Aarhus in the European top ten

Aarhus University (AU) has a good chance of becoming one of the top ten universities in Europe, says vice-chancellor Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen.

“Copenhagen has a slight lead on us in the tables at the moment. But if you look at our size and number of students, we’re roughly at the same level,” he says.

AU has nearly 5,000 students from outside Denmark, and is working to improve the framework of the international study environment in Aarhus.

“We have both the potential and the framework to reach the top ten – preferably alongside other Danish universities. But this will require the government to continue to invest in research and education,” says Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen.

Private university put on hold

The new Danish Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Charlotte Sahl-Madsen, is not planning to continue her predecessor’s plans to set up a private, fee-paying Danish university.

“I’d rather spend my energy on the exciting options contained in our government programme, and on the evaluation of the University Act. But I’m happy to consider the question of a private university – for instance if a university from abroad is interested in setting up a university in Denmark,” says the minister.