Preparations in full swing: AU Viborg is taking shape
May 27 marked exactly one year since Mette Frederiksen presented the government’s proposed relocation reform at a press conference at AU Viborg – Research Center Foulum. This was the start of a new era for the research centre, which will be ready in the summer of 2023 with an attractive study environment for the new students.
We’ve come a long way in just one year. This is what the dean of Tech, Eskild Holm Nielsen, says about construction of the new campus at AU Viborg – Research Center Foulum, which will be ready to welcome the first veterinary students after the summer holidays next year.
"Establishment of the new campus will be the start of a new and exciting era for AU Viborg. Students will soon be bringing new life to the corridors, but there’s a lot to do before we get that far. Fortunately, we’re already well on the way, and I'm very impressed by the commitment and goodwill I meet, despite the great changes we’re facing," says Eskild Holm Nielsen.
The process to develop AU Viborg into a single consolidated research and education campus is well underway. As Finn Borchsenius, vice-dean for education at Tech says:
"Building a new campus is a major task that requires careful planning, coordination and collaboration across all of Tech. The faculty, the centre and departments are all involved in the process, and we’re working in several tracks to establish study programmes, buildings, budgets, collaboration and much more with our important external stakeholders," he says.
A good study environment is the core
Renovation of the existing building stock has been in sharp focus in the development of AU Viborg. Basically, the plan is to concentrate on the students:
"When we look at the buildings, it's important that we focus on creating the best possible framework for a good study environment and good facilities for students. AU Viborg will be an active and vibrant campus, and we’re putting a lot of emphasis on establishing up-to-date study facilities and options to enrich student life with social activities and generally establish the framework for a strong study environment and community across the new study programmes," says Finn Borchsenius, who expects the overall plan for the site to be reported to employees before very long.
"We’re aware that the staff at AU Viborg – Research Center Foulum have been waiting patiently to find out how the changes will affect their everyday lives. For this reason, we also appreciate the patience and understanding we’ve met locally in Foulum and in the rest of the faculty that a comprehensive process like this takes time," says Finn Borchsenius, who stresses that he will endeavour to keep everyone up to date as much as possible during the process.
Three new degree programmes under development
The new degree programme in veterinary science will be the first to move into the new campus at AU Viborg, followed by the new programmes in agrobiology and animal science. The new veterinary science programme will provide the same competences as the programme in Copenhagen, and the final Master’s degree will qualify students as authorised veterinarians. Nevertheless, there will be some differences between the old and the new veterinary medicine programme:
"We're not going to establish our own animal hospital at AU Viborg. Instead, clinical training on the degree programme will be conducted in collaboration with existing animal clinics and practices. Furthermore, the plan is to organise the programme so that we fully utilise the experimental facilities we have in Foulum, and the possibilities to keep animals such as pigs, horses, cows and poultry. This means that managing live animals will be an element of the programme from the very first semester," says Finn Borchsenius.
For more information: Staff meetings and online portal on the way
The first staff meetings at AU Viborg have been planned for before the summer holidays. Here everyone will be able to learn more about the process, milestones and benchmarks along the way. There will also be ample opportunity to discuss any issues, large and small, and there will be answers to urgent questions.
"As a supplement to the direct dialogue at the staff meetings, we’ll set up an online portal where we will gather all information about AU Viborg and development of the new campus. We hope that everyone will keep up-to-date and get in touch with us or their immediate supervisor if they have questions, input or concerns they need to discuss," says Finn Borchsenius.