STRATEGY MAIN ACADEMIC STRATEGY FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGI AARHUS UNIVERSITY AARHUS AU UNIVERSITY

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1 AARHUS AU UNIVERSITY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AARHUS UNIVERSITY 1 STRA 2013 TEGI 2017 STRATEGY MAIN ACADEMIC STRATEGY FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGI AARHUS UNIVERSITY

2 2 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AARHUS UNIVERSITY INTRODUCTION Achieving greater coherence is the goal of the academic reorganisation of Aarhus University. In line with this, a double course is plotted out for the Aarhus University of the future: The high standards of excellence in the traditional disciplines which have always characterised the university must be maintained and developed. At the same time, we will seek out new opportunities and connections across disciplinary boundaries and in close collaboration with the world around us. The strategy for Science and Technology is to underpin and achieve Aarhus University s mission and vision: Aarhus University s mission Aarhus University is an academically diverse and strongly research-oriented institution that creates and shares knowledge. The strategy has been submitted for consultation across the faculty. The academic council considered the draft strategy at two meetings held in March and September At department level, the departmental forums and the local liaison committees (LSUs) were involved in the consultation process. In addition, the draft has been considered by, among others, the Faculty Liaison Committee (FSU) and the boards of studies. The faculty received approx. 20 consultation responses. The final strategy has been adapted on the basis of the consultation responses received. The strategy for Science and Technology was approved on 6 June Aarhus University s vision Aarhus University strives to be a leading globally-oriented university with a strong engagement in the development of society. The strategy for Science and Technology has been chosen with a view to contributing to and unifying the efforts made by the departments, centres and schools to achieve results and recognition at a high international level for the benefit of society, the business community, students and research. The faculty s strategies have been drawn up in a close dialogue with the departments, schools and centres.

3 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AARHUS UNIVERSITY 3 DESCRIPTION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Science and Technology was established on 1 January 2011 through the merger of three former main academic areas: The Faculty of Science (NAT), the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (DJF) and the National Environmental Research Institute (NERI). On 1 January 2012, the faculty also merged with the Engineering College of Aarhus. The Engineering College is now a school under the faculty, offering and participating in teaching and educational activities for the Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Master of Science in Engineering degrees. For a number of years, each of the former main academic areas has enjoyed a strong position within its own particular field of expertise and made excellent efforts for the benefit of Danish society. There are still significant opportunities for further strengthening the scientific and technical research, education and consultancy activities by combining the academic competencies across the faculty. The merger is thus based on a desire to exploit the considerable potential synergies and ensure improved coherence between basic research, strategic research and applied research as well as between research in a broad sense and education. The faculty comprises twelve departments, a school, a large interdisciplinary centre (inano) and a number of large and small centres as well as two national centres. In 2012, Science and Technology had a turnover of approx. DKK 2.7 billion, corresponding to around 45% of Aarhus University s total budget. The faculty had about 1,740 full-time academic staff and more than 700 PhD students, amounting to about 4,150 years of full-time study in Four Aarhus University museums also fall under the faculty. The museums welcome approximately 80,000 visitors each year. Science and Technology offers 16 Bachelor s degree programmes, 9 Bachelor of Science in Engineering programmes (professional Bachelor s degree) and 28 Master s degree programmes, 9 of which are Master of Science in Engineering programmes. A small number of further and continuing education programmes are also offered. In addition, the faculty offers degree programmes in collaboration with the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Health, VIA University College and the Aarhus School of Marine and Technical Engineering. The faculty also offers a preparatory course for the engineering degree programmes at the upper secondary level. The following units are organised under Science and Technology: Departments Department of Agroecology Department of Bioscience Department of Computer Science Department of Physics and Astronomy Department of Food Science Department of Geoscience Department of Animal Science Department of Engineering Department of Chemistry Department of Mathematics Department of Environmental Science Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics National centres DCA Danish Centre for Food and Agriculture DCE Danish Centre for Environment and Energy Interdisciplinary centres Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Centre (inano) Bioinformatics Research Centre (BiRC) Arctic Research Centre (ARC) Participatory Information Technology Centre (PIT) Schools Aarhus University School of Engineering (ASE) Aarhus School of Science (ASOS) Graduate School of Science and Technology (GSST) Educational centres: Centre for Science Education (CSE) CDIO Development Lab (CDL) Museums The Steno Museum Aarhus University s greenhouses in the Botanical Gardens Ole Rømer Observatory Orion Planetarium (Jels)

