key figures for IHA - 2010:
Approx. 2,600 students
190 employees
Turnover: DKK 174 million
MAKING A STRONG UNIVERSITY EVEN STRONGER
Merger between Aarhus School of Engineering (IHA) and
Aarhus University
• Government approval of merger – effective1 January 2012.
• The merger will strengthen engineeringresearch and degree programmes in Denmark.
• Intended to ensure supply of engineers in Jutland.
• Science and Technology will develop the engineering sciences and integrate IHA's practically oriented diploma engineer degree programmes and AU's degree programmes in civil engineering.
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
MAKING A STRONG UNIVERSITY EVEN STRONGER
BA 16,464
MA 15,620
Professional/Executive MAs 4,128
PhD 1,822
Total no. of students: 38,034
IHA 2,600
STUDENTS
Academic staff: 4,446
Academic staff (part-time) 2,028
Administrative/technical
staff
4,725
Total no.staff members 11,199
IHA 190
STAFF
Annual accounts
2010
Budget
2011
2012(incl. IHA):
2013(incl. IHA):
2014(incl. IHA)
Turnover in billions DKK 5.6 5.9 6.2 6.4 6.5
FINANCES
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
TOMORROW'S AARHUS UNIVERSITY-RIGHT NOW
• Making a strong university even stronger
• A university for its students
• A university which exchanges knowledge
• An international university
• A university which involves its staff in decision-making
• A university with attractive research platforms
• New ideas, new initiatives
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
A UNIVERSITY FOR ITS STUDENTS
Study environment survey 2011: our students are academically motivated
• Students at AU are growing and developing
• It's the ”studying” and not the ”partying” that's important
• Key points: Academic integration and helpful, welcoming fellow students
• Challenges: time to study and international students
• Follow-up: DKK 8-10 million allocated to follow-up initiatives in 2011; focus on academic integration challenges
Student influence: Structure of boards of studies to be decided in autumn 2011
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
A UNIVERSITY FOR ITS STUDENTS
• Conference for Europe's Universities:
"Investing Today in Talent for Tomorrow".
• EUA Global Forum for Doctoral
Education
• The Danish prime minister and European
Commission President Barroso
participated in conclusion of conference.
• The Aarhus Declaration ( EUA) will set
the agenda for talent development in
Europe.
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
A UNIVERSITY FOR ITS STUDENTS
• In November 2010, AU was named Entrepreneurial University with a budget of
DKK 45 million.
• Vision for the Entrepreneurial University:
• All AU students will be familiarised with the form of entrepreneurship relevant to their field of study.
• Students will graduate with the competences to apply their knowledge of their field to create value.
• New models for university teaching and knowledge partnerships will be developed.
• The new Interdisciplinary Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ICEI) will
span the four main academic areas and ensure the development of research-
based instruction in entrepreneurship.
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
TOMORROW'S AARHUS UNIVERSITY-RIGHT NOW
• Making a strong university even stronger
• A university for its students
• A university which exchanges knowledge
• An international university
• A university which involves its staff in decision-making
• A university with attractive research platforms
• New ideas, new initiatives
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
A UNIVERSITY WHICH EXCHANGES KNOWLEDGE
• Each year, AU hosts a wide range of high-quality international scholarly conferences, symposia, workshops and seminars.
• MatchPoints is one example:
• Prestigious seminar series on global issues of broad societal relevance
• The theme of the fourth seminar (May 2011): Democracy and Democratisation
• Participation of variety of external partners (universities, ministries, embassies, municipalities, media, the University Extension...)
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
A UNIVERSITY WHICH EXCHANGES KNOWLEDGE
Public sector consultancy strengthened through establishment of national centres :
• Two national centres have been established under Science and Technology: the
National Centre for Environment and Energy and the National Centre for Food and
Agriculture.
