By Torben Haugaard Jensen, AAU Communication and Public Affairs. Photo: AAU

Reliable, research-based knowledge is crucial when it comes to solving society's challenges. And in this regard Aalborg University plays a key role.

AAU is already known as the problem-solving university where researchers and students are deeply involved in solving societal problems in close collaboration with private and public partners.

We now need to redouble our efforts. This is the ambition of AAU's new strategy for 2026-2029.

"We must be a leading player in our society that interacts with the world to an even greater extent and creates progress with cutting-edge, research-based knowledge in active collaboration with society. In many more instances, we need to take the initiative and set the agenda," says Rector Per Michael Johansen.

Therefore, the new Knowledge for the World 2026-2029 contains four strategic focus areas where AAU as much as possible must be made stronger in the coming years so that the university can increase its contribution to advancing society.

A more focused strategy

The four focus areas contain crucial potentials and major development opportunities for AAU. These include strengthening the university's leading engineering position, expanding and developing mission efforts, promoting innovation and growth, and attracting and developing research talent. 

"The strategy is not an expression of everything we are doing and must do. But it points to four key areas where we need to make exceptional efforts that provide us with the best conditions for making the world a better place," explains Per Michael Johansen.

He is joined by André Rogaczewski, Chair of the University Board who also emphasizes the importance of focusing on the strategy's four themes.

"With the new strategy, AAU sets a clear and ambitious direction for the coming years. The strategy is based on the university's distinctive features in terms of collaboration, quality and societal engagement, and will ensure that AAU continues to contribute with knowledge and solutions that make a real difference, both nationally and internationally."

In the field of engineering, AAU must continue to be one of the best internationally leading universities. Therefore, we must integrate the latest teaching methods in the engineering programmes, and the students must be taught the technologies of the future and have access to state-of-the-art laboratory facilities.

And AAU will also have significantly more mission projects that will contribute to solving major societal problems. This means more collaboration across disciplines. 

In addition, AAU will strengthen innovation where new and better framework conditions from the state can help ensure that AAU's research-based knowledge is put to use out in the world.

This requires talented staff, which is why the university is also making a massive effort to develop and recruit the next generation of research talent. 

Alongside the four strategic themes, it is also important to develop AAU in other areas. 

"Of course, we must continuously adapt to new requirements, expectations and needs of society, including the rapid development of AI which will be of crucial importance during this strategy period," says Per Michael Johansen.

Next steps

For each of the four strategic themes, the Executive Management has appointed one of its members to serve as coordinator: 

Thomas Bak, Dean of the Technical Faculty of IT and Design for the engineering theme; Jesper Wengel, Pro-rector for Research for the mission theme; Mads Bang, Innovation Director for the innovation theme; and Karina Dahl Steffensen, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine for the talent theme.

The executive managers will present the strategy in their respective areas during activities in Aalborg, Copenhagen and Esbjerg over the coming weeks. 

And the rector’s message to staff is that this is important to ensure ownership and commitment.

"The strategy is a lever to strengthen AAU. But without you, it’s just words on paper. We must work together to realize our ambitions and make things happen in practice," says Per Michael Johansen.

Contact 

For further information, please send an email to: aaustrategi@adm.aau.dk

Translated by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communication and Public Affairs.