{"id":177524,"date":"2025-06-02T09:15:36","date_gmt":"2025-06-02T07:15:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/?p=177524"},"modified":"2025-06-02T10:35:41","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T08:35:41","slug":"university-of-copenhagen-rector-condemns-trumps-harvard-crackdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/university-of-copenhagen-rector-condemns-trumps-harvard-crackdown\/","title":{"rendered":"University of Copenhagen rector condemns Trump\u2019s Harvard crackdown"},"content":{"rendered":"

T<\/span>hursday last week and Harvard was still Harvard. The eminent university buzzed with the usual mix of ambition, discussion and coffee. But by the afternoon, the mood had shifted.<\/p>\n

The shock came from the New York Times<\/em><\/a>, which had revealed that the Trump administration is stripping Harvard of the right to admit international students. Those already enrolled must leave the country \u2014 or lose their residence permits.<\/p>\n

\u00bbIt was something we had feared,\u00ab says Marc Sabatier Hvidkj\u00e6r, a Danish-American PhD student at Harvard and political science graduate from the University of Copenhagen (UCPH).<\/p>\n

\u00bbPeople were crying. There was real panic. We began planning for a scenario where all international students would be deported.\u00ab
\n
\nIt has not come to that so far. A federal judge in Boston has temporarily halted the decision, citing the risk of \u00bbirreparable harm\u00ab<\/a>. But uncertainty continues to weigh heavily on campus..<\/p>\n

Harvard has now sued the US government for what the university itself calls a \u00bbblatant violation\u00ab<\/a> of the US Constitution.<\/p>\n

They have a plan \u2014 they know exactly where to push<\/h3>\n

The situation has also been the cause of anxiety\u00a0at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH). Rector David Dreyer Lassen describes what is unfolding in the US as \u00bban attack on the established university system\u00ab.<\/p>\n

\u00bbIt\u2019s clear that the Trump administration has a plan. They know exactly where to push to undermine university independence. This is not something done in the heat of the moment \u2014 it\u2019s deliberate and calculated,\u00ab he says.<\/p>\n

READ ALSO: <\/strong>Danish researcher in the US feeling the Trump pressure: \u00bbSurely, universities should be where we speak freely\u00ab<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

The rector sees parallels to developments in Hungary and Turkey, where governments with authoritarian tendencies have systematically weakened universities. It surprises many, he says, because it\u2019s happening in the US \u2014 but perhaps we should have seen it coming.<\/p>\n

\u00bbWe thought we understood the system. And then it gets dismantled in a short time. That doesn\u2019t happen often in the university sector. But when it does, it\u2019s dramatic,\u00ab he says.<\/p>\n

The situation directly affects several UCPH students. According to preliminary information from the university, there are currently 25 exchange students from UCPH in the US this semester \u2014 four of them PhD students at Harvard.<\/p>\n

Research and funding in free fall<\/h3>\n

The University of Copenhagen has already felt the consequences. Four research projects have lost their US federal funding, and more are at risk.<\/p>\n

This is because the projects include words like diversity and gender \u2014 terms now deemed ideologically charged by the US government and therefore ineligible for public support.<\/p>\n

\u00bbWe had identified a small number of potentially vulnerable projects, and the ones affected belong to that group. It may not come as a surprise, but it is still deeply concerning,\u00ab says David Dreyer Lassen, adding that projects containing terms like climate are also at risk.
\n
\nThe University Post has previously spoken to<\/a> Kim Brinckmann, Deputy Director for Research and Information Security at UCPH, who explained that around 40 UCPH projects rely on US federal funding. Staff and students are urged to exercise caution and consider alternatives to partnerships and stays in the United States.<\/p>\n

READ ALSO:<\/strong> UCPH research project shut down after US withdraws funding<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

The rector believes, however, that the uncertainty will mainly cause researchers to look elsewhere rather than systematically begin to censor themselves.<\/p>\n

\u00bbI don\u2019t think we\u2019ll see researchers at UCPH significantly change their wording to conform. More likely, many will simply avoid applying for US funding altogether if they don\u2019t know what the rules will be next year,\u00ab he says.<\/p>\n

Scholarships at stake<\/h3>\n

Harvard earns vast sums from its international students \u2014 a group the university risks having to wave goodbye to if Trump\u2019s plans become reality. On top of this, the US government has already frozen billions in subsidies to Harvard.<\/p>\n

And the financial consequences are already being felt at the prestigious university. Marc Sabatier Hvidkj\u00e6r has been told that scholarships and employment contracts are being renegotiated. Although he is funded by Harvard and not directly dependent on federal funds, he is worried.<\/p>\n

