{"id":3089,"date":"2016-09-05T08:17:21","date_gmt":"2016-09-05T06:17:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/?p=3089\/"},"modified":"2017-01-20T20:22:18","modified_gmt":"2017-01-20T20:22:18","slug":"rectors-last-welcoming-speech-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/rectors-last-welcoming-speech-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"Rector\u2019s last welcoming speech 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rector at the University of Copenhagen Ralf Hemmingsen welcomed the year\u2019s new students Friday 2 September with a traditional handshake. In his welcoming speech, he quoted both Lenin, Suzanne Br\u00f8gger and Michelle Obama.<\/p>\n

Rector\u2019s speech<\/h2>\n

(first section was originally in English, ed.)<\/p>\n

\u00bbWillkommen, bienvenue, welcome!<\/p>\n

What a pleasure to welcome such a fantastic looking crowd to the University of Copenhagen!
\nWelcome to almost 1,200 new international students from all continents.
\nWelcome to 7,312 new students from Denmark.
\nPlease give a big round of applause to all your new fellow students.
\nJust recently, I read an article asking the question. Is this the end of the world as we know it?
\nSome say, that the old left-right political dividing lines are history.
\nNow the new dividing lines are ‘open’ versus ‘closed’.
\nOpen borders or closed borders?
\nOpen access or closed access?
\nOpen minds or closed minds?
\nI have a background in psychiatry, not politics.
\nBut for me, there is only one right answer: Openness.
\nHere at University of Copenhagen we are open:
\n\u2022 Open to new collaboration
\n\u2022 Open to new ideas
\n\u2022 Open to new students, no matter which background they have.
\nWhat counts here is:
\n– Talent
\n– Passion
\n– Determination
\nDiversity is the strength of our university.
\nYou are the strength of our university.
\nI will now switch to Danish<\/p>\n

(the following was originally in Danish, ed.)
\nThe Summer of 2016 has been a hot one! And here I am not only thinking about Distortion and Roskilde Festival. Although I couldn\u2019t make it to either of them. I am sure that many of you represent UCPH here a whole lot better than I would be able to. No, this summer was hot for other reasons. The silly season did not materialize.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Summer of 2016 has been a hot one! And here I am not only thinking about Distortion and Roskilde Festival.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Lenin once said: \u201cThere are decades when nothing happens and there are weeks where decades happen\u201d.<\/p>\n

You can think of this summer like this.<\/p>\n

For instead of the silly season we witnessed several major events over the course of the summer weeks:
\n\u2022 A thrilling referendum in Britain, which ended with a Brexit
\n\u2022 Horrible acts of terrorism around Europe
\n\u2022 An attempted coup in Turkey
\n\u2022 And \u2013 last but not least \u2013 the nomination for US President of a man who will build a wall around his country to keep strangers out. A man who has given a boost to a new concept: ‘the post factual society ‘.<\/p>\n

Suzanne Br\u00f8gger \u2013 writer and honorary alumna of UCPH \u2013 recently wrote:<\/p>\n

“The knowledge society has become so confusing for everyone, that the clown has now replaced the sage as an ideal\u201d
\nEvidence suggests that she may be partly right.
\nBut here at UCPH we don\u2019t recognize ‘the post factual society’<\/p>\n

Here at the University we do not build walls – we build bridges
\nAnd here at UCPH a clown must never switch places with the sage as an ideal!
\nAllow me to quote the US first lady:
\n“When they go low – we go high ‘
\nAs a university we always have an obligation to take our knowledge to new heights, and to stay focused on the facts and on knowledge.<\/p>\n

We keep the flag flying and provide solid and evidence-based research.
\nAnd we train new students and turn them into graduates that can fly.
\nWe intend to stick to this!<\/p>\n

\u201cBut here at UCPH we don\u2019t recognize ‘the post factual society’. Here at the University we do not build walls – we build bridges\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Dear new students!
\nYou are now to begin study programmes with names like pharmaceutical sciences, philosophy and public health.
\nYou will be spread out over the city from the KUA buildings on Amager to North Campus and Frederiksberg.
\nAnd you will meet researchers and educators with large differences in academic focus.
\nBut no matter what your subject is, we all have our objective and critical approach in common at UCPH.
\nIt is the university\u2019s foundation and strength.
\nAnother strength is precisely your diversity.<\/p>\n

Here you see representatives from the management of the various faculties and the two prorectors and university director. From left are:
\nPro-rector for Research and Innovation, Thomas Bj\u00f8rnholm
\nPro-rector for Education, Lykke Friis
\nDean of the Faculty of Theology, Kirsten Busch Nielsen
\nDean of the Faculty of Law, Jacob Graff Nielsen
\nDean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Troels \u00d8stergaard S\u00f8rensen
\nDean of the Faculty of Medicine, Ulla Wewer
\nDean of the Faculty of Humanities, Ulf Hedetoft
\nDean of the Faculty of Life Sciences, John Renner Hansen
\nUniversity Director, Jesper Olesen<\/p>\n