4 4 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AARHUS UNIVERSITY STATUS FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Department mergers After the formation of the faculty, a completely new departmental structure was needed, which resulted in a halving of the number of departments to 12. The new departments have now been established, as has the associated management structure. Due to the highly different backgrounds of the new departments, the process involved in establishing the new departments has varied somewhat. All the departments have undergone changes, not least the departments that were established through the merger of many units which were often located a good distance from each other. The department management teams and staff have made huge and commendable efforts to make the new structures work. All in all, the new departmental structure is deemed to constitute a solid foundation for the tasks involved in research, education, talent development and knowledge dissemination in the years ahead. Degree programmes The degree programmes have been organised in schools. The aim of the new structure is to ensure a focus on quality and quality development in teaching and education; as well as ensuring that this development does not take place in competition with research activities, but rather in close interaction with them. The Graduate School of Science and Technology (GSST) was established through a merger of the two existing graduate schools AGSOS and SAFE. The Aarhus School of Engineering (ASE) was formed by merging all the engineering programme activities, while the new Aarhus School of Science (ASOS) gathers all the science degree programmes. To support the development of the degree programmes, Science and Technology has established two educational-didactic support units (centres), i.e. the Centre for Science Education and the CDIO Development Lab (where CDIO stands for Conceive, Design, Implement, Operate), which are affiliated with ASE. fields within the natural and technical sciences. The faculty stands out as one of the strongest in Europe within the research fields covered, as evidenced by several rankings (e.g. Leiden and THES). Several research environments are recognised as undeniably world-class. The faculty hosts fourteen basic research centres and a number of international research networks. Interdisciplinarity Science and Technology has a long tradition of interdisciplinary research and education. Established in 2002, the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Centre (inano) is home to researchers conducting interdisciplinary research within primarily chemistry, physics, biology and molecular biology.today, inano is recognised as a world-class research centre. In extension of Aarhus University s focus on interdisciplinary research, Science and Technology hosts three of the university s seven interdisciplinary centres: inano, the Arctic Research Centre (ARC) and the Participatory Information Technology Centre (PIT), and researchers from the faculty also participate in activities at the other interdisciplinary centres. Talent development Focused talent development is one of the university s core areas, and Science and Technology plays an active role in the university s efforts to broaden talent development to cover the entire career process from Bachelor s level and well into permanent employment. The faculty focuses on the early recruitment of talents. For instance, the faculty pioneered the early recruitment of talented researchers to PhD programmes, a model which has now been extended to the whole of Aarhus University and many areas of the other Danish universities. The number of students has been increasing steadily in recent years, and this trend is expected to continue. More than 6,000 students are currently enrolled on Science and Technology s Bachelor of Science in Engineering programmes and the Bachelor s and Master s degree programmes. Research Science and Technology covers a diverse and internationally recognised range of basic research and applied scientific research

5 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AARHUS UNIVERSITY 5 STATUS FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Consultancy and collaboration with government agencies and institutions and the business community Consultancy services for the public sector consist of sector-related research, expert advice, monitoring and knowledge dissemination based on research at a high international level. In terms of its structure, the consultancy is interdisciplinary and holistic. Science and Technology s research-based consultancy is primarily targeted at the environmental sector as well as the agricultural and food sector. Tasks are coordinated by two national centres: DCE (the Danish Centre for Environment and Energy) and DCA (the Danish Centre for Food and Agriculture), which represent Aarhus University in the world at large as well as being points of contact for government agencies and institutions and companies in the relevant sectors. Based on contracts with the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, the DCE and DCA provide quality-assured consultancy services as well as being responsible for maintaining public-sector consultancy services at the national level. The centres also help to identify future challenges for society, including research needs within the relevant sectors. There is a strong focus on collaboration with the business community. Aarhus University has a long tradition of research collaboration with large companies in particular. Following the mergers of the Faculty of Science (NAT), the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (DJF) and, most recently, the Engineering College of Aarhus (IHA), applied research and collaboration particularly with small and medium-sized enterprises have been strengthened significantly through joint R&D projects. The faculty has established the Centre for Industrial Cooperation (CIC) as a joint centre between ASE and the Department of Engineering (ENG). CIC will actively create and develop contact between the business community, the degree programmes, the students and research, particularly within the technical sciences. CIC will collaborate closely with AU Knowledge Exchange, Technology Transfer Office (TTO). in Jels. Over the past four years, the museums have been reorganised, and the three museums in Aarhus have been merged. Aarhus University s greenhouses in the Botanical Gardens are being extended, which will significantly increase the exhibition area and exhibition opportunities. In connection with the extension, a new knowledge dissemination centre will be established with new teaching and exhibition facilities. The number of visitors is expected to increase after the opening, and the Science and Technology museums thus expect some 150,000 visitors a year, making the museums one of Aarhus s largest attractions after the Old Town, the AROS art museum and the Tivoli Friheden amusement park. The faculty participates actively in many different knowledge dissemination activities, including the Rolling University and student internships. Science and Technology makes regular contributions to various knowledge dissemination initiatives such as the upper secondary schools Olympic Games in biology, physics, chemistry and mathematics, as well as robot competitions for pupils of all ages. The Chemistry Show and the Physics Show are two very popular activities attracting many spectators around the country. Science and Technology engages in a close dialogue with both primary and lower secondary schools and upper secondary schools. Events are organised regularly for various groups of teachers and entire teacher colleges. Last but not least, the faculty organises the very popular Public Science Lectures at Aarhus University, attracting audiences of up to 1,000 for each lecture, as well as collaborating very closely with the Danish University Extension organisation. The faculty also publishes a large number of publications and newsletters in print and online, either on its own or in collaboration with others. Museums and other knowledge dissemination initiatives Science and Technology focuses on disseminating knowledge about technical and scientific subjects. The museums under Science and Technology are the Steno Museum, Aarhus University s greenhouses in the Botanical Gardens, the Ole Rømer Observatory in Højbjerg and the Orion Planetarium

