We now know the consequences of the sector resizing at Health

To accommodate the sector resizing, Health has decided to reduce the number of admissions to its Bachelor’s programmes in sports science and public health science.

Public health science and sports science remain core programmes at Health

At a meeting on implementation of the sector resizing in late October 2024, the Health faculty management team decided to retain the Bachelor's programmes in public health science and sports science. So, no programmes at the faculty will be closed.

Admissions to the two Bachelor’s programmes will be reduced to a total of 82 student places as a consequence of the resizing; sports science will have 48 student places (two classes) and public health science will have 34 places (one class).

"We’re retaining both programmes because they’re both incredibly relevant to society and they train high-quality graduates. The programmes have received positive evaluations from Aarhus University's quality assurance system, and the employer panels have given positive feedback. Furthermore, the proportion of unemployed graduates has decreased," says Dean Anne-Mette Hvas.

The dean points out that the two programmes contribute skills that develop and support the health and well-being of Danish society at both individual and population level. The programmes also support Health’s aim to train graduates who contribute to the faculty’s guiding principle of “Improved health for all”.

A shared study environment

The faculty management team has also decided to establish a shared study environment for the two programmes on Dalgas Avenue, where sports science is already located.

"Unfortunately, two of our programmes will be significantly reduced in size because of the sector resizing. We’re therefore working on establishing a larger shared environment for students and teachers on both degree programmes. Both academically and socially," says Acting Head of Department Helle Terkildsen Maindal and elaborates:

"We’re happy that the faculty management team decided in favour of the proposal submitted by the department, which included a desire for a shared campus. We believe there’s great potential in having a shared study environment on Dalgas Avenue. We’ll do our best to make it a success for everyone and we’ll do so in collaboration with both employees and students.”

Dialogue is underway

Vice-dean for education Lise Wogensen Bach is in charge of Health's degree programmes. At the same time as employees were being informed of the upcoming changes, she informed students about the reduced admissions and the establishment of the new, shared study environment on Dalgas Avenue.

"The students turned up to the meeting in droves to show their commitment and, understandably, their concern. At first, students on the public health science programme couldn’t see the advantage of moving out of the University Park, and I understand that," says Lise Wogensen Bach and emphasises:

"We know there’s a lot of work ahead to establish an academically and socially well-functioning study environment on Dalgas Avenue. We take the concerns of students seriously and we’ll endeavour to involve them in the upcoming process. Clearly, all the staff and students affected should have a say in both the process and the physical environment. We’ll go to great lengths to ensure a good solution for all parties."

A decision based on thorough preparation

The final decision to reduce the number of academic Bachelor’s students on the public health science and sports science programmes, and to establish a common academic and social environment for employees and students was preceded by a process that involved the liaison committee organisation.

“The faculty management team did not make the decision lightly, particularly considering the consequences it’d have for students and employees at the Department of Public Health. The decision was based on thorough and well-thought-out preparatory work that was primarily done at the department," says Dean Anne-Mette Hvas and continues:

"The Master's degree reform is affecting one of our departments particularly hard, and employees and management at the Department of Public Health are facing a major task in implementing the sector resizing - and later also in converting Master's degree programmes. Nevertheless, I’d like to remind you that we’re all part of the same faculty and we will, as a faculty, support the department in its efforts."

Contact

Dean Anne-Mette Hvas
Aarhus University, Health
Email: dean.health@au.dk

Acting Head of Department Helle Terkildsen Maindal
Aarhus University, Department of Public Health
Telephone: (+45) 25 46 23 20
Email: htm@ph.au.dk

Vice-dean for Education Lise Wogensen Bach
Aarhus University, Health
Telephone: (+45) 25 48 85 22
Email: lwb@au.dk

Read more in the articles “We will know the consequences of the sector resizing by the end of October" and “The Master’s reform will affect one institute at Health more than others”.