Aarhus University - Ulla Gjørling

March 2013AARHUSUNIVERSITY Aarhus University

Ulla Gjørling, International Director

PETER DAMGAARD KRISTENSENKOMMUNIKATIONSMEDARBEJDER

AARHUSUNIVERSITY 16 AUGUST 2010

Aarhus University and international eventsUlla Gjørling, International Director, Aarhus University



Aarhus University – some facts

Main campus in Aarhus, Denmark Top 100 university 43,000 students 4,400 international students 80 Bachelor and 120 Master degree

programmes Graduate university 60 % of Master degree programmes

are taught in English 6,600 academic staff (incl. PhD

students) More than 800 exchange agreements

with universities all over the world.



Factors of change› New University Act, 2003

› Globalisation Act

› The big mergers, 2006/2007

› ”Period of Grace”, 2007-2012

› Merger, Engineering School, 2012

› Academic Development Proces, 2012› Complete reorganisation of administration,

2012 3

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 … 20160

100200300400500600700800900

1,000

400.0

610.0660.0 700.0 740.0

790.0 830.0 860.0920.0

Aarhus University Budget, in millions of euros



Strong academic position

Ranking Aarhus University

Lund universit

yHelsinki Uppsala

QS Ranking 79 71 78 81

Academic Ranking of World Universities

(Shanghai)86 101-150 73 73

Taiwan HEEACT 96

Times Higher 125 82 109 106



Research ExcellenceRelative citation impact for Nordic Universities, 2005-2008

No. ISI publications

Cita

tions

rela

tive

to w

orld

ave

rage

Source: Comparing the Nordic Universities with Bibliometric Indicators, Noria-NET,

Nordforsk, 2011


Ulla Gjørling, International Director6

Two contemporary Nobel Prizes

Jens Chr. SkouChemistry, 1997

Dale T. MortensenEconomics, 2010

Dale T. Mortensen, Niels Bohr Professor at Aarhus University/Professor at Northwestern University and Nobel Laureate, 2010



ACADEMIC PROFILE



International university

Aarhus University aims to be a trendsetting globally oriented university with a strong commitment to the development of society.

Aarhus University Strategy 2013-20208



The Edge ?Why would anybody select Aarhus University?

› Not the most famous university in the world

› Not the richest university in the world› Not the coolest city in the world

› The Edge› BE MORE AT AU› High quality in everything we do› Excellence through internationalisation› Talent development



AARHUSUNIVERSITET



Aarhus UniversityMotivation for creating the International

Centre› Internationalisation as a way to develop and grow› Need somebody to be the ambassadors of

internationalisation› Need to professionalise to keep up with our peers› Denmark is a small country – need to look abroad

for talent

Most important agents of change for us

› Internationalisation strategy, 2009-2013› Rector’s undivided attention› Key ambassadors among highly influential

researchers› International Centre as watch dogs –

internationalisation and internationals are ”included”

11



2009 – New organisation for internationalisation

Professionalise support functions for international students and staff

Professionalising and broadening the approach to internationalisation

Harmonising entry points and external communication

Support services to university top management in international matters

Aarhus UniversityInternational Centre



International students at Aarhus University

Source: Aarhus University 2012

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120

5001000150020002500300035004000

Number of international students

at AU

Exchange Full degree

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 20120%5%

10%15%20%25%30%

Proportion of int. PhD students



International students

14



0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

ST BS HE AR

Mobility of researchers

Source: AU 2011

International staff relative to total staff per faculty (2012 = 869

international staff members)

Students = 103 nationalities

Staff = 79 nationalities



The QUADRUPLE HELIX



Focus on talent development8 = 5+3 or 4+4 or 3+5 Results

› Almost 30 % internationals at PhD levelYears



Dale T. Mortensen Building The IC Dorm for newly arrived

international PhD students and staff

Café and social activities for international students and staff

Provision of support services for international students and staff

Teaching facilities for courses than run across graduate schools

2011- New house on campus for international talent



Dale T. Mortensen Building The IC Dorm for newly arrived

international PhD students and staff

Café and social activities for international students and staff

Provision of support services for international students and staff

Teaching facilities for courses than run across graduate schools

2011- New house on campus for international talent



2012 – Two additional initiatives

AU Ideas

› AU researchers exclusively

› Allocated 10 mio. Euros x 2

› New ideas› Potential for research break-through

› ERC pipeline

Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies› International fellows only

› International super junior researchers

› 30-40 fellowships› Inauguration in April 2013

20



Dale’s Cafe – meeting place, social activities

IC Dorm for International PhD students

International Centre and PhD House

Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies

Research Support UnitTalent Development Unit



Major international events – why?› Because we can!!

› Position Aarhus University on ”the map of international universities”

› Show off our capability to organize major events

› Trendsetting in university development, in university politics

› Attract major players to Aarhus University

› Prove that there is life outside Copenhagen

22



Major international events – how?› Scouting - Awareness of opportunities

› Excellence conference 2012 in the context of Danish Presidency of EU› Marie Curie Fellows conference 2014 in the context of Euroscience Open Forum

› Management decision to host at least one major international event every year

› Invest capital in events› Professional administrative organisation that can handle it› Collaboration with city actors – Visit Aarhus, Congress Company, ARoS,

City of Aarhus etc.23



Irish President Ms. Mary McAleese › October 2010

24



10th Anniversary of European University Association, 2011

25



Excellence Conference 2012

26



World Cultural Council Award 2012

27



Matchpoint, 2011 + 2012

28



And many, many more

29



What is in it for Aarhus University?› Increased awareness and knowledge of Aarhus University

› Hopefully rub-off effect on peer review that Aarhus University is well-known

› Influential policy makers have visited Aarhus University

› Speak with a stronger voice in international fora

› Access to positions of trust both in academic and policy circles by offering to host events

30



Thank you!

Ulla Gjørling, International Director, [email protected]

Documents

Aarhus University - Ulla Gjørling