6 6 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AARHUS UNIVERSITY STRATEGIC GOALS FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MISSION AND VISION Science and Technology s mission Through research-based education, to provide Denmark with graduates at all levels who can contribute competently and critically to the dynamic development of society within the field of science and technology. Through specialist basic research and interdisciplinary research, to acquire the most in-depth understanding of scientific and technical phenomena and contexts. Through research and knowledge exchange, to substantially contribute to Danish society as well as the global community with solutions for society s major challenges such as renewable energy, healthy food and sustainable production. Through research-based consultancy for the public sector, to ensure the best possible basis for decision making on issues related to the environment, energy, climate, food and agriculture. Through research-based innovation, service and consultancy for companies and industry, to contribute to the growth and competitiveness of Danish companies and industry. Through technical and development-oriented collaboration with companies, to translate technological opportunities into innovative solutions that can contribute to growth. Science and Technology s vision Science and Technology s overall vision is to carry out all aspects of its mission at the highest international level, and in doing so to substantially contribute to the continued development, growth and welfare of Danish society. The goal of Science and Technology is to help ensure that Aarhus University is recognised as one of Europe s finest universities, and that the scientific and technical areas at the university are among the best internationally in research, talent development, knowledge exchange and education. This means that Science and Technology focuses on high-quality recruitment, creates the best framework for its employees and is always responsive to the needs and expectations of its external partners. As part of Aarhus University, Science and Technology must be able to instigate change as well as being ready for change, since the society we serve is rapidly changing. This requires a dedicated and flexible staff. Our organisation depends on our employees, and must be characterised by dynamism, mutual respect, recognition, joint responsibility and wellbeing. This means respect for everyone s efforts regardless of their function or professional and geographical affiliation.

7 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AARHUS UNIVERSITY 7 STRATEGIC GOALS FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY FOR RESEARCH EXCELLENCE Research excellence will continue to be the hallmark of Science and Technology and will ensure the faculty s ranking among the best in the world. The faculty has defined the following strategic goals for research excellence: Improve quality of research Strengthen freedom of research with a view to creating knowledge breakthroughs. Strengthen strategic research to contribute significantly to solving societal problems. Strengthen interdisciplinary research to ensure that promising interdisciplinary research fields are identified, supported during their establishment and given the right development conditions. Enhance the visibility of research and international collaboration Science and Technology will exert influence by strengthening its presence in relevant national and international bodies involved in research, research policy and research financing. Strengthen research environment Science and Technology will create attractive research environments that systematically develop the potential of researchers. Mutual respect and understanding of the various research activities must be ensured by creating comparable conditions for the researchers at the faculty. The faculty will establish and develop a unique state-of-theart research infrastructure which will attract strong international groups and secure access for researchers to the relevant research infrastructure locally, nationally and internationally. Based on strong research environments which are open to external researchers, Science and Technology will ensure the researchers collaboration with the best international research environments. The research environments will be strengthened by upgrading the management competencies of the research directors. The visibility of the faculty must be strengthened both nationally and internationally through initiatives for and participation in relevant research partnerships. The necessary resources must be allocated and administrative support must be secured to ensure that researchers can assume leading roles in major research partnerships.

