Crown Prince Frederik, 29 years ago a rather shy poli sci student at AU, opens new centre for public management on his 50th birthday

The Crown Prince held the opening speech at the official opening of the Crown Prince Frederik Center for Public Leadership on 23 May. “I never dreamed that I would be standing here one day, 29 years after I was a rather shy poli sci student,” he said with a self-deprecating smile.  

While we wait for the royal couple. Chair of the Board Connie Hedegaard and Rector Brian Bech Nielsen with flower girl Ella, whose role was to give the Crown Princess a bouquet. Ella is the daughter of Associate Professor Christian Bøtcher Jacobsen form the Department of Political Science.

Crown Prince Frederik was 21 years old when he started the political science programme at Aarhus University in 1989. Queen Margrethe had studied political science at Aarhus University before him – whether he brought along his mother’s yellowed notes is not known. Actually, the plan was for the Crown Prince only to take a few courses  over two semesters, but by the end of the first year, the Crown Prince had already decided to complete the entire degree programme. 

Chair of the Board Connie Hedegaard and Rector Brian Bech Nielsen greeting the royal couple outside the Main Hall. 

So how do I get a majority in Parliament?

Tommy Ahlers (Danish Liberal Party), the new minister for higher education and science, also spoke at the opening. As a newly minted government official, he admitted that he could certainly imagine that he might need to call on the knowledge represented at the new centre: 

“There’s a good chance that I might give you a ring to get a quick answer on how to answer a section 20 question (a question on a matter of public concern posed by a member of Parliament to a minister, ed), or to ask how to get a majority,” the minister joked. 

Tommy Ahlers (Danish Liberal Party), the new minister for higher education and science, also spoke at the opening. 

Professor Lotte Bøgh Andersen appointed centre director

Lotte Bøgh Andersen, professor of political science at AU, is the director of the new centre, and in her speech at the opening she addressed the new centre’s mission, which is to conduct international research on public management – research which will contribute to the best possible form of management in public institutions. In light of this mission, the centre will place a high priority on popular research communication aimed at putting research to work in public institutions at national, regional and municipal level. 

Official opening of the centre in the University Park

Towards the end of the afternoon, HRH Crown Prince Frederik performed the official opening of the centre, which is located in Building 1340 in the University Park. Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen (Danish Liberal Party) and Pia Kjærsgaard (Danish People's Party), chair of the Danish Parliament also participated in the festivities.

Købmand Herman Sallings Foundation will provide financial support for the centre over the next five or six years, announced Karin Salling, who also participated in the opening.

Karin Salling is vice-chair of the Board of Directors of Herman Sallings Foundation.

Students also found their way to the reception at the Social Sciences cafeteria which followed the official opening, among them the two psychology students Anne Sofie Broch Lauridsen and Marianne Bang Sørensen, who were taking a break from writing their Master’s theses. 

Anne Sofie Broch Lauridsen (left) and Marianne Bang Sørensen had followed the Crown Prince’s movements in Aarhus all day on Instagram.

FACTS 

The Crown Prince Frederik Center for Public Leadership

The centre’s central goal is to improve the ability of public institutions to fulfil their objectives through three contributions which combine to support this goal: 

1. International top-class research on public management
2. Popular communication of this research in close dialogue with practice
3. Development of public sector managers through teaching and training

Købmand Herman Sallings Foundation is funding the centre and its activities are based on this funding and the research time the participating researchers contribute to the centre.

The Crown Prince Frederik Center for Public Leadership

Professor Lotte Bøgh Andersen speaking with the royal couple.

MORE PHOTOS FROM THE OPENING:

• Photographer Lars Kruse from AU Photo was on the scene all day –experience the opening of the centre through his lens

Translated by Lenore Messick