New Year’s reception at the Faculty of Health Sciences: A glance ahead – and a nod to the past
On Thursday 15 January, staff and guests gathered for this year’s New Year’s reception at the Faculty of Health Sciences. As tradition has it, the event offered reflections on the past year, a celebration of achievements, and a look ahead – this time in a special setting: it was Dean Ole Skøtt’s final New Year’s reception as dean, with his contract set to expire this summer.
In his address, Ole Skøtt spoke about the Faculty of Health Sciences’ progress and ambitions. SDU has achieved its highest-ever position in the QS World University Rankings – ranked 303 globally – and the Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics now holds an impressive second place in the Shanghai ranking for sports science.
The dean also highlighted the faculty’s strengthened collaboration with Odense Municipality, national health authorities, and the Danish Patients’ Association, noting a generally positive development in education, research, and strategic partnerships.
A highlight of the day was the presentation of the Faculty of Health Sciences’ Teaching Award. This year’s recipient, Martin Wirenfeldt Nielsen from the Medical Programme in Esbjerg, delivered an inspiring speech that resonated with the audience. He said:
- I believe we need to step down from our academic pedestal and meet students at eye level. We need to listen to them. I believe that’s important! And I’ve come to realise that active learning works best. Lectures are one thing – we know we can do those well at university. But it’s the active part – that’s where we need to focus.
Financially, too, the past year brought growth. In 2025, the faculty reached a turnover of one billion Danish kroner and is now well positioned to attract even more research funding in the years ahead.
The event concluded with a glass of bubbly and New Year’s wishes outside the auditorium, along with a shared hope that 2026 will be a year of both academic and collective progress.