8 8 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AARHUS UNIVERSITY STRATEGIC GOALS FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY FOR FOCUSED TALENT DEVELOPMENT Targeted talent development efforts and an attractive research and work environment are prerequisites for achieving the university s and the faculty s goal of being one of the best universities in the world within research, education and knowledge exchange. Science and Technology has defined the following strategic goal for focused talent development: Recruit top talents from Denmark and abroad for academic positions Science and Technology will attract the best applicants for academic positions via a ground-breaking and innovative R&D environment and a good working environment. Existing excellent and internationally recognised research environments must be maintained and stimulated for further development. Securing and developing an attractive infrastructure is a key prerequisite if this goal is to be achieved. Excellent applicants with experience from international top institutions must be encouraged to apply, and it must be ensured that new academic staff members soon feel at home at Aarhus University. in the supervision of PhD projects so that Aarhus University is seen as a springboard for an international career. The PhD students must participate actively in the international research partnerships. Science and Technology will focus on increased and improved career guidance to ensure that graduates quickly find relevant employment. Ensure clear and coherent career paths for researchers Science and Technology will work to create attractive career paths for researchers, lecturers and technical/administrative staff. The aim is to ensure that employees competencies and qualifications are utilised optimally for the benefit of both the individual employee and the university. As a result, a well-defined tenure track system for academic staff must be established, systematic further and continuing education for both scientific and technical/administrative staff must be ensured, and the focus must be placed on the correlation between employee qualifications and job content for all staff groups. Science and Technology will prepare and implement common criteria for the permanent employment of researchers. Strengthen PhD programme Science and Technology must attract the best PhD students with special focus on attracting excellent applicants from the best universities in the world. The communication of the quality and the international dimension of the research conducted must be strengthened

9 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AARHUS UNIVERSITY 9 STRATEGIC GOALS FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY FOR INSPIRING CONSULTANCY AND KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE Consultancy and knowledge exchange are the key focus areas for Science and Technology. The faculty is Aarhus University s largest player within public sector consultancy, and with the establishment of two national centres, the Danish Centre for Food and Agriculture (DCA) and the Danish Centre for Environment and Energy (DCE), the basis for maintaining and developing this position has been created. Science and Technology has defined the following strategic goals for consultancy and knowledge exchange: Strengthen the quality of consultancy Science and Technology will strengthen the quality of the consultancy provided by strengthening the associated research support, retaining and recruiting highly qualified employees, and offering better service to employers. The scope of the faculty s consultancy must be increased. First and foremost, the university s key customers in the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries and the Ministry of the Environment must be maintained, and in addition, new national and international markets for consultancy must be identified and developed. Aarhus University s position within the field of consultancy must be strengthened and developed. This will be done by increasing awareness of the national centres and their competencies nationally and internationally as well as internally at the university. stakeholders: the business community, staff, students, degree programmes, research and Aarhus University in general. The staff s and the students focus on innovation and growth must be strengthened. As one of the most important providers of knowledge to Danish society, Science and Technology must strengthen the potential for developing spin-out companies. Strengthen knowledge dissemination to the public Scientific and technical knowledge is an important part of the foundations of Danish welfare society. Science and Technology already contributes very actively to the dissemination of this knowledge, for instance through the faculty s museum activities, lecturing, and collaboration with Danish schools at all levels. In the coming period, the faculty will work to increase the interest of its researchers in participating in knowledge dissemination, as well as their opportunities for doing so. Offer a greater number of relevant further and continuing education programmes Science and Technology will increase its range of relevant further and continuing education programmes by developing its existing range and creating entirely new attractive offers in an active dialogue with employers. Strengthen innovation and collaboration with industry, companies and public institutions Science and Technology will work systematically to expand the number of binding partnerships with companies and public institutions. Such partnerships must create value for all