• Will guarantee the public sector access to research-based, holistic consultancy
services
• Will ensure that the public sector is able to base major decisions and investments on
consistent, unequivocal information and advice
• Acting centre directors are in place and staffing is being decided
In the process of clarification:
Precise form of cooperation among the national centres, departments, research centres
and researcher groups
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
A UNIVERSITY WHICH EXCHANGES KNOWLEDGE
New forms of publication, Open Access, and electronic deposit, as well as global
literature and text databases, mean that it is necessary to restructure library services:
• Aarhus University Library: one organization under a single management
• Geographically adapted locations
• A coordinated effort to ensure that students have up-to-date library access
• En broad, accessible range of services for researchers and research cultures
• New, stronger partnership with the State and University Library
The goal: Coherent, cost-effective, and strong library services
Organizational placement:
• Political and strategic leadership: The pan-university knowledge exchange forum
• Administrative and financial management: AU Knowledge Exchange
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
TOMORROW'S AARHUS UNIVERSITY-RIGHT NOW
• Making a strong university even stronger
• A university for its students
• A university which exchanges knowledge
• An international university
• A university which involves its staff in decision-making
• A university with attractive research platforms
• New ideas, new initiatives
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
AN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
• 4,000 international BA and MA students, 300 international doctoral students, and
staff from 70 countries.
• Research impact: 1.4x world average (according to new report from Nordic
Council of Ministers).
• No. 14 i Europe in attracting grants from ERC (the European Research Council).
• Dale T. Mortensen building: "One stop shopping" for services, IC Dormitory and
Dale’s Café.
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
AN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
• Half of all AU Master's degree programmes can be taken in English.
• Substantial number of AU Summer University courses.
• Strong engagement in Sino-Danish Centre (nanotech, water and environment,
health and neuroscience, etc.).
• Important platforms under Danish universities' development initiative, Building
Stronger Universities (Environment & Climate, Growth & Employment, Human
Health, and Stability, Democracy & Rights).
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
TOMORROW'S AARHUS UNIVERSITY-RIGHT NOW
• Making a strong university even stronger
• A university for its students
• A university which exchanges knowledge
• An international university
• A university which involves its staff in decision-making
• A university with attractive research platforms
• New ideas, new initiatives
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
A UNIVERSITY WHICH INVOLVES STAFF IN DECISION-MAKING
The University Act has been amended:
• Ratified by the Danish Parliament on 19 May 2011
Main changes in new Act:
• Better protection of individual freedom of research
• Ensures staff and student co-determination and involvement in decision-making
• Description of internal structure now in by-laws of individual universities
• Flexible rules for academic councils (levels, responsibilities)
• AU's by-laws to be revised in autumn 2011 (deadline 1 march 2012)
• What does this mean for staff involvement at AU?
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
A UNIVERSITY WHICH INVOLVES STAFF IN DECISION-MAKING
Academic Councils at AU:
• Analysis working group in autumn 2010
• Central principles identified 9 March 2011
• Sandbjerg seminar for academic councils with 66 participants from all
academic councils + senior management group in April 2011
• Working group on academic councils May-June 2011
• Participants: senior management group, members of academic and tech./adm. staff, students
• Tasked with developing concrete proposals for structure, role, and function
• Deadline for submission 1 July 2011
• Working group's proposal will form basis for work on description of academic councils under new by-
laws
Liaison committee structure to be discussed at meeting of Main Liaison
Committee
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
TOMORROW'S AARHUS UNIVERSITY-RIGHT NOW
• Making a strong university even stronger
• A university for its students
• A university which exchanges knowledge
• An international university
• A university which involves its staff in decision-making
• A university with attractive research platforms
• New ideas, new initiatives
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
A UNIVERSITY WITH ATTRACTIVERESEARCH PLATFORMS
AU is working to develop its attractive campus and modern infrastructure International
research platforms are a high priority
•The ASTRID Storage Ring, which is being expanded to ASTRID2
•Zackenberg Research Station in Northeast Greenland
•CFIN's brain scanners
•Register databases
•Experimental biogas reactor in Foulum
•Danish GHz Solid State NMR Instrument Centre
•Others...