\u00bbI had hoped for a new contract with an inflation adjustment. Now I just hope I don\u2019t get a 20 per cent pay cut. The funds are being redistributed, and many of us risk being let go,\u00ab he says.<\/p>\n

READ ALSO:<\/strong> Danish researcher in the US feeling the Trump pressure: \u00bbSurely, universities should be where we speak freely\u00ab<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

He points out that the government\u2019s attack is formally justified as a means of protecting Jewish students from antisemitism \u2014 but that the outcomes are contradictory. Harvard has just published a report<\/a> documenting issues with antisemitism. This report is one of the things that the Trump administration now uses as a pretext to intervene.<\/p>\n

\u00bbIt\u2019s paradoxical. Harvard tries to take the issue seriously, and then it\u2019s used as evidence against them. It\u2019s obvious that the accusation of antisemitism is being used instrumentally, because it provides legal grounds to withdraw funding,\u00ab he says.<\/p>\n

Solidarity and researcher poaching<\/h3>\n

As universities in the US come under pressure from political demands, censorship and budget cuts, many researchers are turning their gaze to Europe. Several countries are openly considering recruiting the best among those who have lost their jobs to Trump\u2019s culture war. But at the University of Copenhagen, the rector is not looking to act aggressively.<\/p>\n

\u00bbWe should not be standing there with our nets out, fishing in the misfortunes of others. That would be unwise \u2014 and lacking in solidarity,\u00ab says David Dreyer Lassen.
\n
\nHe fears that an assertive recruitment drive from Europe could harm the international relationships that, for decades, have been marked by collegiality and mutual respect. Instead, UCPH emphasises its role as an open university \u2014 but without profiting from others\u2019 crises.<\/p>\n

\u00bbWe can sense that there is growing interest from researchers employed at American universities. And of course, we are pleased that they apply. But it has to happen that way \u2014 not through an outreach effort from us,\u00ab he says.<\/p>\n

Declaration of freedom in the works<\/h3>\n

Another response is of a more principled nature. UCPH is currently working on a declaration on academic freedom that will clarify the university\u2019s values \u2014 not just internally, but outwardly as well.<\/p>\n

\u00bbWe have always agreed on what we stand for as a university. But we haven\u2019t made it explicit. That kind of clarity becomes important when we are repeatedly drawn into political debates,\u00ab says David Dreyer Lassen.<\/p>\n

The declaration is intended to provide the university with a shared language to navigate by \u2014 whether pressure comes from outside or emerges internally. Because the role of UCPH is not to take a stance on everything, but to create space for knowledge, reflection and disagreement.<\/p>\n

Focus shifting away from US<\/h3>\n

The question is whether the university \u2014 and Danish research more broadly \u2014 is slowly beginning to loosen its ties to the United States. The rector does not believe in a sudden break. But he does see a shift:<\/p>\n

\u00bbWhen it becomes difficult to plan a stay, and you don\u2019t know whether your funding will be there next year, you naturally start to look elsewhere. It\u2019s not necessarily a choice \u2014 it\u2019s a shift that happens in practice.\u00ab<\/p>\n

And the focus is increasingly turning towards Europe. Universities here are talking to each other more than ever before, and according to David Dreyer Lassen, this is beginning to make an impact on the research landscape.<\/p>\n

