University of Southern Denmark

Overview

University of Southern Denmark (SDU or Syddansk Universitet) is a public university with campuses in different parts of Denmark. It has locations in Odense, Kolding, Esbjerg, Sonderborg, Slagelse, and Copenhagen. Founded in 1998, SDU sees nearly 30,000 students yearly, making it one of the largest universities in the country. It is a top-notch institution considered by major ranking organizations to be among the top 50 “young” universities in the world.

The university generally focuses on business and engineering studies but it also provides other courses as it continues to expand. To date, the academic programs are organized into 32 departments across five major faculties. These include Health Sciences, Engineering, Humanities, Science, and Social Sciences. Programs in Journalism, Mechatronics Engineering, and Information Science are likewise offered.

Other majors include Business Administration, Cultural Analysis, and Sports Management. A notable course is its Chiropractic Studies, the only one of its kind in Scandinavia. Some of the courses use English as the medium of instruction; for instance, American Studies and European Studies.

University of Southern Denmark also houses around 35 research centers and a library network that serves the whole of southern Denmark. Research initiatives in SDU mainly revolve around information technology, biotechnology and communication. Reinforcing its research projects are major research centers housed in the university, notably, the Hans Christian Andersen Center, the Danish Biotechnology Instrument Centre, and the Centre for Sound Communication.

The University of Southern Denmark also has close collaboration with the private sector in the area, primarily around professional certifications and continuing education. This university-industry partnership has resulted in establishing key institutes such as the Mads Clausen Institute, which focuses on the development of software for intelligent products, the Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute, which undertakes research in robotics, and a Lego-funded center for studies in child behavior.

The university was established in 1998 as a result of the merger of three schools: the South Jutland University Centre, Odense University, and the Southern Denmark School of Business and Engineering. In 2007, the university further expanded with the merger of the National Institute of Public Health and the Business School Centre.

Notable alumni from SDU include scientists in a variety of fields. They include Jan Hartvigsen (chiropractor), Qihua Tan (biostatistics, biodemography, epidemiology), Alice Kongsted (musculoskeletal research), and Marianne Holmer (marine science).