10 10 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AARHUS UNIVERSITY STRATEGIC GOALS FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY FOR HIGHEST-QUALITY DEGREE PROGRAMMES Educating talented and academically attractive science graduates and engineers is a core activity for Science and Technology, and the graduates constitute one of the faculty s most important contributions to society. The faculty has defined the following strategic goals for highest-quality degree programmes: Strengthen the quality and internationalisation of degree programmes Science and Technology will continue to offer researchbased degree programmes of a high academic standard, characterised by a high degree of academic interdisciplinarity and clear progression. The anchoring of the faculty s degree programmes in a strong R&D base and their link to dedicated R&D environments must be strengthened and developed. Recruitment to the faculty s Bachelor s degree programmes, Bachelor of Science in Engineering programmes and Master s degree programmes must be strengthened nationally and internationally. The effective marketing of attractive degree programmes will attract potential students with the required qualifications. The number of graduates must be increased by reducing drop-out rates thanks to increased focus on the students own competencies and by increasing their awareness of their own learning. Students must be guaranteed a minimum of eighteen weekly lessons during the first years of the degree programme. All students must be ensured an education that prepares them for the international labour market through further development of the international educational and learning environment at the faculty. Internationalisation must be an integrated part of all degree programmes. University researchers with an international background and experience, as well as visiting researchers, must be included in teaching the degree programmes at all levels. Strengthen interdisciplinary degree programme elements The students interdisciplinary competencies must be developed and strengthened on all degree programmes. Science and Technology will develop and offer more interdisciplinary Master s degree programmes in the form of attractive advanced study programmes building on more Bachelor s degree programmes. The faculty will identify and incorporate relevant interdisciplinary elements, as well as working to remove barriers to educational collaboration both within and across the university s main academic areas. Improve learning and study environment Science and Technology will develop the learning and teaching environment at the faculty through increased focus on the researchers teaching competencies and efficient utilisation of IT-based learning platforms. The faculty will strengthen and develop an attractive study environment through continued development of the physical facilities for students.

11 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AARHUS UNIVERSITY 11 APPENDICES Strategy map for Science and Technology

12 Vision Aarhus University is an academically diverse and strongly research oriented institution that creates and shares knowledge. Mission Stakeholders Focus areas Preconditions for implementation Values Research excellence Stimulate breakthroughs through research excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration Increase visibility and leadership in national and international research Strengthen research environment Aarhus University strives to be a leading globally oriented university with a strong engagement in the development of society. Employers, companies, organisations, alumni, students, the general public, academic colleagues and research sponsors expect: Focused talent development Strengthen the quality of the PhD programme Recruit the brightest talents from Denmark and abroad Ensure clear, coherent career paths for researchers Inspiring consultancy and knowledge exchange Deliver independent researchbased consultancy and knowhow Strengthen innovation and effective knowledge exchange in flexible interplay with society Influence civil society, political decisions and culture A financially sustainable and employee friendly organisation Degree programmes of the highest quality Offer degree programmes that attract the best students from Denmark and abroad Exploit the university s academic breadth to develop degree programmes that reflect the needs of the future Create a quality study environment and quality degree programmes based on innovative learning environments Professional management Attract and develop staff High quality physical facilities and infrastructure High level of administrative service Consistent quality assurance and process management Strong profiling Strategic resource management Staff and student co determination Inspiring workplace Holistic focus Freedom and independence; staff and students work in a spirit of enquiry and critique in an open and dynamic interplay with society Science and Technology, Aarhus University Main Academic Area Strategy

13 Research excellence Focus area at faculty level: Strategic goals at faculty level ST will: Critical success factors To succeed, ST must: Goals The goal for ST is to: Initiatives/ Projects Therefore ST will: Strengthen research collaboration across departments and main academic areas Remove any barriers to collaboration Financially support interdisciplinary research collaboration Within the next five years, every department will participate in at least one major, well established interdisciplinary partnership Facilitate the formation of interdisciplinary networks Establish a faculty fund of seed money for starting up interdisciplinary research collaboration Excellent research Excellent research Strengthen freedom of research with a view to creating knowledge breakthroughs Have financial elbow room to support researchers with unconventional and groundbreaking ideas Increase funding from the ERC, the Danish National Research Foundation, the Danish Council for Independent Research and private funds Achieve epoch making discoveries via research excellence Ensure that there is enough time and scope for freedom of research including the freedom to think out of the box Procure the necessary co financing for large items of equipment and seed money for innovative initiatives Secure organisational and practical support for preparing major applications in collaboration with the Research Support Unit and the departments Ensure awareness of independent research programmes in collaboration with the Research Support Unit and the departments Increase influence in relevant bodies where independent research programmes are formulated and funding awarded Science and Technology, Aarhus University Main Academic Area Strategy

