15 DECEMBER 2011 RECTOR HOLM-NIELSEN'S CHRISTMAS SPEECH THE
MAIN HALL - 15 DECEMBER 2011
Slide 2
15 DECEMBER 2011 RECTOR HOLM-NIELSEN'S CHRISTMAS SPEECH CURRENT
STATUS, THE 2012 BUDGET AND AU'S FINANCES STATUS OF ACADEMIC
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS INITIATIVES OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN
2012
Slide 3
Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen, Rector15 December 2011 AARHUS
UNIVERSITY A STRONG POSITION TO BUILD ON RANKINGSAARHUS UNIVERSITY
20072008200920102011 Leiden-105-5551 ARWU10293979886 QS11481638479
THE---167125 HEEACT13211810110596
Slide 4
Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen, Rector15 December 2011 AARHUS
UNIVERSITY AU IN KEY FIGURES Bachelor17,504 Master16,395 Part-time
Master etc.5,176 PhD1,891 Total no. of students:40,966 IHA2,600
STUDENTS Academic staff4,446 Academic staff (part-time)2,028
Administrative/technical staff 4,725 Total no. staff members:11,199
IHA183 STAFF Annual report 2008 Annual report 2009 Annual report
2010 Budget 2011 Budget 2012 (incl. IHA) Billions DKK (2012 level)
5,1975,4955,7106,0216,196 FINANCES Buildings Total AU building
area601,000 m 2.
Slide 5
Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen, Rector15 December 2011 AARHUS
UNIVERSITY BUDGET 2012 AU is affected by the general economic
recession, and we anticipate weak short- term growth despite
increases in student admissions, exams passed and external research
funding. However, AU predicts long-term growth as a result of the
Barcelona target and Horizon 2020 (EU's 8th framework programme).
Therefore, we will continue to develop our permanent research
staff. Aarhus University's finances are sound Turnover for 2012 is
DKK 6,005 million (excl. IHA) Liquidity at the beginning of 2012:
>DKK 1.5 billion Confirmed external grants at the beginning of
2012: >DKK 3.7 billion Projected equity at the beginning of
2012: DKK 591 million Operating surplus: DKK 27 million in 2009,
DKK 98 million in 2010, and DKK 51 million in 2011 (projected) The
implementation of the academic development process will take time.
The operating surpluses of previous years will be invested in new
initiatives in the period 2012-2017 - DKK 50 million in 2012 and
DKK 20 million in subsequent years
Slide 6
Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen, Rector15 December 2011 AARHUS
UNIVERSITY SOLID EQUITY PROVIDES STABILITY IN TIMES OF CHANGE
Slide 7
15 DECEMBER 2011 RECTOR HOLM-NIELSEN'S CHRISTMAS SPEECH CURRENT
STATUS, THE 2012 BUDGET AND AU'S FINANCES STATUS OF ACADEMIC
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS INITIATIVES OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN
2012
Slide 8
Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen, Rector15 December 2011 AARHUS
UNIVERSITY SIGNIFICANT STAFF INFLUENCE AND STRONG LEADERSHIP AU
forums Academic councils Departmental forums Advisory boards
Employer panels Advisory committees AU Board AU Management
Slide 9
Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen, Rector15 December 2011 AARHUS
UNIVERSITY IMPROVING THE STUDY ENVIRONMENT Seventy projects have
received funding as a consequence of the 2011 study environment
survey A total of DKK 8 million Support for innovative project
which will benefit all AU students in the long run EXAMPLES
AREAAMOUNT Development, research and teaching on "the intercultural
classroom" BSS163,000 Development of online learning
environmentsAR354,000 Development of students' study skills and
cooperation skillsST150,000 Development of feedback culture with
peer feedback and collegial supervision HE200,000 Academic
integration of new students on modern language degree programmes AR
and BSS460,000 Courses on spotting and handling stress for student
counsellors University- wide 360,000
Slide 10
Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen, Rector15 December 2011 AARHUS
UNIVERSITY AU IDEAS: VISIONARY AND ORIGINAL IDEAS APPLICATION
PROCESS COMPLETE 254 applications Evaluation process concluded 45
applicants to receive a total of DKK 78.4 million (original grant:
DKK 50 million) EVALUATION COMMITTEE Morten Kyndrup (chair) Helle
Vandkilde (AR) Jrgen Frkir (HE) Flemming Besenbacher (ST) Karl
Anker Jrgensen (ST) Torben M. Andersen (BSS)
Slide 11
Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen, Rector15 December 2011 AARHUS
UNIVERSITY AU IDEAS: EXAMPLES OF VISIONARY IDEAS EXAMPLEIDEA
AREAGRANT Centre for Cultural Epidemics (Lotte Meinert og Jens
Seeberg) The centres central research question is: What does
infection really mean? Among other issues, the centre will
investigate how non-contagious diseases spread. AR5.500.000 Novel
ideas for better antidepressants (Gregers Wegener) Depression is a
serious illness which is becoming increasingly widespread. The new
centre will engage in cross-faculty collaboration to identify new
strategies for understanding how antidepressants work. HE4.500.000
Pilot Centre for Community-driven Research: Game Assisted Quantum
Computing (Jacob Friis Sheron) The centre departs from the
conventional understanding of the research project by combining
research on IT, learning, and physics in order to develop a
game-based platform to investigatge one of the 21st centurys great
challenges: the development of the quantum computer ST4.500.000
Centre for Political Party Research (POLIS) (Christoffer Green-
Pedersen) The centres central assumption is that poiltical parties
still play a central role in politics, despite the fickleness of
voters, the decrease in organised party membership, and the
mediation of communication between voters and politicians by the
media. BSS4.500.000
Slide 12
Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen, Rector15 December 2011 AARHUS
