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

When students at Aalborg University work together on projects, they strengthen the foundation of democracy in Denmark. This is important in a time of war and unrest in the world.

These are the words of Jeppe Emmersen, Associate Professor who at the end of the year will begin a new three-year term as Vice Dean for Education at the Faculty of Medicine.

"Democracy is conversation and dialogue, and it is an essential part of students' day-to-day lives. During group work, they learn that the minority also has a voice. It’s democracy in micro-format," says Jeppe Emmersen.

Setting the framework for a democratic set of values

Over the years at AAU, Jeppe Emmersen has gone from being an ordinary researcher at the Faculty of Medicine to becoming the faculty's head of education. 

His focus shifted from research projects on bioinformatics and stem cell biology to a broader perspective on education, taking into account the entire university and the education sector.

Since 2009, he has collaborated with many internal and external actors, including the region's hospitals and the Danish Health Authority, as well as companies and organisations nationally and internationally.

It is important to him that the wider world trusts that the students not only have the right skills so that they can contribute to society, but also the right values. 

This is especially true at a time of major changes in the education sector where the university's degree programmes will be in more direct contact with the business community after the Master's degree reform.

For the programmes at the Faculty of Medicine, this is mainly the healthcare system and the life science industry.

"This is about the future of young people and their values. The university has a responsibility to produce graduates who, with their knowledge and formative experience, support democracy. They do this particularly because they have learned to cooperate and know the importance of dialogue," says Jeppe Emmersen - and adds:

"We must maintain this focus as we work on our programme portfolio when the Master's degree reform is implemented, and we must work much more directly with, for example, the business community."

Understanding people is important

Jeppe Emmersen is also concerned with the importance of the health reform for a healthcare system that has been in a state of flux. His ambition is that AAU's degree programmes should be at the forefront of the changes.

Local healthcare will play a significantly greater role. Jeppe Emmersen particularly emphasizes a collaboration with Aalborg Municipality to send medical students out on internships in local communities. 

Early patient contact gives medical students a better understanding of people and the complexity of the healthcare system, which is important for when they go out and work as doctors in the healthcare system.

"They learn that patients are not theoretical figures in a book, but real people who must be understood and dealt with in an ethically responsible way. They also learn that there is a difference between the hospital's structured clinical environment and people’s lives. This will benefit patients and the healthcare system as a whole," says Jeppe Emmersen.