[Editor’s note: Rector Ralf Hemmingsen addressed new international students on 30 August 2013 at the Matriculation Ceremony. This is a transcript of the speech sent to the University Post by the Rector’s office.]<\/p>\n
Dear new students,
\nWelcome to the University of Copenhagen.<\/p>\n
I sometimes wonder:
\nwhat is the face of Denmark in the outside world?<\/p>\n
After all, the image of Denmark – and Copenhagen \u2013
\ncan perhaps explain why you are here today
\n\u2013 along with of course the name and reputation of the university. <\/p>\n
Is the face of Denmark the stars of academia:
\nPhilosopher S\u00f8ren Kierkegaard who would have turned 200 this year.
\nOr perhaps the physicist Niels Bohr who presented his model of the atom 100 years ago?<\/p>\n
Or is it Detective Sarah Lund from the Danish television hit \u201cThe Killing\u201d?
\nThe heroine who always wears a special sweater and always solves the murder mystery?<\/p>\n
Or rather, is it this year\u2019s Danish winner of the Eurovision Song Contest.
\nThe singer with the English-sounding name Emmilie de Forest. <\/p>\n
I would like to think that it is Kierkegaard and Bohr – and not Eurovision.
\nBut I am afraid the stars of the university have rarely been blockbusters on prime time television. <\/p>\n
But although 130 million people watched Emmilie de Forest bring the Eurovision trophy back to Denmark
\nand a big number of British grandmothers were asked to knit a Sarah Lund sweater for Christmas,
\nI don\u2019t think they are the faces of Denmark either. <\/p>\n
As a psychiatrist, I would claim that we have to dig deeper into our childhood memories.
\nAnd there it is – the face of Denmark!
\nLEGO – small LEGO figures – made by the Danish company.<\/p>\n
A huge army of 4 billion figures – not far from the world human population –
\nhave invaded minds across the globe since 1978.
\nMore than 430 million people have played with them.
\nAnd they come in many different shapes
\n-from caveman to crazy scientist. <\/p>\n
Well, I am not suggesting that there is such a thing as a national character.
\nAnd if there was, it surely cannot be carved into a plastic toy. <\/p>\n
After all, the Barbie doll is not a mirror of the American soul
\njust because it is produced by an American company, Mattel. <\/p>\n
Nonetheless, LEGO does reflect some positive qualities:
\nAn intelligent toy which stimulates your imagination
\nand ability to construct your own world. <\/p>\n
But in June this year, a scientific study went around the world
\nand produced rather disturbing headlines across the media landscape: <\/p>\n
\u201cLEGO faces are becoming more angry\u201d
\nwas the sound bite in the Guardian, Huffington Post and CNN. <\/p>\n
A researcher from The University of Canterbury in New Zealand
\nhad analysed the facial expressions of some 3,600 Lego figures
\nbefore he reached this conclusion. <\/p>\n
My first impression was that the researcher from New Zealand got it all wrong.
\nPerhaps the explanation was that his perspective is from the other side of the world where smiling faces are seen upside down?<\/p>\n
In any case, I want to prove him wrong.
\nI think it is essential that the face of the university is welcoming and open to international students and researchers.
\nAnd that is indeed the whole purpose of this ceremony.
\nToday you are officially registered as citizens in the university republic.
\nAnd we have every reason to be cheerful. <\/p>\n
While I have been speaking, you may have wondered:
\nWho on earth are the smiling people standing there in front of you?<\/p>\n
Well, they are the university heads \u2013 the management.
\nAnd it is custom for students to cheer when I call the dean of your faculty.
\nBut you are also very welcome to cheer for the others
\n\u2013 in keeping with the spirit of the university as one big community. <\/p>\n
From the left, we have:
\nPro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Thomas Bj\u00f8rnholm
\nPro-Vice-Chancellor for Education, Lykke Friis
\nDean at the Faculty of Theology, Kirsten Busch Nielsen.
\nDean at the Faculty of Law, Henrik Dam
\nDean at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Troels \u00d8stergaard S\u00f8rensen
\nDean at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Ulla Wewer
\nDean at the Faculty of Humanities, Ulf Hedetoft
\nDean at the Faculty of Science, John Renner Hansen
\nAnd at the far right, University Director J\u00f8rgen Honor\u00e9.<\/p>\n
The Lego study from New Zealand doesn\u2019t explain why Lego figures have become more angry.<\/p>\n
But perhaps the present economic crisis has an impact.
\nThe western world is faced with the worst crisis since the depression in the 1930s
\nand it may be that this atmosphere of crisis has been reflected in the work of Danish toy designers. <\/p>\n
It certainly is true that the prospects for many young people are pretty miserable
\nat the moment.