14 Secure funding at faculty and departmental level for the co financing of strategic research projects Strengthen strategic research with a view to contributing significantly to the solution of societal problems Have financial elbow room to ensure sufficient co financing Have strong research environments with the possibility of applying for strategic programmes when they are announced Predict societal needs and business opportunities Increase funding from the Danish Council for Strategic Research, the Danish Advanced Technology Foundation and the EU s framework programmes Perform excellent research and development in close and binding collaboration with regional, Danish and international companies Secure organisational and practical support for preparing major applications in collaboration with the Research Support Unit and the departments Ensure awareness of strategic research programmes in collaboration with the Research Support Unit and the departments Facilitate the formation of research networks in connection with the announcement of strategic research programmes Increase influence in relevant bodies where strategic research programmes are formulated and funding awarded Increase the number of publications in leading international peer reviewed journals Ensure incentives for the departments to publish in leading international journals Enhance the visibility of research and international collaboration Strengthen the publication profile Strengthen its participation in international research collaboration and networks Strengthen its presence in relevant international and Danish research, research policy and research financing bodies Increase the proportion of ST researchers undertaking a leading role in research collaboration ST is represented in relevant international research policy bodies ST researchers are invited as keynote speakers at more international conferences The number of international visiting scientists increases Together with the departments, ensure organisational support and incentives to undertake leading roles in relevant collaborations Active efforts from the faculty and department management teams to ensure representation in relevant research policy fora Together with the departments, develop incentives which reward successful researchers Together with the departments, work to increase the number of visiting scientists and to encourage researchers to take sabbaticals at international research institutions The number of researchers taking a sabbatical increases Science and Technology, Aarhus University Main Academic Area Strategy

15 Strengthen the research environment Ensure mutual respect for and understanding of the different research activities carried out at ST Secure comparable conditions for ST researchers Strengthen the research directors management competencies Presence of unique research infrastructure at AU Researchers from the former Engineering College of Aarhus (IHA), the National Environmental Research Institute (DMU), the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (DJF) and the Faculty of Science (NAT) understand and respect each other s work Achieve comparable conditions for ST researchers as regards employment conditions and application situations Initiate the establishment of networks and centres that include researchers from several of the former units Flesh out the plans for and commence necessary new building/renovation work with a view to bringing together the activities in Aarhus, Emdrup and Foulum Prepare an action plan for how comparable conditions can be ensured for ST researchers in the course of a four to eight year period Together with the departments, ensure targeted education and coaching of research directors at all career levels Secure access for researchers to relevant state of the art research infrastructures Recognition and celebration of good efforts and results Well functioning research support The research directors ensure a strong and well run research environment Increased number of international visiting scientists using ST s research infrastructure Inspiration for daring and ambitious initiatives Develop and build up unique research infrastructure (e.g. ASTRID2, large nature databases etc.) Implement a targeted and coordinated dialogue with relevant institutions, authorities and foundations to secure financing and the best possible access to research infrastructure Ensure clear links between central research funding and research teams Science and Technology, Aarhus University Main Academic Area Strategy

16 Focused talent development Focus area at faculty level: Strategic goals at faculty level ST will: Critical success factors To succeed, ST must: Goals The goal for ST is to: Initiatives/ Projects Therefore ST will: Increase the proportion of staff recruited from other top 100 universities Establish clear career paths Ensure focus on accompanying family members (jobs for spouses etc.) Focused talent development Targeted recruitment and talent development Recruit top talents from Denmark and abroad for academic positions Strengthen PhD programme Offer excellent research environments Offer attractive infrastructure Offer attractive start up packages Attract the best PhD students Offer highly qualified supervisors Offer PhD courses of the highest quality New staff in permanent academic positions bring solid experience from international research institutions Retain new staff in permanent academic positions for a minimum of three years Increase the number of externally enrolled students from other top 100 universities The PhD students are generally very satisfied with the supervision they receive Headhunt qualified applicants via search committees and networks Ensure that staff development dialogues are held with new staff at least twice in the first year. Then once a year Assign a mentor to new staff from outside Denmark to advise them on teaching and the Danish funding system Allocate the resources needed to offer competitive conditions when staff are appointed Make excellent AU research visible for potential PhD students Establish robust screening procedures for applicants Engage alumni and collaboration partners with a view to recruiting PhD students Organise an obligatory supervision course for new staff Ensure PhD students participation in international conferences and research collaboration Science and Technology, Aarhus University Main Academic Area Strategy