\u00bbWe need to be able to achieve things together in Europe. This is about values as well as strategic cooperation. And that realisation has become clearer as the American system loses its stability.\u00ab
\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Political censorship in the US forces Danish universities to rethink collaboration. 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Photo by: Jonas Pryner Andersen"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/university-of-copenhagen-rector-condemns-trumps-harvard-crackdown\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"University of Copenhagen rector condemns Trump\u2019s Harvard crackdown"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/#website","url":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/","name":"University Post","description":"Independent of management","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/#\/schema\/person\/e62b3eb6724edd81b313e91617c23614","name":"Mike Young","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/58fa1859e442a44d8f91b854bb6c677ab6189a1e6552a74cffa1de32c303eecb?s=96&d=identicon&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/58fa1859e442a44d8f91b854bb6c677ab6189a1e6552a74cffa1de32c303eecb?s=96&d=identicon&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/58fa1859e442a44d8f91b854bb6c677ab6189a1e6552a74cffa1de32c303eecb?s=96&d=identicon&r=g","caption":"Mike Young"},"sameAs":["christoffer"],"url":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/author\/mike\/"}]}},"advancedCustomFields":{"expression":{"term_id":14,"name":"Portrait Article","slug":"portrait_article","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":14,"taxonomy":"expression","description":"","parent":0,"count":797,"filter":"raw"},"enable_comments":true,"align_content":"alignleft","feature_color":"#ba0000","article_updated":"","layout_group":[{"acf_fc_layout":"Headline","use_post_title":true,"headline":"","style":"default","highlighted_words":"","text_size":"small"},{"acf_fc_layout":"Image","image":{"ID":177444,"id":177444,"title":"kopi2david_dreyer_lassen_Y9A6552","filename":"kopi2david_dreyer_lassen_y9a6552-scaled.jpg","filesize":1128064,"url":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/kopi2david_dreyer_lassen_y9a6552-scaled.jpg","link":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/kus-rektor-er-rystet-over-trumps-angreb-paa-harvard\/kopi2david_dreyer_lassen_y9a6552\/","alt":"","author":"106","description":"","caption":"David Dreyer Lassen er ny rektor p\u00e5 K\u00f8benhavns Universitet.\n\nPhoto by: Jonas Pryner Andersen","name":"kopi2david_dreyer_lassen_y9a6552","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":177443,"date":"2025-05-27 09:11:24","modified":"2025-05-27 09:11:40","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/kopi2david_dreyer_lassen_y9a6552-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/kopi2david_dreyer_lassen_y9a6552-480x360.jpg","medium-width":480,"medium-height":360,"medium_large":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/kopi2david_dreyer_lassen_y9a6552-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/kopi2david_dreyer_lassen_y9a6552-1280x960.jpg","large-width":1280,"large-height":960,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/kopi2david_dreyer_lassen_y9a6552-1536x1152.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1152,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/kopi2david_dreyer_lassen_y9a6552-2048x1536.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1536,"featured-soft":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/kopi2david_dreyer_lassen_y9a6552-290x217.jpg","featured-soft-width":290,"featured-soft-height":217,"featured-hard":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/kopi2david_dreyer_lassen_y9a6552-290x180.jpg","featured-hard-width":290,"featured-hard-height":180,"narrow":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/kopi2david_dreyer_lassen_y9a6552-700x525.jpg","narrow-width":700,"narrow-height":525,"extended":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/kopi2david_dreyer_lassen_y9a6552-990x742.jpg","extended-width":990,"extended-height":742}},"style":"extended","text_placement":"metadata-below","image_link_url":"","image_link_title":"","caption_prefix":"","enable_alternative_caption":true,"alternative_caption":"\u00bbIt\u2019s clear that the Trump administration has a plan. They know exactly where to push to undermine university independence. This is not something done in the heat of the moment \u2014 it\u2019s deliberate and calculated,\u00ab says UCPH Rector David Dreyer Lassen."},{"acf_fc_layout":"Standfirst","subject":"Freedom of research","text":"This is a story about what will follow","use_post_excerpt":true},{"acf_fc_layout":"Byline","is_author":false,"contributors":[{"use_registered_user":true,"user":{"ID":106,"user_firstname":"Martin Juhl","user_lastname":"","nickname":"Martin_Juhl","user_nicename":"martin_juhl_petersen","display_name":"Martin Juhl","user_email":"mjp@uniavisen.dk","user_url":"","user_registered":"2024-03-11 12:15:37","user_description":"","user_avatar":"<img alt='' src='https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1797e6a2f5504b0011d25ea810ff777cf9961880304ebea2975858e118970e05?s=96&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1797e6a2f5504b0011d25ea810ff777cf9961880304ebea2975858e118970e05?s=192&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-96 photo' height='96' width='96' loading='lazy' decoding='async'\/>"},"contributor_name":"","contributor_title":"","contributor_image":false}]},{"acf_fc_layout":"Content","content":"<p><span class=\"dropcap\">T<\/span>hursday last week and Harvard was still Harvard. The eminent university buzzed with the usual mix of ambition, discussion and coffee. But by the afternoon, the mood had shifted.<\/p>\n<p>The shock came from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/05\/22\/us\/politics\/trump-harvard-international-students.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>New York Times<\/em><\/a>, which had revealed that the Trump administration is stripping Harvard of the right to admit international students. Those already enrolled must leave the country \u2014 or lose their residence permits.