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
TOMORROW'S AARHUS UNIVERSITY-RIGHT NOW
• Making a strong university even stronger
• A university for its students
• A university which exchanges knowledge
• An international university
• A university which involves its staff in decision-making
• A university with attractive research platforms
• New ideas, new initiatives
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
On 17 June 2010, the AU Board voted to establish a strategic financial
management pool of DKK 200 million per annum. A total of DKK 1,250 million will
be allocated to strategic initiatives in the period 2011-2016:
• DKK 380 million for academic development plans at the four main academic
areas
• DKK 305 million for the management pool
• DKK 465 million for interdisciplinary and integration-oriented initiatives
• DKK 100 million from the Aarhus University Research Foundation
And how are these funds going to be spent in 2011?
• DKK 100 million are at the disposal of the main academic areas and are to be
spent on inter-faculty initiatives, the academic development process, and
operations in the transitional phase.
•DKK 100 million are allocated to strategic initiatives through the Senior
Management Group Strategic Fund – of which DKK 60-65 million have already
been allocated to study environment, Educational IT, AU Web, competency
development of staff, etc.
NEW IDEAS, NEW INITIATIVES
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
NEW IDEAS, NEW INITIATIVES
A development committee will realise AU IDEAS and AIAS:
Morten Kyndrup, chairman (AR), Helle Vandkilde (AR), Dorte Marie Søndergaard
(AR), Jørgen Frøkjær (HE), Vibeke Hjortdal (HE), Flemming Besenbacher (ST), Bo
Barker Jørgensen (ST), Erik Jeppesen (ST), Karl Anker Jørgensen (ST), Dorthe
Berntsen (BS) and Torben M. Andersen (BS)
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
NEW IDEAS, NEW INITIATIVES
AU IDEAS:
• AUFF grant to support development of visionary and original project ideas
• Project maturation (1-2 yrs, max. DKK 500,000 per idea/applicant)
• Pilot centres (3-5 yrs, DKK 3.0 - 7.5 million)
• Call for applications in UNIvers and at www.au.dk/auideas – deadline: 31
August 2011
• Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies (AIAS):
• Aimed at talented young researchers from all over the world
• Opportunity to pursue own research interests for a 2-3 yr. period in an inspiring,
interdisciplinary environment
• AUFF grant of DKK 10 million annually for 5 yrs.
• Launch in autumn 2011
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
NEW IDEAS, NEW INITIATIVES
Interdisciplinary centres:Process coordinator/search
committee
Centre for iSequencing Anders Børglum, HE
Neurocampus Anders Nykjær, HE
Centre for Integrated Register-based Research Preben Bo Mortensen, BS
Centre for Arctic Research Søren Rysgaard, ST
Centre for Food, Nutrition and Health
Kim Overvad, HE
Niels Christian Nielsen, ST
Uffe Juul Jensen, AR
Nina Smith, BS
Centre for Global Change and DevelopmentLotte Meinert, AR
Henrik Balslev, ST
Georg Sørensen, BS
Six new interdisciplinary centres to be established to supplement iNANO and
MINDlab. First centres established in 2011, and we invite you to submit ideas for
more.
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
NEW IDEAS, NEW INITIATIVES
• All researchers invited to submit proposals
• Deadline: 5 October 2011
• Read more at:
http://medarbejdere.au.dk/en/tomorrowsau/newcentres/
Interdisciplinary centres:
• Interdisciplinary research: different fields working on a shared set of issues or
problems
• AU has potential: wide range of fields – many possible constellations
• Application and establishment process:
• Application process coordinator + preliminary project proposal
• Detailed application
• International peer review
• Grant of up to DKK 25 million over five-year period
Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen 15/06/2011AARHUS
UNIVERSITY
DEEPER MEANING, GREATER COHERENCE
AND STILL A UNIVERSITY WITH A SINGLE, SHARED GOAL
15 JUNE 2011
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK ANDHAVE A GREAT SUMMER
RECTOR LAURITZ B. HOLM-NIELSEN