17 Strengthen career guidance Ensure that PhDs leave AU with a realistic future career plan Ensure that postdocs have a realistic future career plan well before the end of their postdoc employment One third of PhDs take up international postdoc positions at top institutions immediately after earning their PhD At least 30% of PhDs take up positions in the private business sector immediately after having obtained their degree, and at least 50% within five years Ensure that the departments offer systematic career guidance for PhD students and postdocs Raise awareness of PhD students competencies among potential employers through, for example, employer panels Ensure that PhDs from ST as far as possible gain postdoc experience from other top institutions prior to continuing their career at AU Ensure that postdocs not included in recruitment plans for permanent academic positions are employed for a maximum of three years in all Recruit top talents for technical/administrative positions at ST Offer exciting and challenging work assignments Offer development opportunities for individual employees Offer a good work environment Recruit top qualified technical/administrative staff for vacant positions The technical/ administrative group interacts strongly with the academic environments Establish clear career paths for technical/administrative staff Ensure development opportunities and encourage participation in relevant courses for technical/administrative staff Ensure that staff development dialogues are held with new staff at least twice in the first year. Then once a year Ensure a good work environment Ensure clear and coherent career paths for researchers Establish a well defined tenure track system Ensure systematic further and continuing education of technical/administrative staff and focus on the correlation between employee qualifications and job content for all staff groups Establish well defined ultimate positions for academic staff 20 30% of tenured associate professors and senior researchers are recruited via tenure track promotion At least 60% are satisfied with their present career level Every year, at least 25% of technical/administrative staff participate in relevant courses Establish well defined qualification targets for acquiring tenure Offer career guidance to staff who are to be retained as well as staff who cannot expect to be retained at AU Define clear ultimate positions and specify what is required Establish clear career paths for researchers engaged in consultancy tasks Ensure productive staff development dialogues (SDD) at regular intervals Science and Technology, Aarhus University Main Academic Area Strategy

18 Inspiring consultancy and knowledge exchange Focus area at faculty level: Strategic goals at faculty level ST will: Critical success factors To succeed, ST must: Goals The goal for ST is to: Initiatives/ Projects Therefore ST will: Inspiring consultancy and knowledge exchange Strengthen research-based consultancy Strengthen the quality of consultancy Increase the scope of the faculty s total consultancy activities Strengthen the research which supports consultancy Retain and recruit highly qualified employees within the field of consultancy Maintain framework agreements with the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries and the Ministry of the Environment Identify and develop new national and international markets for consultancy Increase the number and impact of peer reviewed publications which either support consultancy or are based on consultancy and which are published in international journals New employees with consultancy tasks are given qualifications for this purpose. Credit system for consultancy tasks is developed in 2013 Maintain the contract sum with ministries with a total volume of approx. DKK 420 million a year Increase funding from new national and international sources for consultancy tasks Ensure that researchers with consultancy tasks have a strong international body of scientific work Ensure that researchers with consultancy tasks have a widespread research collaboration network nationally and internationally Ensure financial incentives for the departments to take on consultancy and environmental monitoring tasks Develop courses aimed at new employees with consultancy tasks Establish a credit system for consultancy tasks Create or improve framework agreements via dialogue with the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, the Ministry of the Environment etc. Participate in research strategy development work in collaboration with, for example, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries and the Ministry of the Environment as well as international authorities and companies In collaboration with the Danish Centre for Food and Agriculture (DCA) and the Danish Centre for Environment and Energy (DCE) and the other main academic areas, develop new combined consultancy areas for potential national and international stakeholders Ensure professional handling of cases which attract considerable political, media or similar attention Science and Technology, Aarhus University Main Academic Area Strategy

19 Strengthen AU s visibility within the field of consultancy Increase awareness of the national centres externally and internally All stakeholders know about DCA and DCE and their tasks Establish professional websites for DCA and DCE Strengthen knowledge exchange with industry, companies and the public sector Strengthen innovation and collaboration with industry and companies Strengthen knowledge dissemination to the public Ensure increased staff and student focus on innovation Intensify collaboration with companies and industry Ensure that the collaboration is valuable for industry, companies and AU Increase the public s awareness of scientific and technical knowledge Develop educational collaboration with companies Increase external financing from companies and industry Give students the best possible starting point for a career within research and/or the business community Achieve efficient knowledge exchange between industry/companies and AU Increase the number of popular scientific lectures and articles as well as radio and TV features Increase the number of visitors to the museums by 25% Increase the number of student projects, engineer internships and long term projects with a high academic content at companies Encourage students to participate in innovation competitions and other innovation events Provide information about research competencies vis à vis industry and companies Increase the number of PhDs and postdocs co financed by industry and companies Increase the number of EU applications with the active participation of companies Build up professional websites at faculty level, department level and centre level Increase the number of public scientific and technical lectures Increase the information activities aimed at upper secondary schools in Jutland and on Funen Coordinated marketing efforts vis à vis primary and lower secondary schools by the science museums Offer more relevant further and continuing education (FE) programmes Strengthen the interest in further education among employers Attract at least 25 participants per course Offer FE courses within the fields of IT and agricultural and environmental management, as well as teaching in upper secondary schools Science and Technology, Aarhus University Main Academic Area Strategy

