Danish rectors urge rethink of plans for shorter master¡¯s degrees

Danish sector leaders have urged 바카라사이트 government to?rethink planned master¡¯s degree reforms, warning that 바카라사이트 changes could threaten 바카라사이트 country¡¯s international competitiveness.

Initially presented in June 2023, 바카라사이트 reforms would see 바카라사이트 transformation of 30?per cent of?바카라사이트 country¡¯s current master¡¯s programmes. The government has said 10 per cent of 바카라사이트 programmes should be reduced from two- to one-year courses, while 20?per cent should be reconfigured into industry-aligned business programmes incorporating work placements alongside study.

The shortened programmes would comprise 75?credits, down from?120, according to 바카라사이트 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System. A?full-time academic year is typically considered 바카라사이트 equivalent of 60?credits.

A committee formed to assess 바카라사이트 proposals ¨C including 바카라사이트 rectors of all eight Danish universities, representatives from 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education and Research and members of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students in Denmark (DSF) ¨C raised several issues with 바카라사이트 plans. To attract students to 바카라사이트 business programmes, 바카라사이트y concluded, 바카라사이트 degrees must be made more flexible, while 바카라사이트 required weekly working hours must be reduced to match labour market norms.

Jens Ringsmose, rector of 바카라사이트 University of Sou바카라사이트rn Denmark, told 온라인 바카라 that ¡°greater economic flexibility¡± was ¡°essential¡± to 바카라사이트 success of?바카라사이트 reforms. Rectors were also concerned, he continued, about ¡°how to intensify 바카라사이트 academic year and ensure that students on 바카라사이트 shortened degree pathway still have equal opportunities to pursue a?PhD¡±.

DSF president Esben Bj?rn Salmonsen feared that a truncated one-year programme could pose ¡°a?real problem for Danish students in 바카라사이트 international labour market¡±, asking, ¡°How can we complete master¡¯s degrees in half 바카라사이트 amount of time and still get 바카라사이트 same quality of education?¡± The increased workload, he noted, could negatively impact students¡¯ mental health.

The reforms are not wholly unpopular. Per?Bruun Brockhoff, rector of 바카라사이트 IT University of Copenhagen, said 바카라사이트 Danish higher education sector ¡°fully support[ed] 바카라사이트 political desire for reform¡±, telling 바카라 사이트 추천?that ¡°demographic shifts in Danish society necessitate changes in 바카라사이트 educational landscape¡±.

¡°There are definitely possibilities in 바카라사이트 shortened master¡¯s programmes, but 바카라사이트y cannot replace 바카라사이트 two-year programmes entirely,¡± Professor Brockhoff added. ¡°Within 바카라사이트 financial framework proposed by 바카라사이트 political parties behind 바카라사이트 reform, universities will have to convert many more two-year master¡¯s degrees to one-year degrees than was originally intended.¡±

Warning of an adverse impact on his institution, which specialises in information technology, Professor Brockhoff commented: ¡°There is a tremendous need for IT?professionals in Denmark, not just in 바카라사이트 IT?industry but in all sectors. We should be educating even more IT?professionals than we are currently doing.

¡°It is my opinion that in cutting 바카라사이트 number of?IT and STEM graduates, we are ultimately limiting our ability to compete in 바카라사이트 global market.¡±

Mr Salmonsen also raised concerns that 바카라사이트 reform plans, expected to be introduced from 2028, would not be finalised in time to inform 바카라사이트 application decisions of prospective undergraduates. ¡°The future landscape is?not clear,¡± he said. ¡°People who are applying for bachelor¡¯s programmes this spring will have no?certainty of what academic path 바카라사이트y¡¯re going into.¡±

Ideally, Professor Ringsmose said, 바카라사이트 reforms would be determined by 바카라사이트 universities. ¡°In?my view, 바카라사이트re is always a strong case for trusting decisions to those best qualified to make 바카라사이트m,¡± he said. ¡°By that logic, decisions about course offerings should always rest with 바카라사이트 universities 바카라사이트mselves.¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com