By Bo Jeppesen and Mikkel Høj Svendsen, Rector's Office
File photo: AAU

Hardly anyone who looked ahead to today would have seen war, rearmaments, trade wars and inflation, artificial intelligence, unpredictable world leaders, a Master’s reform and fewer young academics. 

"The point is that the university is navigating in a highly volatile world where the requirements for delivering the best degree programmes, research and innovation are constantly being tightened. We should therefore revisit our strategy to consider how we handle the many major changes in the world around us," says Rector Per Michael Johansen.

Focused strategy

Over the past 10 years, Aalborg University has continuously adapted its strategic direction and organizational framework with Knowledge for the World 2016-21 and 2022-26. For the rector, the new geo- and security policy situation, along with the many university reforms and the announcement of a national research policy strategy in 2025, means that the university should focus its strategy even more.

The purpose being to ensure that the university is the best and strongest version of itself and thus remains relevant to the society that it was created to contribute to.

"We are therefore embarking on the process of developing a new strategy for AAU. We will begin involving the organization in the coming months so that we can focus more closely on our strengths in a new strategy," says the rector.

Willingness to embrace change

On his visits to the university's departments, he has noticed great interest in tackling the upheavals that the university sector has also been facing in recent years.

"I think we are in a good place where I can hear and feel a willingness to embrace the changes and not wait for others to come along and adapt the university for us. The strategic exercise for us is about how we achieve our current strategic vision. This means that through high quality in our core activities, we will help create solutions to complex societal challenges – regionally, nationally and globally," says Per Michael Johansen.

In the coming months, the rector will thus initiate a process where he reaches out to the organization for input and feedback to develop AAU in the coming years.

Translated by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communication and Public Affairs