The Rectorate’s Column
Season’s greetings from the Rectorate of SDU
We wish everyone at SDU merry Christmas and a cheerful and relaxing festive season.
Soon, Christmas peace will descend on all of SDU’s campuses, giving time to reflect on a turbulent and busy year at the University.
Our world is changing rapidly, which brings new opportunities but at the same time places great demands on us.
Recently, geopolitical confrontations and the seething clash with the ‘authority of reason’ have become part of university life and are challenging our fundamental values. More than ever, this means that universities need to be absolutely clear about their fundamental values of freedom of research, freedom of teaching and freedom of debate and expression.
These values have been the foundation for the great success of universities over centuries. And they are absolutely vital for universities to contribute to solving our shared global challenges – for us to spark light and hope in a time of gloom.
Nevertheless, 2023 has been a good, busy and – sometimes - difficult year for SDU. Our excellent research and education environments have achieved many impressive results, and at the same time we have all had to navigate changes on many different levels.
A turbulent year
In the spring, the management implemented an adjustment of the University’s finances due to the declining student intake in recent years. The adjustment meant that several positions have been abolished, and we have had to say goodbye to colleagues. Thank you to everyone for helping us through this difficult situation.
In June, SDU’s Board of Directors adopted the University’s new strategy, which proposes broad answers to how we can seize these great new opportunities and at the same time deal with the challenges that await in the coming years. At the core of the strategy is a focus on high quality and talented people in outstanding environments, and we look forward to working with you to materialise the strategy in the coming years.
Also in June, the master’s degree reform was passed. It is probably the most extensive reform of the university sector in two decades, which demands the restructuring of 30% of master’s programme places. There are still many details that we don’t yet know and that need to be worked on by the Master’s Degree Committee, in which all the Danish universities are represented by their rectors.
2023 has also brought changes to the University’s campus landscape. Unfortunately, the management has been forced to discontinue the University’s activities in Slagelse. We would like to thank all of you who have worked doggedly to ensure high quality education programmes and research in Slagelse. Your efforts have made a significant difference for many people.
Strongly into the future
There is no doubt that we are entering a complex, challenging and exciting time. We look forward to working together to create the university education programmes of the future, because we are convinced that SDU has precisely the foundation and the necessary conditions to take us strongly into the future.
Fortunately, SDU stands on a strong foundation of talented researchers and excellent environments. In 2023, this has resulted in several major accolades for SDU's researchers. For example, Professor Anne-Marie Mai has received the Carlsberg Foundation Research Prize, Professor Donald Canfield received the Villum Kann Rasmussen Annual Award and Professor Christine Stabell Benn was awarded The George Macdonald Medal.
At the same time, the university's many researchers have skilfully – and with great success – worked to obtain new research grants that open for exciting and innovative research.
SDUx is launching
In the field of education, we are experimenting with lifelong learning as an important future supplement to the university's full-time programmes.
For example, we have initiated a focus on lifelong learning, SDUx, which is now launching the first courses. SDUx is a foundation for the development and provision of relevant lifelong learning that brings research-based knowledge into play and strengthens the connection between the business community, the University’s research environments and public institutions. SDUx is a collaboration between the University of Southern Denmark and DANDY Business Park, and in which Vejle Municipality is an active stakeholder. In the long term, it is the intention that SDUx will be extended to the entire university and to all SDU's locations.
Good news for SDU’s ambitions
Recently, there was also good news for SDU’s ambitions to build the future’s research and education environment for IT in the Triangle Region. The good news was twofold: when we received approval for an education programme in Data Science at SDU Kolding and when we were awarded DKK 19.7 million to start building new IT programmes in the Triangle Region.
However, new study programmes – and a new campus – in Vejle must not become a drain on SDU's finances. Therefore, the establishment of new study programmes in Vejle also requires significant co-financing as well as the possibility of being able to admit a large number of international students.
With that in mind, it is deeply gratifying that we can now move forward with our ambition to ensure the continued development of one of Denmark’s most important industrial regions with successful and innovative business environments.
Milestone on Campusvej
In the autumn, we also reached a significant milestone when SDU received the keys to New HEALTH, and medical students and our colleagues from the Faculty of Health Sciences moved from Winsløwparken into the large building complex that brings together the University and Odense University Hospital.
It is fantastic to have all faculties together on Campusvej, and we look forward to the many new opportunities that the SDU-OUH initiative will create for research, education and innovation in the healthcare sector in the coming years.
We hope that Christmas 2023 will be a time of togetherness, contentment and relaxation with family and friends. You deserve it after a hectic year full of change.
We look forward to a new and exciting 2024 together with you.
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
Kind regards from
Jens Ringsmose, Rector
Helle Waagepetersen, Pro-Rector
Thomas Buchvald Vind, University Director