20 Highest-quality degree programmes Focus area at faculty level: Strategic goals At faculty level, ST will: Critical success factors To succeed, ST must: Goals The goal for ST is to: Initiatives/ Projects Therefore ST will: Highest-quality degree programmes Strengthen the quality and internationalisation of degree programmes Offer research based Bachelor s and Master s degree programmes of a high academic standard and of relevance to society Offer development based Bachelor of Science in Engineering programmes as a basis for the one tier model for the Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Master of Science in Engineering programmes at Aarhus University Strengthen recruitment for Bachelor s and Master s degree programmes nationally and internationally Ensure the students active participation in the teaching activities Ensure that the degree programmes have a strong research affiliation Ensure dedicated academic environments Ensure modern teaching, laboratory and workshop facilities Attract more students with the necessary potential Provide effective information about degree programmes and educational choices to potential students Provide effective information about what it takes to be a university student Increase awareness nationally and internationally of the Master s degree programmes with a view to recruiting excellent Danish and international students Have a strong research base Increase student performance The faculty s guidelines are used when revising and developing degree programmes Make optimum use of the teaching resources Increase the proportion of students completing a firstyear programme within the prescribed study period Increase the intake on Bachelor s and Master s degree programmes Increase the proportion of international students on the Master s degree programmes Reduce drop out rates and limit the drop out to the first year of study Offer undergraduate students a minimum of eighteen lessons per teaching week during the first years of the degree programme Allocate sufficient teaching resources Prepare guidelines for structuring degree programmes Discontinue degree programmes which are not deemed to be able to attract a sufficient number of students or to be strategically vital Initiate analysis work to identify successful students in order to offer targeted guidance before their choice of degree programme Set up a pilot project regarding prequalification interviews Change the title of the BSc in Agriculture, Food and Environment to Agrobiology and combine the teaching with the BSc in Biology Coordinate the Master s degree programmes within the environmental and agricultural areas across the faculty Hold counselling interviews with students at risk of dropping out Science and Technology, Aarhus University Main Academic Area Strategy

21 Ensure an international educational environment at the faculty Ensure that ST researchers with a non Danish background and visiting scientists contribute to the teaching activities Increase the proportion of non Danish lecturers on the courses Allow the teaching on selected courses in the third year of the Bachelor s degree programmes to take place in English Ensure that newly employed researchers from outside Denmark very quickly learn about the form and content of the degree programmes as well as the qualifications of the students Strengthen the interdisciplinary competencies of graduates Ensure that the study programmes allow interdisciplinary activities as a supplement to strong core disciplines Remove any barriers to educational collaboration (within and across faculties) Increase the number of study programmes containing interdisciplinary elements Allocate time in the academic core study programmes for interdisciplinary elements and develop interdisciplinary projects Focus on the researchers teaching competencies Ensure that lecturers have sufficient teaching skills Ensure an ongoing focus on lecturers educational and communicative competencies, and ensure that staff development dialogues are held quickly with lecturers who receive poor student evaluations Improve the learning and study environment Improve the teaching, learning and study environments at the faculty Ensure that the faculty s educational units effectively develop and support teaching Introduce an efficient IT based learning platform (Learning Management Systems LMS) Offer good physical and psychological study environments and facilities for students Ensure good opportunities for interaction between students and academic staff Offer attractive and modern teaching facilities Integrate physical study and reading spaces in the academic environments Ensure a good psychological study environment for students Achieve a high level of satisfaction with the study environment as measured in the study environment survey Ensure that the educational/didactic competencies of lecturers are upgraded Implement a professional e learning system In planning new or renovating older buildings, incorporate attractive and flexible study facilities integrated with the academic environments Consider whether the quarter model needs to be modified or replaced by a semester model with exams for several courses being conducted simultaneously Draw up local policies and goals for a good study environment Offer good frameworks for study social activities Science and Technology, Aarhus University Main Academic Area Strategy