\u00bbFrom February 2011, the international bachelor programme is to be replaced by a Danish language bachelor programme at the Department of Economics\u00ab.<\/p>\n
This is what the official website of the Department of Economics at the University of Copenhagen says. Internationals who want to study for the English-language version of an Economics BSc have no choice but to either wait and study for a Master\u2019s in Copenhagen or simply study elsewhere. <\/p>\n
The reasons for the programme’s closure include budget cuts, a lack of funding from Danish aid organisation Danida to incoming students, a low percentage of GDP in Denmark set aside for education and the economic crisis in general, said Peter Erling Nielsen, director of studies in the economics department.<\/p>\n
He took the initiative to start the programme three years ago.<\/p>\n
But in addition to the main reasons, Peter Erling Nielsen also confesses his disappointment in the numbers and the qualifications of international applicants.<\/p>\n
\u00bbEspecially in mathematics, they lacked a serious level of education. Plus their attendance to lectures and classes was extremely low, and many failed their courses. It was disappointing,\u00ab he says.<\/p>\n
Traditionally, universities start from 1 September, but Peter Erling thought it was impossible to enrol students straight from their high-schools, due to the three-month long Danish visa procedures. Internationals started therefore from 1 February instead. Unfortunately, this turned out to be unattractive and unpopular for students; and a maximum of only 35 students started in the winter. <\/p>\n
\u00bbNormally it would have been more than 50 if it were just Danish students,\u00ab he says.<\/p>\n
\u00bbWe have also spent a lot on advertising the English-language line on commercials for international graduates, and we were simply losing money. It was time for us to focus our money elsewhere, and more effectively,\u00ab he adds. <\/p>\n
The Department of Economics will allow the current students doing their English-language bachelors finish their degree. But the news was still disappointing to both Danish and international current students.<\/p>\n
\u00bbWhile most universities are doing their best to internationalize the learning environment, the University of Copenhagen is taking a step backwards here. But I understand from the Department of Economics\u2019 perspective that we need to cut down expenses,\u00ab says Daniel Wajsman Mahler, a Danish bachelor student at the Department of Economics. <\/p>\n
Aneta Kaczor, a current Polish student is blunter.<\/p>\n
\u00bbIt is shameful. Denmark is a very small country, and I think Denmark needs to be more open and they need more educated internationals. It is important that they continue the programme,\u00ab she says <\/p>\n
Peter Erling’s response to the disappointment is simple: <\/p>\n
\u00bbWe are very sorry. At least we gave it a try\u00ab. <\/p>\n
Uni-avis@adm.ku.dk<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bachelors degree for internationals discontinued at the Department of Economics. Students lacked \u00bba serious level of education,\u00ab says director, and points to a tight budget<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":22030,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22029","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","expression-news_article"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\n