New organisation: SDU Business School gets its own management at faculty level

Following a consultation phase at the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences with the involvement of employees and subsequent discussions in the Central Liaison Committee and the University Council in October and November, the Board of SDU decided at its meeting on 4 December to establish SDU Business School as an independent unit and at the same time create a new Faculty of Business and Social Sciences.

The decision means that the current Faculty of Business and Social Sciences will be divided into two units at faculty level: SDU Business School and the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences with Law, Political Science and Economics. The new organisation will enter into force on 1 September 2026.

The faculty model is chosen

With this decision, the Board has chosen the so-called faculty model rather than a model where the business economics environments are gathered in one department under the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences.

The faculty model gives SDU Business School:

• an independent organisational identity
• management responsibility and financial room for manoeuvre at decan level
• a clear strategic mandate both internally at SDU and externally in relation to the outside world

At the same time, the new Faculty of Business and Social Sciences will have a better opportunity to rethink its strategy, strengthen the classic social science profile and develop new collaborative relationships.

The consultation process at the Faculty has indicated a clear overwhelming desire for the faculty model among the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences.

Rector: We are strengthening both SBS and the social sciences

- The Board has made an important strategic decision for SDU. With an independent unit for SDU Business School with management at faculty level, the university will have a stronger framework for bringing the excellent research and strong educational environments we already have in the field of business administration even better into play - nationally and internationally. There will be even more focus on bringing research closer to practice and innovation in collaboration with the local business community - for the benefit of society, says Rector Jens Ringsmose.

- At the same time, the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences will have an even sharper profile with law, political science and economics as clear core areas. The faculty already has a strong academic core with research and educational environments at a high international level, and with the new organisation we will have an even better structural framework for further developing these environments and translating research into value together with our employers and partners.

Jens Ringsmose emphasises that the new organisation is not a cost-cutting exercise, but is about creating stronger and more sustainable academic environments.

Next steps: Steering committee and working groups

With the board's decision, the work to implement the new organisation is now underway.

• A steering committee will be appointed with overall responsibility for ensuring progress, coordination and necessary decisions until the new management is in place.
• The steering committee will appoint working groups for the professional and administrative organisation and relevant professional tracks.
• The work emphasises employee involvement and dialogue with the affected environments across the campuses.

Information about the process, milestones and organisational consequences will be provided on an ongoing basis until the new structure comes into force on 1 September 2026. Read more on the website: https://sdunet.dk/en/service/business-school.