By Bo Jeppesen and Mikkel Høj Svendsen, Rector's Office
Photo: Forretningsfilm

Over the past decade, Aalborg University has continuously adapted its strategic direction and organizational framework in order to make our mark on the development of the world. This has resulted in the strategies "Knowledge for the World 2016-21" and "Knowledge for the World 2022-26". This is a good foundation, but if we are to continue to make our mark and our imprint on the world, we must not wait for the current strategy period to expire at the end of 2026. 

"We are in a completely different reality than the one we were in when we formulated our last strategy back in 2021. Therefore, we cannot wait to act just because our strategy is not due to expire until 2026," says Rector Per Michael Johansen. 

For the University Board and the Executive Management, the new strategy is about Aalborg University standing even stronger as a mission-oriented university to be able to contribute to a Europe and Denmark that need unprecedented innovative power. The EU will turbocharge the development of new technology and innovation to solve the climate and health challenges, but this is also based on the fact that Europe is lagging behind both the US and China in security, defence and artificial intelligence. 

"This is about us being able to make an even greater and more significant contribution to society, for we were put here to make it smarter, more prosperous and better. Therefore, together we must further develop our degree programmes, focus on our research strengths and unleash even more innovative power. So that society benefits as much as possible from us, and we are as relevant to society as possible," the rector concludes. 

The University Board has thus initiated a process of developing a new strategy for AAU to replace the current one and to be completed by the end of 2025. Over the next six months, managers and staff across AAU will have the opportunity to be involved in developing the new strategy.

Translated by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communication and Public Affairs