Final report of National Committee on the Reform of the Master’s Programmes published: Come to a Q&A session with the pro-rector on Tuesday
: 20.11.2024
: 20.11.2024
By Lea Laursen Pasgaard, AAU Communication and Public Affairs
Photo: Lasse Møller Badstue
The National Committee on the Reform of the Master’s Programmes today published its long-awaited final report on how the new reform of the country's university programmes can be implemented in practice.
Pro-rector Anne Marie Kanstrup considers the reform to be the largest and most radical in recent times, and she is concerned about the conditions for future students. In particular, the Master's programmes for working professionals where students have to work 25 hours a week alongside their studies seem to be a challenge, she believes.
"If we are to achieve the ambitions for the political agreement, more than 300 new jobs must be found in Northern Jutland for students in Master's programmes for working professionals per year," says the pro-rector.
She points out that it can be a very difficult task because the business structure in Northern Jutland is very different from that in the capital where there are significantly more jobs for academics. And a job is a prerequisite for admission to a Master's programme for working professionals.
"My fear is therefore that we will not be able to deliver as many graduates of these professionally oriented Master’s programmes as the political agreement behind the reform suggests. The consequence will be that we will educate significantly fewer engineers and other good graduates that are in great demand. This will affect development in Northern Jutland and the country as a whole where knowledge is needed to create growth," she adds.
The pro-rector is looking forward to the upcoming political discussions and conclusions based on the work of the National Committee. She hopes that politicians will listen to the universities' recommendations, including regarding the Master's programmes for working professionals.
The reform will undeniably have a major impact on AAU's future programme landscape, and the pro-rector acknowledges that for many staff members it is a source of great uncertainty and concern for the future.
However, the Ministry of Higher Education and Science made the National Committee an independent administrative authority. This means that the committee's work is confidential and exempt from public access. But now that the report has been published, Anne Marie Kanstrup is looking forward to being able to discuss the report with AAU staff.
The pro-rector invites all AAU staff to a Q&A session on the content of the report on Tuesday, 26 November, 14.30-15.30.
The pro-rector will take questions about the content of the report:
The Q&A session is 14.30-15.30 in person in Aalborg with connection to Esbjerg and Copenhagen where there are also rooms for in-person attendance. It will not be possible to participate individually via Teams link.
Aalborg: Fibigerstræde 15, Room 1.213 (Auditorium B)
Esbjerg: Niels Bohrs Vej 8, Room C1.104
Copenhagen: A.C. Meyers Vænge 15, Room 1.008 (Auditorium)
Registration is not necessary.
Translated by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communication and Public Affairs.
More information
On 28 November, the Danish Parliament's Committee on Higher Education and Research will hold an open hearing at Christiansborg on the work and conclusions of the National Committee on the Reform of the Master’s Programmes. You can sign up and participate in person. It is also possible to follow the hearing online or watch it afterwards on the Parliament's website.