<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbIt was something we had feared,\u00ab says Marc Sabatier Hvidkj\u00e6r, a Danish-American PhD student at Harvard and political science graduate from the University of Copenhagen (UCPH).<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbPeople were crying. There was real panic. We began planning for a scenario where all international students would be deported.\u00ab<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"Quote","quote":"We thought we knew the system. And then it is dismantled within a short space of time.","quotee":"David Dreyer Lassen, Rector at the University of Copenhagen","style":"extended"},{"acf_fc_layout":"Content","content":"<p>It has not come to that so far. A federal judge in Boston has temporarily halted the decision, citing the risk of <a href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.mad.285083\/gov.uscourts.mad.285083.11.0_1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00bbirreparable harm\u00ab<\/a>. But uncertainty continues to weigh heavily on campus..<\/p>\n<p>Harvard has now sued the US government for what the university itself calls a <a href=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2025\/05\/university-sues-administration-over-move-to-bar-international-students-scholars\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00bbblatant violation\u00ab<\/a> of the US Constitution.<\/p>\n<h3>They have a plan \u2014 they know exactly where to push<\/h3>\n<p>The situation has also been the cause of anxiety\u00a0at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH). Rector David Dreyer Lassen describes what is unfolding in the US as \u00bban attack on the established university system\u00ab.<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbIt\u2019s clear that the Trump administration has a plan. They know exactly where to push to undermine university independence. This is not something done in the heat of the moment \u2014 it\u2019s deliberate and calculated,\u00ab he says.<\/p>\n<p><strong>READ ALSO: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/danish-researcher-in-the-us-feeling-the-trump-pressure-surely-universities-should-be-where-we-speak-freely\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Danish researcher in the US feeling the Trump pressure: \u00bbSurely, universities should be where we speak freely\u00ab<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The rector sees parallels to developments in Hungary and Turkey, where governments with authoritarian tendencies have systematically weakened universities. It surprises many, he says, because it\u2019s happening in the US \u2014 but perhaps we should have seen it coming.<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbWe thought we understood the system. And then it gets dismantled in a short time. That doesn\u2019t happen often in the university sector. But when it does, it\u2019s dramatic,\u00ab he says.<\/p>\n<p>The situation directly affects several UCPH students. According to preliminary information from the university, there are currently 25 exchange students from UCPH in the US this semester \u2014 four of them PhD students at Harvard.<\/p>\n<h3>Research and funding in free fall<\/h3>\n<p>The University of Copenhagen has already felt the consequences. Four research projects have lost their US federal funding, and more are at risk.<\/p>\n<p>This is because the projects include words like diversity and gender \u2014 terms now deemed ideologically charged by the US government and therefore ineligible for public support.<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbWe had identified a small number of potentially vulnerable projects, and the ones affected belong to that group. It may not come as a surprise, but it is still deeply concerning,\u00ab says David Dreyer Lassen, adding that projects containing terms like climate are also at risk.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"Quote","quote":"The funds are being redistributed, and many of us risk being let go.","quotee":"Marc Sabatier Hvidkj\u00e6r, PhD student at Harvard","style":"extended"},{"acf_fc_layout":"Content","content":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/ucph-research-project-shut-down-after-us-withdraws-funding\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The University Post has previously spoken to<\/a> Kim Brinckmann, Deputy Director for Research and Information Security at UCPH, who explained that around 40 UCPH projects rely on US federal funding. Staff and students are urged to exercise caution and consider alternatives to partnerships and stays in the United States.<\/p>\n<p><strong>READ ALSO:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/ucph-research-project-shut-down-after-us-withdraws-funding\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>UCPH research project shut down after US withdraws funding<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The rector believes, however, that the uncertainty will mainly cause researchers to look elsewhere rather than systematically begin to censor themselves.<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbI don\u2019t think we\u2019ll see researchers at UCPH significantly change their wording to conform. More likely, many will simply avoid applying for US funding altogether if they don\u2019t know what the rules will be next year,\u00ab he says.<\/p>\n<h3>Scholarships at stake<\/h3>\n<p>Harvard earns vast sums from its international students \u2014 a group the university risks having to wave goodbye to if Trump\u2019s plans become reality. On top of this, the US government has already frozen billions in subsidies to Harvard.<\/p>\n<p>And the financial consequences are already being felt at the prestigious university. Marc Sabatier Hvidkj\u00e6r has been told that scholarships and employment contracts are being renegotiated. Although he is funded by Harvard and not directly dependent on federal funds, he is worried.<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbI had hoped for a new contract with an inflation adjustment. Now I just hope I don\u2019t get a 20 per cent pay cut. The funds are being redistributed, and many of us risk being let go,\u00ab he says.