Chair of the AU Board appeals to minister to increase the university’s funding for basic research: “Knowledge is a form of emergency preparedness”

Aarhus University chose Friday the 13th to celebrate its 96th anniversary, but it wasn’t the 1980s horror film of the same name that chair of the board Birgitte Nauntofte selected as a cultural reference in her speech – it was the DR series Miraklet i Aarhus (The miracle in Aarhus), which takes a look at the city’s musical and creative boom in the 1980s.  

“Whoever you are. Wherever you are. Welcome to the 2024 Aarhus University annual celebration!” exclaimed Birgitte Nauntofte, who started her speech by praising the many AU researchers who bring their knowledge out into society through the media, political commissions, government consultancy, books, presentations in community centres and festivals.

“Having researchers who make such essential contributions to ensuring the public is well-informed and interested in new knowledge and debate is a huge asset to a democracy,” she continued, emphasising that AU researchers contribute in the form of “world-class research” and a “unique culture around basic research.”

“This has been possible thanks to many years of stable financing from the state to the universities through so-called ‘basic funding for research’. This financing has been crucial in enabling the university to become truly comprehensive. Because it’s this basic funding that makes long-term non-targeted basic research possible, which in turn makes it possible for us to offer research-based education within all of our subjects,” said Birgitte Nauntofte.

“But these non-targeted, non-earmarked funds have not increased - have stagnated, in other words - for over a decade. So this basic funding has not in any way kept pace with the - quite significant - development in competitive external funding for targeted research,” Nauntofte pointed out and continued to give some figures.  

“The numbers speak for themselves: In 2023, basic funding accounted for 29 per cent of Aarhus University’s total revenues, whereas external funding accounted for all of 36 per cent”.

“Knowledge is a form of emergency preparedness”

According to Nauntofte, external funding for research at national level has increased by more than 50 per cent over the past ten years. This growth offers unique opportunities, but external funding cannot replace basic funding, and the stagnation of basic funding presents risks for research-based teaching, the development of new research talent, and research infrastructure – as well as the breadth of AU’s research palette.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the last couple of years, it’s that we can’t predict what kind of knowledge there might suddenly be a very urgent need for.

“If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the last couple of years, it’s that we can’t predict what kind of knowledge there might suddenly be a very urgent need for,” said the chair of the board.

“Knowledge is also a form of emergency preparedness,” she said, urging the minister to use this as an argument for why it is worth investing in the universities and giving them a much-needed boost in basic funds.

“As the singer Thomas Helmig - Aarhus born and bred - once sang: ‘there will hopefully come a day when reason will hold sway’. Let’s hope that this day also comes - and soon!”.  

Rector: Hold on to curiosity and optimism

Before the minister could reply to this appeal, Rector Brian Bech Nielsen stepped onto the podium to emphasise the role of science in society – but he didn’t miss the opportunity to tell the minister in the front row what he thought about the many political reforms of the university sector. He began his speech in the outer reaches of the solar system with the Voyager 1 spacecraft.

“The reason I started so far out in space is not because I am searching for a suitable place to park the Master’s degree reform - although the thought has crossed my mind. No, it’s because the Voyager mission says something about the role universities and science have to play in our society,” he said, and continued:

“Why is Voyager actually flying around out there in the dark billions of kilometres from our own planet? If you ask me, there’s only one answer: because of curiosity and optimism – our fundamental urge to understand as much about the world around us and ourselves as we possibly can. And our indomitable belief that what takes us forward is the pursuit of new knowledge.”

This curiosity and optimism is something we should hold on to, both as a society and as individuals, he said, even though there are plenty of reasons to worry in these times of conflict, war and threats to democracy.

“We are building more and more walls - both online and in real life. The university is no exception, where terms like espionage and unintentional knowledge transfer are now an important part of our vocabulary - and our working lives. Going forward, we will have to be much more cautious when we travel, when we engage in international collaboration, and when we hire new employees,” he said, emphasising that the university is fulfilling the requirements of the state and the intelligence services.

“But we’re being asked to compromise fundamental academic ideals related to the free exchange of knowledge and talent, and I won’t conceal the fact that we do so purely out of necessity and with a heavy heart. Science is founded on – and thrives on - openness and collaboration. Not war, fear and distrust. But fortunately, hope for the future is intrinsic to the essence of science. Knowledge works – knowledge matters! Knowledge takes us forward. That’s precisely why it’s important that we hold on to our curiosity and optimism, along with a degree of idealism. We have to dare to think proactively”.

With this call to action, he turned back to the minister:

Undeniably, it’s been challenging for the universities to be proactive for many years – while at the same time we’ve been tossed around like the ball in a pinball machine by a rapid-fire succession of various reforms.

“Undeniably, it’s been challenging for the universities to be proactive for many years – while at the same time we’ve been tossed around like the ball in a pinball machine by a rapid-fire succession of various reforms. The Master’s degree reform is just the most recent in the series”.

The rector continued:

“We respect the intentions behind the agreements made by the Danish parliament. We do our very best to deliver on the tasks we’re assigned – even when they’re painful. But we’re also under an obligation to point out the discrepancy between political intentions and what’s possible within the given framework”.

Egelund: Science is our safeguard against division

Next, Christina Egelund took to the podium and reiterated the clear role of the university in challenging times – from her choice of words, it was clear that she was also a fan of Miraklet i Århus (Miracle in Aarhus):

“It’s tempting to think that the world has lost its mind, but this doesn’t mean there isn’t hope, because in the midst of these many problems and conflicts, the role of the university has become even clearer. Research, innovation, teaching and formative education will take our society forward, even during difficult times. Science is our safeguard against the divisions spreading across our society. With research comes the hope that we can solve the problems we are facing. New knowledge, new discoveries, and new technology will make our society stronger and better”.  

She then went off script and responded to Birgitte Nauntofte’s appeal, albeit without making any promises.

We need to ensure that research initiatives are receiving the support that they require in these challenging times.

“I agree with the chair of the board that we need to ensure that research initiatives are receiving the support they require in these challenging times. More political attention is being given to research, and there is a greater political appetite to look to research for solutions,” said the minister, who didn’t elaborate further.   

This year’s student speaker: Support student associations

This year’s student speaker was medical student Porskrog Boisen, who focused on student well-being. She began by explaining how she expected to find the academic side of university difficult when she started her degree.

“But it was actually the social side of university life that I found hard”.

For Karen Porskrog Boisen, joining the Medicine Students’ Council was the social boost she needed. And she believes that student clubs and associations can help combat feelings of unhappiness that some students experience. But many clubs and associations are struggling to survive, and a lack of financial support and rules prohibiting them from accepting sponsorship make it difficult to run them, she pointed out.

If students ask for two minutes of your lecture time to promote an event they’re holding in their association, please say yes.

So she made a direct appeal to those present in the Main Hall to support student associations.

“If students ask for two minutes of your lecture time to promote an event they’re holding in their association, please say yes. If an association asks for a contribution, please say yes. And consider once again whether you can offer associations more financial support,” concluded Karen Porskrog Boisen, who received the longest round of applause of the day.

Translated by Sarah Louise Jennings.