SDU enters strategic partnership with the University of Freiburg

– The agreement marks a milestone in SDU's international work. We have not previously had an agreement of this magnitude with a foreign university, says Rector Jens Ringsmose.

The agreement initially focuses on research collaboration, mobility, and educational co-operation, including student exchanges. Both universities are investing significant resources in realising the collaboration.

A partnership with weight

Freiburg is an attractive partner for SDU, with strong research environments, a broad academic breadth, and a clear international profile. The university covers a wide interdisciplinary field with research and education across eleven faculties. This makes Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg a relevant and strong partner for a broad university like SDU.

At the same time, Freiburg's long history and strong position in the German university landscape gives the partnership a special weight.

– The agreement stands out for both its scope and its organisation. From the outset, specific areas of cooperation have been identified, and funds have been allocated to initiate activities, says Rector Jens Ringsmose.

– Strong research environments are dependent on good international collaborations. With this agreement, we get a partner that can help to boost our research and our programmes and open new opportunities for both employees and students.

The agreement runs for four years and forms the basis for a long-term collaboration between the two universities.

Building on European relations

The partnership with the University of Freiburg adds to a broader European orientation at SDU. Through the university alliance EPICUR and the YERUN network for younger research-intensive universities, SDU has in recent years strengthened its international relations and expanded its areas of co-operation in Europe.

The new agreement is based on academic strength, but also on closer knowledge between the two universities. Through EPICUR, SDU and Freiburg have built solid relationships and valuable experience of working together, creating a strong foundation for the partnership.

– The EPICUR collaboration has been essential in getting us to this point. Through the alliance, we have got to know Freiburg well, and this has created the basis of trust that closer collaboration requires, says Rector Jens Ringsmose.

More than a financial investment

The investment is not only financial. It is also about time, management attention and active participation from faculties, departments, and academic environments.

As early as April, SDU's executive board will be travelling to Freiburg to discuss how to implement the collaboration. All faculties participate in the further work.

The aim is to quickly translate the agreement into concrete activities. The three principal areas are the first common starting point for the collaboration, but the agreement is intended as a framework that can evolve if new opportunities arise along the way.

Next steps

The next step will be to accelerate the research collaboration, for example through a seed funding call to help the first joint projects get started. The ambition is that the agreement will quickly be felt in practice – in the research environments, in the programmes and in contact between staff and students at the two universities.