I would like to ask you to give them a big round of applause.<\/p>\n

In a little while you will walk up these stairs and into the university’s beautiful Ceremonial Hall from 1836. The ballroom has in recent years been the framework for prominent visiting guests such as Angela Merkel, Paul Auster and Ban Ki Moon.<\/p>\n

And then yesterday we had a visit by Danish Prime Minister Lars L\u00f8kke Rasmussen, who presented the government’s 2025 plan. And things did not go quietly!
\nYou have to say that there is still a struggle ahead if we are to ensure that education and research remains a key factor for the future \u2013 not only in 2016 or 2025 \u2013 but also in the year 2050.
\nThe fact is, that education is always a good investment. Both for society and for the individual.
\nAnd as a Danish king once said: “Just because we are poor, we do not need to be stupid\u201d<\/p>\n

“In a time when there is a large focus on quantity, we should insist on keeping the focus on quality\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You can become overwhelmed by the plans and reforms that reach nine years into the future.
\nAnd you can be overwhelmed by a world that is rapidly changing with terror, coups and closed borders.
\nBut here at UCPH we have a long tradition to hold our own in changing times.
\nSince we were founded in 1479, we have lived through
\n– Fires in Copenhagen
\n– The Reformation
\n– The changing whims of various kings
\n– The British bombardment in 1807
\n– German Occupation
\n– and much more<\/p>\n

All the time, university researchers were busy doing pioneering research in, for example, the speed of light, relativity and in existential philosophy.<\/p>\n

Look around you here in the square. It looks well packed.
\nBut actually this year\u2019s admission of new students is slightly less than last year.
\nIt is because we at UCPH are adapting admissions to the labour market.
\nBut in a time where there is a large focus on quantity, we also insist on keeping the focus on quality.
\nHere at UCPH we maintain a high level of core academics, open and global cooperation, and a general education.<\/p>\n

The university should never be trivialized into a job machine.
\nToday, you start your journey of discovery into the depths of UCPH. Into the inner core \u2013 the core of professionalism \u2013 if you will.
\nStudying at university IS a journey of discovery, where you slowly get smarter, and slowly reach the core of the subjects you study. And hopefully you also learn about yourself.
\nIt’s hard work! And it requires discipline. Here at UCPH you don\u2019t get your university degree while you are asleep. A university course is a full-time study.
\nIn return, I promise you that it is all worth it. Both for society. And for yourselves.
\nPerhaps in the next few weeks, Lenin’s statement about what might happen in a few weeks should come to mind. At least you can look forward to some exciting weeks, months and years here at Denmark’s oldest university. And as Denmark’s oldest university, we have of course many traditions.
\nHowever, I promise you that your prorectors and deans will not be dressed in these traditional capes every day.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe university should never be trivialized into a job machine.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

My personal favorite tradition is to welcome you all with a handshake here on the stairs behind me. Like in previous years, Prorector for Education Lykke Friis has promised to help me.
\nIn the old days, students with this handshake promised to comply with university statutes from 1479, which was that:
\n\u201cStudents appearing lawless or carrying inappropriate clothing
\nor are quarrelsome, drunk, wandering around at night, whoring, stealing
\nand visiting pubs … should be suspended from teaching.”
\nYes, you could even risk being thrown into the university’s own prison!
\nIt sounds a bit strict.
\nFortunately a lot has happened since these statutes were written.
\nToday I would like you to shake my – or Lykke Friis\u2019 – hand and affirm the university’s core values: Insight, diversity, openness.<\/p>\n

(the rest of the speech was in English, ed.)<\/p>\n

Thank you very much for your attention.
\nNow it is time for an old tradition at our university.
\nI invite you to go up the stairs and shake my \u2013 or prorector Lykke Friis\u2019- hand
\non the core values of the university: Insight, diversity, openness.
\nWelcome to the University of Copenhagen!”<\/p>\n

