DENMARK. 1. Reconversion of the higher education

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1 DENMARK 1. Reconversion of the higher education As many other EU countries, Denmark too had a reconversion of its higher educational system a couple of years ago. For engineering studies, this reconversion was carried out as per academic year In fact, this reorganisation was nothing but an adaptation to the international evolution. The educational structure for engineering became more simple and transparent. The title of engineers being educated at universities and colleges, was changed as well. At the 2 Danish universities that educate academically trained engineers, an education for non academically trained engineers was established. Denmark thus followed in the footsteps of most other countries. The country is famous worldwide for its high level of education (all levels). According to EU data, about 80% of the twenty-year-olds have a diploma of secundary education (in Belgium this is 73%). In what follows we will limit ourselves to the education of engineers. 2. Denmark in a nutshell Demographically, Denmark is a remarkable country. It has approximately 5.2 million inhabitants and ca. 400 islands, big and small. The main island is Sjælland, where the capital København (aka Copenhagen, Keypmannahavn or Koöpenhamina) is situated. The other important islands, connected by bridges to each other and to the main island, are: Fyn, Ærø, Langeland, Tassigne, Lolland, Fulster and Møn. In the Baltic sea lies the island of Bornholm. When crossing the German-Danish border one finds oneself in southern Jylland (Sønderjulland). Jylland is Danish for Jutland. Danish universities and colleges use the Danish name of the city or place in international contacts. In what follows we will therefore not use the Dutch or English version of those topographic names. 23% of the Danish active population is employed in industry, 14% in commerce and banking, the rest in free professions and the service sector. The oldest university of the country (1479) is situated in the capital København, which is in fact a strange conglomerate of 25 urban areas. This greater København (aka Storkøbenhavn) encompasses a.o. the regions of Roskilde (research centre) and Frederiksborg (former royal residence). Storkøbenhavn has a population of about 1.7 million. It comprises the residence Ballerup(45,000 inhabitants) with a college for engineers. København city has about 466,000 inhabitants. It is above all a place for business men, strictly commercial and service oriented. The name of the city already hints at that. København is after all a corruption of the Danish word for merchant harbour. Vlaamse Ingenieurskamer VIK - 14 December 1998 DENMARK - page 1

2 In Roskilde (49,000 inhabitants), at some 20 km from København, are also various faculties of the København university. The first spreading of those faculties dates from The university also has a large research centre (RUC). Outside the city is the experimental nuclear reactor. Roskilde is the Danish centre of culture and education. Apart from the numerous university faculties there are also many academies and technical secundary schools. The city district Frederiksborg (87,000 inh.) is home to the Royal Danish Veterinary and Agriculture School ( Kgl. Veterinøer- øg Landbohøjskole ). Also in this district is the military academy, housed in the former palace of Frederik IV (1703). Lyngby ( inh.), the most woody borough of Storkøbenhavn, is home to Denmark s biggest university of technology. The Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) educates engineers (duration of studies respectively 5 and 3.5 years). The main campus of the DTU adjoins a beech forest of ca. 2,000 ha (Jægerborg Dyrehave; Dyrehave means deer garden). Those who wish to visit the DTU should contact (main entrance): Anker Engelundsvej 1, (Kongens) Lyngby ( s Konings herderstad ). The DTU also has a campus in Helsingør (57,.000 inh.), a small city in Nordsjælland, situated at ± 40 km North of the main campus. The second Danish university for engineers (respectively 5 and 3.,5 years) is situated in Ålborg (Nordjylland). From a bird s eye view, Ålborg (125,.000 inh.) is at ± 250 km form the DTU. Ålborg is one of the most industrialised cities of Denmark. The main campus of this university, the Ålborg Universitetscenter (AUC) is at the perifery of the city and near a highway (at about 6 km from the city centre). The AUC also has a campus in Esbjerg ( inh.), situated at ± 160 km South of the main campus. In Århus, after København the city with the largest number of inhabitants (264,000), is the second largest non-technical university of Denmark. But it has no faculty of engineering. The university (constructed between ) is certainly worth visiting. The complex has many buildings (with numerous faculties) and is situated near a park at the Nordre Ringade of Århus. The downtown college of engineering (3.5 years of studies)lies at ± 3 km south of the university. Århus and surroundings have quite some industrial activities. Lately, the emphasis of the economy was switched from the overpopulated Sjælland to the economically fast growing Jylland, especially around the cities of Ålborg, Århus and Esbjerg. Esbjerg in Jylland is a relatively young city. The industry is concentrated on shipbuilding (wharfs) and export products (slaughterhouses). The heavy industry has a secundary position in Sjælland. The light industry comes more and more to the foreground. Companies as Danfoss, Lego (toys) and B&O (hifi equipment) are of worldwide repute. The breweries Carlsberg and Tuborg (United Breweries) are situated around the capital. An important commercial and industrial centre can be found around the city of Odense (181,.000 inh.) on the island Fyn. Odense not only has an important shipyard, it is also Vlaamse Ingenieurskamer VIK - 14 December 1998 DENMARK - page 2

