Minister: Reform to be postponed

Loud protests from students and quiet criticism from university administrators and managers has forced the Danish government to step down from its plans to speed up study programmes. This is according to Politiken.dk.

The so-called Study Progress Reform would for the University of Copenhagen – the slowest graduating of the Danish universities – mean that students have seven months less on average to complete their studies.

According to the newspaper, a meeting will be held Thursday where Minister of Education Morten Østergaard (Social Liberals) will call in coalition partners to soften the reform.

Liberal Party wants guarantees

“I have seen responses from the universities, and I can see that it will be difficult, bordering on impossible to be ready to implement this before 1 September for all students,” he says.

Instead only new students will be forced to follow the new rules. Other coalition parties have so far expressed their willingness to change the reform so it won’t affect present students.

However, Venstre, the Liberal Party, says this morning to Danish-language site Uniavisen.dk that they will not accept a postponement unless there is a clear deal that systems will be implemented to make the reform happen later.

miy@adm.ku.dk

Like us on Facebook for features, guides and tips on upcoming events. Follow us on Twitter for links to other Copenhagen academia news stories. Sign up for the University Post weekly newsletter here.