15 JUNE 2011 TOMORROW'S AARHUS UNIVERSITY - RIGHT NOW SUMMER SPEECH - 15 JUNE 2011

Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS UNIVERSITY MAKING A STRONG UNIVERSITY EVEN STRONGER Merger between Aarhus School of Engineering (IHA) and Aarhus University Government approval of merger – effective 1 January The merger will strengthen engineering research 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS UNIVERSITY MAKING A STRONG UNIVERSITY EVEN STRONGER BA16,464 MA15,620 Professional/Executive MAs4,128 PhD1,822 Total no. of students:38,034 IHA2,600 STUDENTS Academic staff:4,446 Academic staff (part-time)2,028 Administrative/technical staff 4,725 Total no.staff members11,199 IHA190 STAFF Annual accounts 2010 Budget (incl. IHA): 2013 (incl. IHA): 2014 (incl. IHA) Turnover in billions DKK FINANCES

Rector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS UNIVERSITY A UNIVERSITY WITH ATTRACTIVE RESEARCH 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS 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 : 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 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS 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 million) Call for applications in UNIvers and at – 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS UNIVERSITY NEW IDEAS, NEW INITIATIVES Interdisciplinary centres: Process coordinator/search committee Centre for iSequencingAnders Børglum, HE NeurocampusAnders Nykjær, HE Centre for Integrated Register-based ResearchPreben Bo Mortensen, BS Centre for Arctic ResearchSøren 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 Development Lotte 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS UNIVERSITY NEW IDEAS, NEW INITIATIVES All researchers invited to submit proposals Deadline: 5 October 2011 Read more at: 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-Nielsen15/06/2011 AARHUS UNIVERSITY DEEPER MEANING, GREATER COHERENCE AND STILL A UNIVERSITY WITH A SINGLE, SHARED GOAL

15 JUNE 2011 THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND HAVE A GREAT SUMMER RECTOR LAURITZ B. HOLM-NIELSEN