Strategy Statement
for the University of Southern Denmark
Foreword
ON COURSE FOR 2020
In 2012 SDU embarked on the development of an overall strategy
capable of embracing the university as a whole. The result is the present
Strategy Statement, which aims to map out a course and an action plan
for the university between now and 2020.
Through their commitment and through their many useful suggestions
submitted during the consultation process, staff and students have made
a significant contribution to this Strategy Statement. It is vital that all of
us – staff and students alike – can identify with the university’s strategy.
I would, therefore, like to encourage continuing dialogue and debate
on the shared future of the university. Only by working together can we
make our plans become a reality and achieve our goals for 2020.
The hallmarks of the university are the quality of its research, its strong
regional links, its international outlook and, not least, the thousands of
ambitious and committed students and staff working here. These fundamental features of the university, described overleaf, will not be up for
revision but constitute a foundation that will carry the same weight and
the same value in 2020 as it does today.
This is the base from which we launch the changes that will ensure an
even stronger university in 2020. These changes, which form the focus
of most of the pages that follow, all point in the same direction – outwards at the world around us. The key to the continued development
and success of SDU lies in our ability to shape and adapt to the opportunities and challenges offered by the global context in which we operate.
This Strategy Statement charts the course that the University of Denmark
intends to pursue.
Jens Oddershede
Vice-Chancellor
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Core narrative
THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN
DENMARK
- A RESEARCH UNIVERSITY FOCUSING ON THE
STUDENTS
If the global challenges of the future are to be met, more young people
must acquire academic qualifications. Research and innovation create development, growth and welfare in a global knowledge society. The aim
of the University of Southern Denmark, then, is to offer as many young
people as possible a research-based degree at the highest academic level
and with an international outlook.
The university has to provide top-class international research if it is to
be considered attractive by students, staff and partners. Research aims
to create new knowledge and, in collaboration with Danish and international partners, to contribute to meeting the challenges that face our
society. We are holistic in our approach and collaborate across academic
disciplines to generate new research results and to offer attractive degree
programmes.
All students enrolling at SDU are offered equal opportunities to take an
academic degree at the highest level. Talent can be found everywhere,
and diversity is a strength. The university attracts many international
students, and welcomes many who will be their family’s first academic.
Through active learning and activating teaching in a stimulating study
environment, SDU supports its students throughout their study, from
their enrolment to their first employment after graduation, ensuring that
they complete their courses successfully.
Our prominent regional presence, with campuses in six major urban centres, means that more people can take an academic degree and that we
can generate knowledge in close collaboration with our partners.
A RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY
FOCUSING ON
THE STUDENTS
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Strategy Statement
Strategy Statement
THE WORLD BECKONS…
Society at large has greater need for the university than ever before. This
is a global need, as increasingly urgent challenges in areas such as health, climate change, security and the economy call for inter-disciplinary
knowledge of the highest quality. And this also applies to the world at
our backdoor, where new knowledge and competent graduates are in
demand as a driving force for growth and development.
At the same time SDU has greater need than ever for the world around
us. The scientific advances of the future will come about in close and
transparent collaboration with other universities, companies and organisations at home and abroad. As a university we have to attract and
develop talented people from every walk of life and from every part of
the world if we are to meet society’s need for a qualified, innovative
workforce.
AND WE ARE COMING CLOSER…
For these reasons, our Strategy Statement charts a clear course for the
entire University of Southern Denmark on its way towards 2020. We are
already an innovative and outward-looking university, but to meet the
demands that will be made on us in the years ahead, we will build even
closer ties with the world around us – closer to the challenges posed by
society, to our partners at home and abroad, and to the many talented
people with the potential to complete a course of studies at the highest
level.
TOGETHER
Our staff make up the cornerstone of this strategy. They are the people
who will make this strategy reality so that its aims can be achieved by
our joint efforts. We cannot accomplish the tasks that face us without
the tremendous enthusiasm and ability of our staff. This means that SDU
has to be an attractive workplace, where all employees are consulted,
develop their skills and are offered a good and healthy working environment.
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Strategic Themes
STRATEGIC THEMES
The Strategy Statement includes four themes, each of which contributes
in its own way to realising the ambitions of the university:
Degree programmes
It is the students’ abilities and efforts and not any prior knowledge they
may have of the structure or the cultural codes of the university that
will determine their opportunities for success. This means that we must
develop our framework for learning and student life in order to meet the
needs of the students and support the development of their potential.
Research
We will deliver research at the highest international level and make the
greatest possible contribution to meeting the challenges facing the world. On the one hand, this means sharpening our focus on those areas in
which we can provide unique contributions to science, and on the other
it means strengthening interdisciplinary cooperation at the university.