UNIVERSITY AU INTERDISCIPLINARY CENTRES CONTRIBUTION TO RESOLVING
"GRAND CHALLENGES" AU's strategy combines interdisciplinary
research with strong core disciplines The process is headed by Dean
Brian Bech Nielsen and the vice-deans for research CENTRES UNDER
INTERNATIONAL PEER REVIEW Centre for iSequencing (Anders Brglum,
HE) Neurocampus (Anders Nykjr, HE) Centre for Integrated
Register-based Research (Preben Bo Mortensen, BSS) Centre for
Arctic Research (Sren Rysgaard, ST) OPEN PROCESS FOR THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL iCENTRES Two of the original proposals
(Centre for Food, Nutrition and Health and Centre for Global Change
and Development) are still under consideration Thirteen additional
proposals received by 1 October deadline Three of these have been
selected to advance to the next round
Slide 13
Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen, Rector15 December 2011 AARHUS
UNIVERSITY AARHUS INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED STUDIES (AIAS) APPROVED
CONCEPT The institute will offer optimal conditions for
interdisciplinary research across a wide range of fields
Fellowships of 1-3 years, primarily for younger researchers Close
links between AU research programmes and AIAS fellows Physical
surroundings which support a dynamic research environment THE NEXT
STEP Interim board under appointment Selection of AIAS head ad
interim Recruitment of fellows and members of international
advisory group AU DEVELOPMENT GROUP Morten Kyndrup (chair) Helle
Vandkilde (AR) Dorte M. Sndergaard (AR) Jrgen Frkir (HE) Vibeke
Hjortdal (HE) Flemming Besenbacher (ST) Bo Barker Jrgensen (ST)
Erik Jeppesen (ST) Karl Anker Jrgensen (ST) Dorthe Berntsen (BSS)
Torben M. Andersen (BSS)
Slide 14
15 DECEMBER 2011 RECTOR HOLM-NIELSEN'S CHRISTMAS SPEECH CURRENT
STATUS, THE 2012 BUDGET AND AU'S FINANCES STATUS OF ACADEMIC
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS INITIATIVES OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN
2012
Slide 15
Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen, Rector15 December 2011 AARHUS
UNIVERSITY MERGER WITH THE ENGINEERING COLLEGE OF AARHUS (IHA)
Broad political support for merger - effective 1 January 2012. The
merger will strengthen engineering research and degree programmes
in Denmark. A unique construction, both in terms of competencies
and educational opportunities - the first engineering college of
its kind in Denmark Compliments AU's academic strengths and
strengthens AU's contacts with society 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.
Slide 16
Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen, Rector15 December 2011 AARHUS
UNIVERSITY AU'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE DANISH EU PRESIDENCY LECTURE
SERIES: Five debate meetings at AU are scheduled in April, May and
June 2012 in connection with the informal meetings of the Council
of Ministers. The debates will be open to the general public. THE
GREAT DEBATE 1-3 June 2012 at AU Aimed at students, journalists,
NGOs, etc. INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES 2012 19-21 June 2012 in Aarhus
Aimed at politicians, industry and research managers ACTIVE AU
RESEARCHERS A large number of AU researchers will participate in EU
Presidency events outside Aarhus
Slide 17
Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen, Rector15 December 2011 AARHUS
UNIVERSITY AU'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE DANISH EU PRESIDENCY EXCELLENCE
2012 (18-20 April at AU) Official part of the programme for the
Danish EU Presidency A partnership among AU, the Ministry of
Education, the Danish National Research Foundation, the Lundbeck
Foundation and Universities Denmark Exploration of the concept of
excellence and input to EU's Horizon 2020 framework programme
Drafting of the Aarhus Excellence Declaration
Slide 18
Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen, Rector15 December 2011 AARHUS
UNIVERSITY STAFF REPRESENTATIVES ON THE AU BOARD NEW STAFF
REPRESENTATIVES: RETIRING STAFF REPRESENTATIVES: Associate
Professor Erik Strange Petersen (2008-2012) Associate Professor
Peter Bugge (2012-) Professor Susanne Bdker (2012-) Senior
Researcher Martin Tang Srensen (2008-2012) Head of Department
Secretariat Kirsten Jakobsen (2004-2012) Laboratory Technician
Bertha P. Beck Mortensen (2012-)
Slide 19
Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen, Rector15 December 2011 AARHUS
UNIVERSITY MAJOR CHANGES TAKE DEDICATED EMPLOYEES The most
comprehensive reorganisation in the university's history continues.
The changes we are experiencing are a strain on our organisation,
and many employees feel uncertain and insecure. Working conditions
in many parts of AU are still difficult, and the situation will
continue to demand patience for some time yet, which is normal for
processes of this kind Fortunately, there is strong support for the
goals we have set. The management appreciates the great effort by
all employees at a time, when things are far from perfect. I
promise on behalf of the senior management team to take all of your
problems seriously and work to find robust, sustainable solutions
In a sense, we all have personnel responsibility for one another.
In Bente Levisen (Health), who has just been named Danish personnel
manager of the year, we have an excellent role model. I hope that
her good example will serve as an inspiration to us all. The senior
management team would like to thank the university's staff members,
the academic councils and liaison committees - all of the thousands
of people involved in the process - for their fantastic hard work
and dedication
Slide 20
15 DECEMBER 2011 THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK - AND A VERY
MERRY CHRISTMAS RECTOR LAURITZ B. HOLM-NIELSEN