3 known for the production of engines, lifts, textiles, canned foods and wrapping materials. For the benefit of scientific research, Denmark has nine scientific natural parks (not accessible to the public). Denmark is a well organised wellfare state with, as previously mentioned, a high level educational system, also regionally. 3. Education of engineers in Denmark 3.1. Before 1993 Denmark had on the one hand and on the other hand the or Teknikumingeniør Civilingeniør "Akademiingeniør * The diploma of Teknikumingeniør was awarded by a Tekniske Højskole after a 3 year studies. * The degree of Civilingeniør was awarded by the Danmarks Ingeniørakademi (DIA) or the Ålborg Universitetscenter (AUC) after 5 years of studies. The DIA is now called Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) Since 1993 the above-mentioned classification of diplomas and degrees has become obsolete. The new classification consists of 3 degrees: - Diplomingeniør (3.5 years) - Eksportingeniør (4.5 years) - Civilingeniør (5 years) In 1996, 60% of the Danish engineers had a diploma or degree according to the old system Teknikum or Civilingeniør The formation for Civilingeniør (5 years) can be taken at 2 universities, i.e. the - Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) or the - Ålborg Universitetscenter (AUC) (est. 1974) The formation for Diplomingeniør (3.5 years) can be taken at 7 technical universities as well as the DTU and the AUC (the former title of Teknikumingeniør is replaced by Diplomingeniør ). The 7 technical universities are situated in Århus, Haslev, Horsens, Herning, Ballerup (København), Odense and Sønderborg. 4. Civilingeniør Duration of studies: 5 years. Provided by the DTU and the AUC. Vlaamse Ingenieurskamer VIK - 14 December 1998 DENMARK - page 3

4 The Danish Civilingeniør is, internationally speaking, a graduate engineer. The degree is equivalent to MSc. in Engineering (MSc. Eng). The studies are mainly theoretical-scientifically oriented. The courses are offered as modules, i.e. the students can compose their programme. Naturally each package consists of certain obligatory modules (+ thesis). At the DTU one can choose out of 700 subjects for 8 main disciplines. The main disciplines at the DTU are: civil engineering, chemistry, electricity (electronics), energy technology, physics, informatics, environment and mechanics. At the AUC the emphasis of the studies (modules + thesis) lies on designing. There are 10 disciplines: biotechnology, civil engineering, communication technology, computer science, energy technology, industrial production & management, international technology management, international planning, environment, machine design, medical informatics and optics. In 1995 there were ± 7,500 students at the DTU and the AUC Diplomingeniør Duration of studies: 3.5 (including an obligatory traineeship of 6 months in industry). The formation is offered by the DTU, the AUC and 7 technical universities. The Danish Diplomingeniør is, internationnally speaking, equivalent to BSc. in Engineering (BSc. Eng.). This education does not lead to an academic degree. It is less theoretical and more practically oriented. The programme is modular, i.e. the student can compose his own programme. A number of basic subjects however are obligatory. There are 9 disciplines: civil engineering, chemistry, electricity, electronics, export, mechanics, production, shipbuilding and nutrition. The realisation of a thesis is included in the formation. The entrance conditions for the studies of Diplom- and Civilingeniør are identical at both universities. At the AUC the courses for Diplom- and Civilingeniør are taught serially. At the DTU parallell courses are given. In 1995 ± 6,.000 students were registered at all the institutions Eksportingeniør Duration of studies: 1 Source: Prof. Conradsen - DTU. 2 Source: Prof. Conradsen - DTU. Vlaamse Ingenieurskamer VIK - 14 December 1998 DENMARK - page 4

5 - 4.5 years at the TU's of Ballerup (København) and Horsens years at the AUC. 7. Doctor's degree Denmark has 2 kinds of doctor's degrees: - PhD and - Dr.Techn. ( doctor technices ) PhD Since 1993 the degree of Lic.Tech. ( Licentiatus Technices ) has been replaced by the PhD degree. The holders of the Lic.Tech degree automatically obtained the new PhD degree. For engineers the PhD is issued at both the DTU and AUC universities. Only the holders of the degree of Civilingeniør or of an MSc. Eng. are admitted to one of the 7 possible PhD programmes at the DTU (chemistry, electricity, physics, mechanics, technology, sciences, mathematics). PhD students take a 6 month course in the field of their PhD topic. The PhD is associated with an original research project (minimally 3 years). According to Prof. Conradsen of the DTU, there were 655 PhD students at the DTU in 7 research fields in Most of the PhD students (174) were active in the field of chemistry. For electricity/electronics the number was 143 and for mechanics 105. In the AUC counted 167 PhD students. The Danish industry shows a growing interest in engineers with a PhD degree Dr.Techn. The Dr.Techn. degree is associated with research projects ordered by the industry, and is a collaboration between industry, university and the Academy of Technical Sciences (ATV). The degree of Dr.Techn. is awarded by a university. Half the research is financed by the government, the other half comes from the university and the ATV. Each year the DTU awards 5 Dr.Techn. degrees. At the DTU ± 150 PhD degrees are awarded every year. 8. Professional association Both the Diplomingeniør and the Civilingeniør are recognised by the Danish Association for Engineers - Ingeniørsforeningen i Danmark (IDA). This also goes for the former Teknikum- and Akademiingeniør/Civilingeniør. They can all be a member of the same association of engineers ( IDA ). Vlaamse Ingenieurskamer VIK - 14 December 1998 DENMARK - page 5

6 9. Industrieel ingenieur versus Danish engineer The studies of industrieel ingenieur (4 years) are of a higher level than those of the Danish Diplomingeniør (3.5 years). The theoretical and scientific training of the Civilingeniør is comparable to that of the Belgian burgerlijk ingenieur. Vlaamse Ingenieurskamer VIK - 14 December 1998 DENMARK - page 6