<\/p>\n<p><strong>READ ALSO:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/danish-researcher-in-the-us-feeling-the-trump-pressure-surely-universities-should-be-where-we-speak-freely\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Danish researcher in the US feeling the Trump pressure: \u00bbSurely, universities should be where we speak freely\u00ab<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p>He points out that the government\u2019s attack is formally justified as a means of protecting Jewish students from antisemitism \u2014 but that the outcomes are contradictory. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/FINAL-Harvard-ASAIB-Report-4.29.25.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Harvard has just published a report<\/a> documenting issues with antisemitism. This report is one of the things that the Trump administration now uses as a pretext to intervene.<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbIt\u2019s paradoxical. Harvard tries to take the issue seriously, and then it\u2019s used as evidence against them. It\u2019s obvious that the accusation of antisemitism is being used instrumentally, because it provides legal grounds to withdraw funding,\u00ab he says.<\/p>\n<h3>Solidarity and researcher poaching<\/h3>\n<p>As universities in the US come under pressure from political demands, censorship and budget cuts, many researchers are turning their gaze to Europe. Several countries are openly considering recruiting the best among those who have lost their jobs to Trump\u2019s culture war. But at the University of Copenhagen, the rector is not looking to act aggressively.<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbWe should not be standing there with our nets out, fishing in the misfortunes of others. That would be unwise \u2014 and lacking in solidarity,\u00ab says David Dreyer Lassen.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"Quote","quote":"\u00bbWe need to be able to achieve things together in Europe [\u2026] that realisation has become clearer as the American system loses its stability.\u00ab","quotee":"David Dreyer Lassen, Rector at the University of Copenhagen","style":"extended"},{"acf_fc_layout":"Content","content":"<p>He fears that an assertive recruitment drive from Europe could harm the international relationships that, for decades, have been marked by collegiality and mutual respect. Instead, UCPH emphasises its role as an open university \u2014 but without profiting from others\u2019 crises.<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbWe can sense that there is growing interest from researchers employed at American universities. And of course, we are pleased that they apply. But it has to happen that way \u2014 not through an outreach effort from us,\u00ab he says.<\/p>\n<h3>Declaration of freedom in the works<\/h3>\n<p>Another response is of a more principled nature. UCPH is currently working on a declaration on academic freedom that will clarify the university\u2019s values \u2014 not just internally, but outwardly as well.<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbWe have always agreed on what we stand for as a university. But we haven\u2019t made it explicit. That kind of clarity becomes important when we are repeatedly drawn into political debates,\u00ab says David Dreyer Lassen.<\/p>\n<p>The declaration is intended to provide the university with a shared language to navigate by \u2014 whether pressure comes from outside or emerges internally. Because the role of UCPH is not to take a stance on everything, but to create space for knowledge, reflection and disagreement.<\/p>\n<h3>Focus shifting away from US<\/h3>\n<p>The question is whether the university \u2014 and Danish research more broadly \u2014 is slowly beginning to loosen its ties to the United States. The rector does not believe in a sudden break. But he does see a shift:<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbWhen it becomes difficult to plan a stay, and you don\u2019t know whether your funding will be there next year, you naturally start to look elsewhere. It\u2019s not necessarily a choice \u2014 it\u2019s a shift that happens in practice.\u00ab<\/p>\n<p>And the focus is increasingly turning towards Europe. Universities here are talking to each other more than ever before, and according to David Dreyer Lassen, this is beginning to make an impact on the research landscape.<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbWe need to be able to achieve things together in Europe. This is about values as well as strategic cooperation. And that realisation has become clearer as the American system loses its stability.\u00ab<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"ArticleEnd"},{"acf_fc_layout":"Newsletter","lang_select":"en","identifier":"Newsletter","headline":"Get an email with upcoming events and top University of Copenhagen stories","button_text":"Sign up here","class":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"OtherStories","headline":"","hand_picked_posts":false,"references":false,"category":false,"theme":false,"number_of_posts":"4","style":"default"}]},"taxonomyData":{"category":[{"term_id":45,"name":"International","slug":"international","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":45,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":315,"filter":"raw"}],"post_tag":[],"post_format":[],"expression":[{"term_id":14,"name":"Portrait Article","slug":"portrait_article","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":14,"taxonomy":"expression","description":"","parent":0,"count":797,"filter":"raw"}],"translation_priority":[{"term_id":5468,"name":"Optional","slug":"optional-en","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5468,"taxonomy":"translation_priority","description":"","parent":0,"count":672,"filter":"raw"}]},"featured_media_url":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/kopi2david_dreyer_lassen_y9a6552-1280x960.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/177524","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=177524"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/177524\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":177547,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/177524\/revisions\/177547"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/177445"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=177524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=177524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=177524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}