Aarhus' future mayor on being at the helm of the country's largest student city: "We shouldn’t rest on our laurels"

Disclaimer: This text was translated using machine translation / AI and post-edited by Maria Nielsen Pedersen.

It’s only been four years since Anders Winnerskjold was a student at Aarhus University. However, he had already been elected to the Aarhus City Council back in 2017, which, in his own words, made for a rather unconventional master’s degree programme. Since earning his master's degree in political science, he has maintained his connection to the university. He co-founded the company Elevaid with his fellow student Nikolaj Schlüter, which was linked to AU's entrepreneurship hub, The Kitchen.

How would you describe your relationship with the university?

"Besides studying at AU and spending some very formative years there, I've also been part of the university's entrepreneurial environment while starting my business. So, the university has had a huge impact on my life in my early twenties, and the university’s campus in Aarhus is still one of my favourite places in the city. Watching the transformation of the former municipal hospital into a new campus is also a unique experience for a proud Aarhus patriot like me. The university serves as a positive driving force for the city."

Mayor – and external lecturer

This semester, Anders Winnerskjold has supplemented his role as alderman for the City Executive Board for the department of Social Affairs and Employment with a position as an external lecturer in political science at Aarhus University. Alongside Professor Søren Serritzlew, he teaches the master's seminar 'Who Holds Power in the Municipalities? The Interests, Conflicts, and Competencies of Politicians and Civil Servants.'

"I agreed to this because I want to give back to a place that has given me so much," he says.

The students in the seminar can look forward to lessons from the mayor himself, as Anders Winnerskjold will continue as an external lecturer when he takes on the duty as the mayor of Aarhus. However, he won’t be leading the students to their exams, as that wasn’t part of the plan; he was originally scheduled to take paternity leave in December. His leave has now been moved to January. Anders Winnerskjold recently welcomed a daughter who is now six months old. 

At the helm of the country's largest student city

Anders Winnerskjold has to pause the brief interview several times to accept congratulations from passing citizens he encounters while walking through Strøget on Friday morning.

When asked what will be important for him as he takes the helm of the country's largest student city, he responds:

"The fact that at so many students, year after year, say they think Aarhus is a fantastic student city – if not the best in Denmark – is something to be really proud of. That said, we shouldn’t rest on our laurels. Some young people struggle when life gets challenging, and I want to help them. I also have a soft spot for those who don’t fit into the boxes."

What are some things you think could be improved in that regard?

"We probably need a broader societal diagnosis to answer that question. It’s a combination of many factors, including pressure to perform, the urge to compare oneself to others, and the feeling that many young people must make the right choice the first time they decide on their education. That’s a tough choice to make when you’re just 18 or 19."

The Regatta?

The outgoing mayor, Jacob Bundsgaard, has a tradition of kicking off the Regatta alongside the university's rector. But what does the future mayor think about that?

Is it a tradition you plan to continue?

"I won’t invite myself, but if I get the invitation, I’ll say yes."