University of Southern Denmark

The University of Southern Denmark (Template:Langx, Template:Small SDU) has campuses located in Southern Denmark and on Zealand. It offers a number of joint programmes in co-operation with the University of Flensburg and the University of Kiel. Contacts with regional industries and the international scientific community are strong.

With its 29,674 enrolled students (as of 2016),<ref name=numbers /> the university is both the third-largest and, given its roots in Odense University, the third-oldest Danish university (fourth if one includes the Technical University of Denmark).<ref>"Syddansk Universitet" on the Danish Wikipedia. 21 December 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2019.</ref> Since the introduction of the ranking systems in 2012, the University of Southern Denmark has been ranked between 36th (2012 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>), 38th (2013 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>), 37th (2014<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>), and 44th (2015 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>) in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings in the Top 100 Universities Under 50 List.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is also one of the Top 50 Universities Under 50 according to QS World University Rankings from 2012-2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

The University of Southern Denmark was established in 1998 when Odense University, the Southern Denmark School of Business and Engineering and the South Jutland University Centre were merged.<ref name="history" /> The University Library of Southern Denmark was also merged with the university in 1998.

In 2006, the Odense University College of Engineering was merged into the university and renamed as the Faculty of Engineering.<ref name="history" /> In June 2009, SDU banned smoking during written examinations and in August that year tightened its alcohol policy; both measures were opposed by Freja Brandhøj, head of Syddanske Studerende.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 28 November that year, several hundred students participated in a boycott of the university canteen, calling for lower prices.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2007, the Business School Centre in Slagelse (Handelshøjskolecentret Slagelse) and the National Institute of Public Health (Statens Institut for Folkesundhed) were also merged into the University of Southern Denmark.<ref name="history" /> Princess Marie became a patron of the university in 2009,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and participated in the annual party during several years.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

After being located in different parts of Odense for several years, a brand new Faculty of Engineering building physically connected to the main Odense Campus was established and opened in 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The University Library of Southern Denmark was also merged with the university in 1998. As the original Odense University was established in 1966, the University of Southern Denmark celebrated their 50-year anniversary on September 15, 2016.<ref>http://www.sdu.dk/en/om_sdu/sdu50. University of Southern Denmark. Retrieved 9 September 2017.</ref> The queen of Denmark visited SDU in October of that year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

After being located in different parts of Odense for several years, a brand new Faculty of Engineering building physically connected to the main Odense Campus was established and opened in 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As the original Odense University was established in 1966, the University of Southern Denmark celebrated their 50-year anniversary on September 15, 2016.<ref>http://www.sdu.dk/en/om_sdu/sdu50. University of Southern Denmark. Retrieved 9 September 2017.</ref>

Administration and organization

The university is governed by a board consisting of 9 members: 5 members recruited outside the university form the majority of the board, 1 member is appointed by the scientific staff, 1 member is appointed by the administrative staff, and 2 members are appointed by the students. The rector is appointed by the university board. The rector in turn appoints deans and deans appoint heads of departments. There is no faculty senate and faculty is not involved in the appointment of rector, deans, or department heads. Hence the university has no faculty governance.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The current rector is Jens Ringsmose, and the current Pro-vice-chancellor (Template:Langx) is Helle Waagepetersen.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Campuses

The university's campus Odense, also known as The Rusty Castle

The University of Southern Denmark has six campuses, mainly located in the southern part of Denmark: campus Odense on the island of Funen, campus Slagelse and campus Copenhagen on the island of Zealand, as well as campus Kolding, campus Esbjerg and campus Alsion in Sønderborg, all on the Jutland peninsula.

The campus in Slagelse is officially being discontinued as of 2027, with the university citing issues finding another institution interested in taking over. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The physical buildings of SDU cover an area of 272,554 m² (2007), a figure that has increased from 181,450 m² in 1999 when the university merger was implemented.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The university of Southern Denmark is an active member of the University of the Arctic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> UArctic is an international cooperative network based in the Circumpolar Arctic region, consisting of more than 200 universities, colleges, and other organizations with an interest in promoting education and research in the Arctic region.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The university participates in UArctic's mobility program north2north. The aim of that program is to enable students of member institutions to study in different parts of the North.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• Open access in Denmark<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• University of Southern Denmark
• University Library of Southern Denmark
• Tanulj Dániában - University of Southern Denmark - [Official Hungarian Community on Facebook]
• Alsion, The new campus building in Sønderborg
• Ivkstudiet.dk, International business communication site.