1. AARHUS UNIVERSITY Strategies to Win the BestRector Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen

2. For the world’s top universities the real challenge is not funding but competing for the most advanced human capital… Nobel Laureate Jens Christian Skou, Aarhus University The Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 1997

3. Scientific staff increasingly on the move Share of foreign-born human resources in science and technology, aged 25-64 years in EU-27 and selected countries, 2006 Source: Eurostat HRST data base

4. Who will be the winners and losers in the global competition for the best qualified staff? • Attracting researchers is not simply a question of pecuniary rewards • Opportunities for career development • Autonomy to pursue the unexpected • Well-financed positions • Importance of creating attractive research environments Source: Holm-Nielsen & Thorn, 2008

5. How do different university systems perform? Evaluated dimensions • Degree of independence • Guidance received from superior or coworkers • Salary • Holiday entitlement • Health-care benefits • Maternity or paternity leave • Retirement plan • Total hours worked per week Source: Nature Vol 465 24 June 2010

6. The Modern University The Humboldt University The Triple Helix University Talent development PhDs Research Education Post docs Students Knowledge exchange Professors Research projects Studies Research programmes Lifelong learning Contracts

7. Advanced career Early career Post doc PhD Early recruitment Principles guiding career development at Aarhus University • Clearly defined pathways • Support for high-flying individuals • Incentives for scientific staff to work across scientific disciplines • Recognition of alternative career tracks (e.g. industrial PhD program) • Early warning when permanent employment is unlikely to be realized

8. Advanced career Early career Post doc PhD Early recruitment Early identification of research talent Duration of PhD education vary from 3-5 years 5 + 3 Bologna Classic 4 + 4 3 + 5 Bologna Danese

9. Nurturing early-stage researchers • Award potential and not always exclusively an extensive achievement record • Provide young staff freedom to conduct independent research • Assistance from research support office in applications for competitive funding • Allocate time for training and international collaboration Nobel Laureate Dale T. Mortensen, NWU and Aarhus University, The Nobel Prize in Economics, 2010

10. Use of financial incentives • Strategic use of the university research foundation • Grants for screening potential PhDs and post docs • Starting grants for young potential researchers • Support for the recruitment of highly accomplished scientists and foreign professors Francis Fukuyama, Stanford and Aarhus University

11. Recruitment and visibility • Need to avoid “cannibalism” by promoting brain circulation and refraining from charitable recruitment • Post all research positions- including entry-level posts, openly and internationally • Headhunting and active use of search committees • Engagement in employer branding

12. Capacitybuilding in developingcountries • Well-managed universities in developing countries bring: • Local knowledge production and innovation • Local availability of highly skilled graduates • How may university sectors contribute to capacity strengthening within research and higher education in the most efficient and constructive way?

13. Thank youRector Lauritz B. Holm-NielsenE-mail: rector@au.dk