The audiology programme turns 20

In the lead-up to the celebration, SDU’s audiology programme hosted speeches by the founders of the programme, chief consultants Ågot Møller Grøntved and Ture Andersen. The entire day was masterfully guided by the programme’s Head of Studies, Associate Professor Christian Brandt.

The programme has a long history, initially placed under the Faculty of Humanities. It remained there until 2011, when it was divided into pedagogical audiology, which stayed within Humanities, and audiology, which was moved to the Faculty of Health Sciences. But true to its interdisciplinary nature, the programme has always collaborated across teaching and research with Humanities—and, not least, the Faculty of Engineering.

– As Ågot Møller Grøntved pointed out in her presentation, this collaboration across SUND (Health), TEK (Engineering) and HUM (Humanities) was essential, because in the early days the programme was so small that only two to three graduates completed it each year. That meant teaching staff from other faculties and from industry were needed.

– It’s a unique programme in Denmark, producing bachelor’s and master’s graduates for hospitals, hearing clinics, and especially for the Danish hearing aid industry, which is world-leading, concluded Head of Studies Christian Brandt.

Professors Tobias Neher and Jesper Hvass Schmidt outlined the key research themes in the field, followed by talks from the "real world" on the impact that the programme and its research have had over the past twenty years.

As always, with a programme and staff known for their strong sense of community and good humour, the day naturally ended with a party.