By Lea Laursen Pasgaard, AAU Communication. Translated by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communication

It will be a difficult and extremely complex task to draw up the concrete plan for restructuring the country's Master's degree programmes. The new shorter Master's degree programmes are not an idea that stems from the Danish universities themselves, but the reform is a reality, and it is now crucial that Aalborg University (AAU) engages constructively in the work on the reform going forward.

Rector Per Michael Johansen and Pro-rector Anne Marie Kanstrup are of one mind when it comes to the upcoming work on the reform that begins on 27 September. For the first time, the rector will meet with the other members of the national committee tasked with making specific recommendations before the end of October next year on implementing the reform of the Master’s degree programmes.

- The time for discussing the rationale for the reform is over. We must proceed in action mode, not problematization mode, says Rector Per Michael Johansen, who is supported by the pro-rector:

- We need to engage constructively in the work and think carefully about where and how it would make sense for us to restructure our degree programmes, because it’s going to happen, says Anne Marie Kanstrup.

Task force to equip the rector

The pro-rector has therefore set up a task force aimed at ensuring that AAU – led by the rector – is thoroughly prepared for the work that will take place in the national committee.

- Never before have we faced such a major reform. It will be a huge, complex job and there are many unknowns. We are still awaiting details such as the schedule and sequence of the many tasks described in the terms of reference. So, we cannot yet present a plan for how the work will proceed. But we have read the terms of reference carefully, and we know that one of the first things that will be relevant is an assessment of which Master's degree programmes need to be restructured, says Pro-rector Anne Marie Kanstrup.

The academic environments must make recommendations

Through the deans, the pro-rector has asked the academic environments at AAU to submit their recommendations no later than 13 October as to which of AAU's 117 Master's degree programmes can be restructured. The rector and pro-rector have asked the environments to involve at least the vice deans for education, vice heads of department, heads of studies and study boards in the assessment work.

The task force has prepared as well as possible, and there is a lot of programme data from the quality system for the academic environments to draw on. How they arrive at their recommendations, the rector and pro-rector will leave up to the environments themselves.

- There are some percentages from the terms of reference. It must make academic sense, and the academic insight is found in the academic environments, says the rector.

Universities cooperating

Per Michael Johansen makes no secret of the fact that a difficult task awaits the national committee. Politicians have imposed many conditions on the work. First, the committee must take into account that some degree programmes are required for professional authorization. Second, the committee must consider small programmes and their research environments, geography and the general division of labour between universities.

- There are a lot of considerations and agendas in the mix. The universities will try to maintain good cooperation and as much consensus as we possibly can. But we also know that challenges can easily arise when principles are put into practice, says the rector.

If small programmes are to be merged, which university should they belong to? Should the English-language study places be located in the smaller towns where student enrolment is challenged, or should they primarily be located in the large university cities?

- Such discussions will inevitably challenge the consensus among the university rectors. However, my proposal would be that we approach the committee’s work with one unanimous recommendation. It may well happen that none of us emerges from our internal discussions without a few scratches, but this is how I think we will achieve the most, states Per Michael Johansen.

The rector and pro-rector will provide regular updates about the work of the national committee on AAU Update.