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Andrei T. Erichsen
Auditorium at a Denish University
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By Pro-Vice Chancellor,
Dr. Lykke Friis
Since Christmas, Denmark has made headlines all
over the world with the "cartoon-war".
The press coverage has challenged our image as a
Nordic welfare state and a country, where ugly ducklings
inevitably turn into beautiful swans.
The framework for Higher Education in Denmark may
nevertheless still bring to mind a Hans Christian
Andersen fairytale to any American. In Denmark,
Higher Education from BA to PhD is not a commodity,
not a service product, but a public good. The government
provides Higher Education at almost 100% publicly
funded universities – private universities
do not exist. A three year BA and a two year MA
are free of charge to all applicants with the required
high school GPA. On top of that, PhD students are
regarded as employees, with decent salaries and
access to all welfare state benefits. The high level
of state involvement also puts Denmark at the top
end of spending for Higher Education among the OECD
countries. And that does not even include - probably
- the best grant scheme for studies in the world!
At the University of Copenhagen, we offer research
based education for more than 32.000 students –
including 3000 international students, half of them
on exchange. The University has a long tradition
of welcoming international scholars and students;
it was founded by permission of the Pope in Rome
as an international university in 1479. Throughout
the Middle Ages, the University was a so called
"Learned Republic." The King ruled Denmark;
the Rector ruled the university, and he was advised
not to leave the university premises without two
armed bodyguards. We had full jurisdiction and the
university dungeons are still here to be seen.
500 years later, we do not put our students in
jail – on the contrary; we give them license
to leave and study at the very best universities
all over the world as part of their degree. And
the Rector and his Pro-Vice Chancellor have no fear
of the surrounding society. Long ago we have left
the ivory tower to become a driver of economic growth.
With some thoughtful consideration, this new role
may be combined with our mission of housing blue
sky research and education to the highest international
level. We are deeply involved in all innovative
processes of society, and therefore we are also
an important player in sustaining and developing
the welfare society for the next generation.
Phillipe Busquin, the former EU Commissioner in
charge of research, has been voicing a common concern
for universities all around Europe: "Europe
more than ever needs research because half of the
economic growth in the knowledge-society is being
obtained through innovations."
At the University of Copenhagen, we will still
rely on a continuing high level of government involvement
in financing Higher Education and research. Generally
speaking, I am convinced that the Nordic welfare-model
will survive and that fairytales will still be told.
Hopefully many more American students will join
us as we embark upon new fairytales.
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