Internationalisation
Globalisation makes ever-increasing demands on our students and staff
being able to navigate and collaborate in an international context. The
university has a large number of international students and staff, and
we will extend our already high level of internationalisation by aiming to
increase the number of students and staff spending time abroad and by
attracting more students and researchers from other countries.
Outreach
Rooted broadly as we are in the south of Denmark, we have unique
opportunities to generate growth and wealth in close collaboration with
local players. We must make even better use of these opportunities than
is the case today. We will aim to ensure that our students are already
equipped for employment on graduation, and we will actively explore
opportunities to transfer our knowledge to the benefit of society, both
globally and locally.
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THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN DENMARK
- A research university focusing on the students
DEGREE PROGRAMME
RESEARCH
OUTREACH
INTERNATIONALISATION
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Degree Programmes
DEGREE PROGRAMMES
The ambition of SDU is to attract talented students with the greatest
academic potential. By maintaining research areas on all campuses and
by working systematically to retain and develop quality in its teaching,
the university offers them a research-based programme at the highest
level.
Talented people are to be found at all levels of society, but until now
by no means all of them have had the chance to exploit their potential.
Those people with no prior knowledge of the university environment in
advance can experience difficulties in starting out as a student. Some
drop out, others do not even apply for a university, despite having the
ability to reach the highest academic level.
SDU aims to develop its students’ full potential by following their
progress before, during and after their programme. We will offer them
a rich student life and allow them to experience activating forms of
teaching during their studies, without compromising academic excellence. This can be done by ensuring that all staff are in close contact with
students, whether as teachers, as counsellors or as service staff.
Strategy Statement
Initiative 1: Attractive study programmes
Actions
• To develop and deliver programmes in collaboration with the labour
market
• To develop interdisciplinary programmes
• To develop programmes that ensure cohesion in the educational
system
• To further develop the university’s PhD courses
Initiative 2: Differentiated forms of learning
Actions
• To increase the use of active learning and activating teaching
• To develop incentives for excellent teaching
• To increase the choice of specific talent programmes for students
Initiative 3: Attractive student life
Actions
• To develop opportunities for sports and other cultural and social
activities
• To contribute to the procurement of jobs relevant to university
study
Key goals
•
•
•
In 2020 the drop-out rate for the first year bachelor programme will
be max. 12%
In 2020 the average duration of a completed programme will be
reduced by at least 3.1 months from 2011 levels
In 2020 SDU will take at least 15% of first priority applicants
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Research
RESEARCH
Global challenges are becoming ever more complex, and there is increasingly tough competition for the most sought-after researchers and
international research funding.
The aim of SDU is to make the greatest possible contribution to the
scientific understanding and management of global challenges. For this
reason we will sharpen the priorities governing our research activities
and strengthen our focus on those areas in which we can deliver exceptional results at the highest level.
In many cases such results are achieved at the interface between two traditional subject areas. This means that we will also increase interdisciplinary collaboration both in solving specific problems and in defining new
concepts and methods.
If we are to achieve these aims, our academic personnel need to be
solidly anchored in their academic specialisms and to have the ability and
the desire to cross the traditional boundaries of their subjects. We also
need our research and academic personnel to be supported by efficient
service of high quality by technical and administrative staff.
Strategy Statement
Initiative 4: Elite research in selected areas
Actions
• To prioritise selected research areas
• To set up an top research programme
• To set up a research talent programme
Initiative 5: Interdisciplinary research
Actions
• To further develop interdisciplinary research
• To strengthen the infrastructural framework for interdisciplinary
research in close collaboration with our partners
Key goals
•
•
•
In 2020 external funding will have increased by 50% from 2013
levels
During the period 2014-2020 the university’s total funding from EU
sources will be at least DKK 700m.
In 2020 SDU will be among the top 150 on Leiden world ranking list
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Internationalisation
INTERNATIONALISATION
For SDU, globalisation brings both new demands and new opportunities. International considerations play an ever more important role in the
academic issues that concern us. Knowledge is increasingly generated
through international networks and with funding from international
sources, and the Danish business community are looking for ever greater
numbers of graduates with an international outlook.
SDU is a university with strong international working partnerships and
with students and staff from the all over the world. The university will extend this already high level of internationalisation by ensuring that larger
numbers of students and staff spend time abroad and develop competences that will make them even more valuable both for their academic
profession and for society’s international competitive potential. And the
university aims to attract more students and researchers from abroad.
This means that is important that all the university’s staff and students
have the skills necessary to handle cultural and linguistic diversity.
