University of Southern Denmark

About SDU

The University of Southern Denmark welcomed the first students onto the campus in Odense in September 1966, and things have been developing by leaps and bounds ever since. We now have five faculties with more than 32,000 students, almost 20% of whom are from abroad, and more than 4,000 employees distributed across our main campus in Odense and regional campuses in Slagelse, Kolding, Esbjerg and Sønderborg. Several international studies document that we conduct world-class research and are one of the top fifty young universities in the world.

Over the years, the University of Southern Denmark has interwoven many lives. The roughly five years which a student invests in a university education will lay the groundwork for the rest of his or her life. And with around 115 different study programmes in the fields of the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, health sciences and engineering, graduates of the University of Southern Denmark are now members of virtually every profession in the international community.

Quality Enhancement

The overall goal of University of Southern Denmark’s quality enhancement system is to facilitate and support the continuous improvements of our educations as stated in the university vision:

“Our students develop academic competencies and personal skills in an inspiring and innovative learning environment. Teaching is of the highest quality in terms of both academic level and pedagogical methods. Our degree programmes are revised and upgraded on an ongoing basis to reflect national and global requirements.”

The quality enhancement activities are supported by a wide range of tasks each focusing on spotting trends and development indicators and supporting the organisation with up-to-date documentation, statistical statements and accreditation of programmes. Tasks that are centrally coordinated, but carried out for and in joint efforts with faculties, departments and other university units.

Research

Many thriving research environments within a wide range of areas can be found at the university’s five faculties. SDU has garnered international acclaim for its contributions to a variety of fields, spanning from twin research and robotics to the life and works of H.C. Andersen.

Research at SDU serves several purposes:

1. Firstly, research creates new knowledge and insights into complex issues.
2. Secondly, research supports the education programmes and courses offered at SDU.
3. Thirdly, the results are disseminated so that SDU research can benefit the private sector and the general public.

2016 marked the opening of SDU’s Danish Institute for Advanced Study (D-IAS). At the institute, researchers and talented individuals meet and inspire one another across subject areas, departments and faculties to develop new research.