How AAU Election 2023 Went
: 06.12.2023
How AAU Election 2023 Went
: 06.12.2023
Forside
How AAU Election 2023 Went
By Lea Laursen Pasgaard, AAU Communication and Public Affairs. Translated by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communication and Public Affairs. Photos: Candidates' personal photos
The votes from this year's university election at Aalborg University (AAU) have been counted, and it has now been decided who will represent staff on the university's board, academic councils, study boards and PhD committees.
Among those elected are both new and familiar faces, including the election for the University Board. Fundraiser Lene Horn was re-elected in an uncontested election and will thus serve four more years as technical and administrative staff representative. The academic staff election for the University Board was decided in a contested election. Kjeld Nielsen, Associate Professor, Department of Materials and Production was re-elected to the University Board as representative for the 'wet lab' areas, while Thessa Jensen, Associate Professor, Department of Communication and Psychology was elected to represent the 'dry lab' areas. They received 128 and 189 votes respectively.
This year, elections were held for a total of 63 bodies – distributed across 266 by-elections, 45 of which were contested elections. The total voter turnout for this year’s election was 20.15%.
Among the students, there were also contested elections for the University Board; Bertil Weis Jørgensen from the Student Society will be one of two student representatives on the board. There are two elected student representatives on Aalborg University's board. These are alternately up for election for a two-year term. The other is Daniel Sejr Vitagliano from the student association AMPED which works for a better study environment across all degree programmes at AAU in Copenhagen.
Reactions to the election result
Thessa Jensen, Associate Professor, elected to the University Board as academic staff representative at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. Received 189 personal votes. See her candidate portrait here (in Danish).
What is your reaction to the election?
I’m surprised, a little nervous and very curious about how the work of our board will take place. The support from my colleagues has been overwhelming, and I would like to thank everyone who helped put up election posters and spread the word about my candidacy – and voted for me!
You ran for office to strengthen the involvement of AAU staff. What can and will you do to make sure that happens?
Unfortunately, I can’t guarantee anything. But I can listen to my colleagues, actively seek out conversations across departments and also faculties – and then pass on the experiences, challenges and ideas to the Executive Management and the external members of the University Board. And I can try to get the board and the management to be better at listening to us.
Another of your key issues is to ensure "better collaboration with SSH researchers". What does that entail? And how will you ensure that happens?
Better collaboration with SSH researchers requires that the Executive Management and the University Board recognize the challenges that SSH has in relation to other faculties. That the Executive Management and the University Board actively engage in real conversations, are willing to listen and acknowledge the issues we are facing. This applies not only to the new budget model, but also to areas such as research and education. At the same time, SSH staff can offer a great deal of expertise in the social sciences and humanities, which can benefit everyone in terms of knowledge about the role of the university and education in a changing world.
Kjeld Nielsen, Associate Professor, re-elected to the University Board as academic staff representative in the 'wet lab' areas – TECH, HEALTH and ENGINEERING. Received 128 personal votes. See his candidate portrait here (in Danish).
What is your reaction to your re-election?
The first thing that strikes me is humility. It is a privilege to be chosen from among colleagues. A privilege that also requires involvement and effort on my part. Not only in the boardroom, but also especially outside the boardroom.
You ran for office to strengthen the involvement of AAU staff. What can and will you do to make sure that happens?
I will continue to work to strengthen staff involvement in all decisions. Involvement is part of the democratic culture that both staff and management can only gain from. A culture of natural involvement creates a foundation for trust in the organization. Culture change starts in the boardroom. The journey has begun, but it is far from over. I have personally chosen to facilitate involvement more directly by holding a short open pre-meeting prior to the board meetings. Everyone is of course welcome.
You also ran on strengthening interdisciplinarity. How will that happen?
Interdisciplinarity is a matter close to our hearts. I think our current organizational structure supports silo thinking, and this makes it harder for us to face a future that is changing as much as it is. With the AAU missions, we have begun work that only really functions with interdisciplinary efforts.