\nYoung Spanish people are looking for jobs in South America
\n\u2013 and not the other way around.
\nAnd student protesters occupy their own university in Berkeley and Madison
\nand fill the streets of London and Montreal as tuition fees are on the rise. <\/p>\n
But it is also a social and moral crisis.
\nWhen The Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts no longer supports \u201cunpatriotic\u201d art.
\nAnd Nobel Prize winner, the Hungarian author Imre Kert\u00e9sz is considered un-Hungarian because of his Jewish legacy and international outlook.
\nWhen Romas are beaten up in public
\n\u2013 not only in rural Slovakia, but also in the center of Copenhagen. <\/p>\n
In this economic and moral crisis, I think the university plays a vital role.
\nIn this world,
\nthe idea of international education,
\nthe flow of students and researchers across borders and continents,
\nand the intercultural understanding which arises from education across borders
\nis needed more than ever. <\/p>\n
Indeed, as Mark Twain has said: <\/p>\n
Travelling can be fatal. <\/p>\n
(pause)<\/p>\n
Fatal to ignorance and narrow-mindedness. <\/p>\n
Therefore, I am pleased to tell you today that the University of Copenhagen is actively pursuing this sense of being open to the outside world.
\nThe flow of international students have more than doubled over the last decade.
\nAnd the number of international researchers has tripled over the last five years.
\nNow, the University is the workplace in Denmark with the highest number of skilled internationals \u2013 more than Lego, Novo Nordisk and other multinational Danish companies.<\/p>\n
But what can you expect from the university
\n-apart from a smiling dean and a welcoming attitude?<\/p>\n
I would like to stress three things. <\/p>\n
First, we are keen on quality.
\nWe are constantly trying to improve the sheer value of our study programmes.
\nI am not sure you can trust the quality of university rankings,
\nbut on the latest list from Shanghai, we are ranked 42 in the world and 9 in Europe.
\nPerhaps I should also refer to a more reliable source:
\nour international students tend to rate our study programmes pretty high. <\/p>\n
Second, we are essentially a research university.
\nThe only thing we know for sure is that we don\u2019t know anything for sure.
\n96 percent of the matter and energy in the universe is still completely unknown.
\nAnd every year, thousands of new animals and plants are discovered.
\nMost of them are tiny insects,
\nbut last year scientist found a new monkey species in Congo,
\nthe first monkey discovered in 28 years.
\nMy message is this: knowledge changes the world and being a student at the university is being part of this revolutionary spirit.
\nJust like 100 years ago, when professor Niels Bohr presented his model of the atom.<\/p>\n
The last thing which \u2013 perhaps – makes the University of Copenhagen stand out
\nis the learning culture.
\nWe like to think that we encourage independent thinking.
\nWe like to think that the relationship between professor and student is informal.
\nSo don\u2019t expect just to digest knowledge (without chewing on it)
\nand repeat it at exams \u2013 word by word.
\nExpect that you are welcome to engage in discussions.
\nmake presentations,
\nmake up your own mind . <\/p>\n
Finally, I would like to mention what we are trying to do
\nto make you feel more welcome. <\/p>\n
You can become a member of our alumni association KUBULUS.
\nThis will give you a great network of current and former students
\nat this university. <\/p>\n
You can also join one of our many other associations: <\/p>\n
The Erasmus Student Network
\nUniversity Sports
\nThe Student House where you can even try to work at the international caf\u00e9
\nPractice your political skills at the Student Council
\nOr join one of the many music groups. <\/p>\n
We also encourage you to join one of the programmes which will improve your job prospects in this world of worried Lego-faces. <\/p>\n
Our alumni association Kubulus organises job fairs where students can meet their potential employers.
\nWe offer mentoring programmes where you can get experience from a professional in your field of study.
\nAnd we offer entrepreneurship courses which serve to motivate and equip students to start their own business.<\/p>\n
Before you leave, custom is that the new students give rector a symbolic handshake.
\nBy doing so, you promise that you will obey the University laws from 1479. <\/p>\n
The laws are mostly about all the power the professors have over their students
\nand how misbehaving students will be thrown in prison. <\/p>\n
Luckily that is one tradition we have not kept\u2026 <\/p>\n
Therefore I suggest we add something to the handshake. <\/p>\n
I hope we can shake hands
\non the importance of the university in this present economic and moral crisis.
\nOn the idea of international education.
\nAnd that you will smile when you think about your time at the University of Copenhagen. <\/p>\n
Welcome!<\/p>\n
universitypost@adm.ku.dk <\/p>\n
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