SCC Elite Centres
Each faculty can share two proposals for SCC Elite Centres.
Dear staff
Finally, the relocation plan has come. Now we get a long-awaited clarification about our future opportunities at SDU. Fortunately, the plan has been adjusted significantly. Thus, SDU will only have to reduce its student admission in Odense by a little less than 5% by 2030.
Still, it is not a great scenario, and as discussed in many media outlets, there is great astonishment and concern about reducing the number of students within STEM. There is already a shortage of qualified employees with a degree in science, which is reflected in the latest survey of graduate unemployment in March. Here, we see declining figures with single-digit unemployment figures for many of our educations.
At SDU, we await this year's admission before we start making a complete plan for reductions and relocations. For our faculty, it is also necessary to get a clarification about a possible campus in Vejle. In the agreement, one million kroner has been set aside to make a preliminary study of the need for more education programmes in the Vejle area.
We are therefore awaiting the ministry's preliminary investigation before we can take a position on relocations at our faculty. Everywhere at SDU Science, work is being done to attract students to this year's Quota 1 admission. Additional funds have been set aside for marketing and the outreach coordinators are working purposefully with various activities for potential students.
Last week, the description of the SDU Climate Cluster (SCC) was finally adopted by the Executive Board after several rounds of consultation. The University Council has expressed great satisfaction with being involved in the process, including the fact that comments from the environments have been listened to.
The first instrument in play is SCC Elite Centres, where each faculty can propose two ideas to SCC with subsequent external review. The call for SCC Elite Centres is expected during April. At SDU Science, an internal process has been initiated to find suitable ideas.
Anyone with an interest in an elite center is encouraged to submit an idea to the management group, after which two will be selected for submission to the SCC by the end of June. The four heads of department can tell more about the possibilities and format of the expression of interest. SCC will be invited to give a presentation of all SCC's instruments for the entire faculty soon.
And then some sad news about a colleague who will be missed.
Last week, we unfortunately received word that professor and DIAS chair Jim Vaupel has passed away after a short illness. It's a big loss for the CPOP group. Not only because Jim has been absolutely central to the group's development, but also because the group had many plans for new projects and new research with Jim. Jim will be missed as a visionary and ambitious pioneer and not least for his friendship. I encourage you to read the many kind words that have been shared about Jim on SDU's various channels.
In honor and memory of Jim.
Marianne Holmer, dean