Strategy Statement
Initiative 6: An international study environment
Actions
• To integrate periods of study abroad into curricula
• To create a framework for foreign students that provides attractive
conditions for study
• To increase the number of bachelor and masters degrees taught in
English
Initiative 7: An international workplace
Actions
• To increase the recruitment of international staff
• To offer opportunities for developing language skills
• To increase collaboration with selected foreign universities
Key goals
•
•
•
•
In 2020 the number of students with periods of study abroad will
have increased by 50% over 2013 levels
In 2020 at least 60% of the university’s publications will be international collaborative productions
In 2020 at least 20% of the university’s full-time staff will be from
abroad
In 2020 at least 25% of the university’s academic staff will be from
abroad
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Outreach
OUTREACH
One of the most significant strengths of SDU is its broad social involvement. This creates the special conditions necessary for us to generate
positive value in close collaboration with local companies, organisations
and public institutions, including the health sector. Our ambition to ensure that the knowledge and the graduates we send out will create value
for society at large is deeply embedded in our vision and our mission,
but that transfer of value does not always happen by itself. It may be difficult, for example, for a smaller company to see the value of appointing
its first academic.
We must, therefore, make an even greater effort in the future to root
our services in our social context. We will aim to ensure that our graduates are equipped to enter employment as soon as they leave the
university, and that a number of them set up their own business. We will
do our best to make sure that a greater proportion of our research is applied and creates value outside the academic world. And we will strive to
market our knowledge and our graduates more actively and aggressively
to our social environment.
It is important that the university’s staff are involved in their social environment through the exchange and transmission of knowledge and
through collaboration and partnership.
Strategy Statement
Initiative 8: Services to fulfil the needs of society
Actions
• To increase the commercialisation and applicability of research
• To offer relevant and attractive post-graduate and in-service programmes
• To increase our participation in public debate and our transmission
of knowledge, including research-based services to public authorities
Initiative 9: Regional roots
Actions
• A clear and updated profile for research and degree programmes for campuses outside Odense
• To increase collaboration with Odense University Hospital and
the other regional health authorities
• To set up collaborations with business in urban centres around
each campus
Key goals
•
•
In 2020 the proportion of academics in employment in the regions
of Southern Denmark and Zealand will have doubled against 2013
levels
In 2020 the number of collaborative agreements between researchers and public organisations will have increased by 50% against
2013 levels
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THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN DENMARK
- A RESEARCH UNIVERSITY FOCUSING ON THE STUDENTS
STRATEGIC THEMES:
Degree programme
Research
Internationalisation
Outreach
AIMS:
We must develop
our framework for
learning and student life in order
to meet the needs
of the students
and support the
development of
their potential.
We will deliver
research at the
highest international level and make
the greatest possible contribution
to meeting the
challenges facing
the world.
We will extend our
already high level
of internationalisation by aiming
to increase the
number of students
and staff spending time abroad
and by attracting
more students and
researchers from
other countries.
We will aim to
ensure that our
students are
already equipped
for employment on
graduation, and we
will actively explore
opportunities to
transfer our knowledge to the benefit
of society, both
globally and locally.
INITIATIVES:
• Attractive degree
programmes
• Differentiated
forms of teaching
• Attractive student
life
• Elite research in
selected areas
• Interdisciplinary
research
• An international
study environment
• An international
workplace
• Services to fulfil the
needs of society
• Regional roots
• In 2020 external
funding will have
increased by 50%
from 2013 levels
• During the period
2014-2020 the
university’s total
funding from EU
sources will be at
least DKK 700m.
• In 2020 SDU will be
among the top 150
on Leiden world
ranking list
• In 2020 the number of students
with periods of
study abroad will
have increased by
50% over 2013
levels
• In 2020 at least
60% of the university’s publications
will be international
collaborative productions
• In 2020 at least
20% of the university’s full-time staff
will be from abroad
• In 2020 at least
25% of the university’s academic staff
will be from abroad
• In 2020 the
proportion of
academics in
employment in the
regions of Southern
Denmark and
Zealand will have
doubled against
2013 levels
• In 2020 the number
of collaborative
agreements
between
researchers and
public organisations
will have increased
by 50% against
2013 levels
KEY GOALS:
• In 2020 the dropout rate for the
first year bachelor
programme will be
max. 12%
• In 2020 the
average duration
of a completed
programme will be
reduced by at least
3.1 months from
2011 levels
• In 2020 SDU will
take at least 15%
of first priority
applicants
Strategy Statement
Facts
Staff: 5,400
Academic: 2,400
Ph.D. students: 900
Administrative: 2,100
Turnover: DKK 2.8b
Students: 29,000
4,500 international
students 14 %
The Faculty of Engineering
The Faculty of Health Sciences
15 %
10 %
28 %
The Faculty of Humanities
40 %
7%
The Faculty of Business and
Social Sciences
The Faculty of Science
Presence on six campuses:
Esbjerg
Kolding
København
Odense
Slagelse
Sønderborg
2013 figures
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University of Southern Denmark
Campusvej 55
DK-5230 Odense M
www.sdu.dk
© Syddansk Universitet, December 2013
Layout and graphics: Corporate Communication, SDU
Photographer: page 2: Claus Thorsted,
page 5: David Trood, page 6: Hung Tien Vu