uni-avis@adm.ku.dk<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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welcomed new students at UCPH for the last time in his career. He then asked them to shake his and prorector Lykke Friis' hand \u2013 affirming the university\u2019s basic values of insight, diversity and openness","use_post_excerpt":false},{"acf_fc_layout":"Byline","is_author":false,"contributors":[{"use_registered_user":false,"user":false,"contributor_name":" UNIAVISEN NEWSROOM","contributor_title":" ","contributor_image":false}]},{"acf_fc_layout":"Content","content":"<p>Rector at the University of Copenhagen Ralf Hemmingsen welcomed the year\u2019s new students Friday 2 September with a traditional handshake. In his welcoming speech, he quoted both Lenin, Suzanne Br\u00f8gger and Michelle Obama.<\/p>\n<h2>Rector\u2019s speech<\/h2>\n<p>(first section was originally in English, ed.)<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbWillkommen, bienvenue, welcome!<\/p>\n<p>What a pleasure to welcome such a fantastic looking crowd to the University of Copenhagen!<br \/>\nWelcome to almost 1,200 new international students from all continents.<br \/>\nWelcome to 7,312 new students from Denmark.<br \/>\nPlease give a big round of applause to all your new fellow students.<br \/>\nJust recently, I read an article asking the question. Is this the end of the world as we know it?<br \/>\nSome say, that the old left-right political dividing lines are history.<br \/>\nNow the new dividing lines are ‘open’ versus ‘closed’.<br \/>\nOpen borders or closed borders?<br \/>\nOpen access or closed access?<br \/>\nOpen minds or closed minds?<br \/>\nI have a background in psychiatry, not politics.<br \/>\nBut for me, there is only one right answer: Openness.<br \/>\nHere at University of Copenhagen we are open:<br \/>\n\u2022 Open to new collaboration<br \/>\n\u2022 Open to new ideas<br \/>\n\u2022 Open to new students, no matter which background they have.<br \/>\nWhat counts here is:<br \/>\n– Talent<br \/>\n– Passion<br \/>\n– Determination<br \/>\nDiversity is the strength of our university.<br \/>\nYou are the strength of our university.<br \/>\nI will now switch to Danish<\/p>\n<p>(the following was originally in Danish, ed.)<br \/>\nThe Summer of 2016 has been a hot one! And here I am not only thinking about Distortion and Roskilde Festival. Although I couldn\u2019t make it to either of them. I am sure that many of you represent UCPH here a whole lot better than I would be able to. No, this summer was hot for other reasons. The silly season did not materialize.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThe Summer of 2016 has been a hot one! And here I am not only thinking about Distortion and Roskilde Festival.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Lenin once said: \u201cThere are decades when nothing happens and there are weeks where decades happen\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>You can think of this summer like this.<\/p>\n<p>For instead of the silly season we witnessed several major events over the course of the summer weeks:<br \/>\n\u2022 A thrilling referendum in Britain, which ended with a Brexit<br \/>\n\u2022 Horrible acts of terrorism around Europe<br \/>\n\u2022 An attempted coup in Turkey<br \/>\n\u2022 And \u2013 last but not least \u2013 the nomination for US President of a man who will build a wall around his country to keep strangers out. A man who has given a boost to a new concept: ‘the post factual society ‘.<\/p>\n<p>Suzanne Br\u00f8gger \u2013 writer and honorary alumna of UCPH \u2013 recently wrote:<\/p>\n<p>“The knowledge society has become so confusing for everyone, that the clown has now replaced the sage as an ideal\u201d<br \/>\nEvidence suggests that she may be partly right.<br \/>\nBut here at UCPH we don\u2019t recognize ‘the post factual society’<\/p>\n<p>Here at the University we do not build walls – we build bridges<br \/>\nAnd here at UCPH a clown must never switch places with the sage as an ideal!<br \/>\nAllow me to quote the US first lady:<br \/>\n“When they go low – we go high ‘<br \/>\nAs a university we always have an obligation to take our knowledge to new heights, and to stay focused on the facts and on knowledge.<\/p>\n<p>We keep the flag flying and provide solid and evidence-based research.<br \/>\nAnd we train new students and turn them into graduates that can fly.<br \/>\nWe intend to stick to this!<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cBut here at UCPH we don\u2019t recognize ‘the post factual society’. Here at the University we do not build walls – we build bridges\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Dear new students!<br \/>\nYou are now to begin study programmes with names like pharmaceutical sciences, philosophy and public health.<br \/>\nYou will be spread out over the city from the KUA buildings on Amager to North Campus and Frederiksberg.<br \/>\nAnd you will meet researchers and educators with large differences in academic focus.<br \/>\nBut no matter what your subject is, we all have our objective and critical approach in common at UCPH.<br \/>\nIt is the university\u2019s foundation and strength.<br \/>\nAnother strength is precisely your diversity.<\/p>\n<p>Here you see representatives from the management of the various faculties and the two prorectors and university director. From left are:<br \/>\nPro-rector for Research and Innovation, Thomas Bj\u00f8rnholm<br \/>\nPro-rector for Education, Lykke Friis<br \/>\nDean of the Faculty of Theology, Kirsten Busch Nielsen<br \/>\nDean of the Faculty of Law, Jacob Graff Nielsen<br \/>\nDean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Troels \u00d8stergaard S\u00f8rensen<br \/>\nDean of the Faculty of Medicine, Ulla Wewer<br \/>\nDean of the Faculty of Humanities, Ulf Hedetoft<br \/>\nDean of the Faculty of Life Sciences, John Renner Hansen<br \/>\nUniversity Director, Jesper Olesen<\/p>\n<p>I would like to ask you to give them a big round of applause.<\/p>\n<p>In a little while you will walk up these stairs and into the university’s beautiful Ceremonial Hall from 1836. The ballroom has in recent years been the framework for prominent visiting guests such as Angela Merkel, Paul Auster and Ban Ki Moon.<\/p>\n<p>And then yesterday we had a visit by Danish Prime Minister Lars L\u00f8kke Rasmussen, who presented the government’s 2025 plan. And things did not go quietly!<br \/>\nYou have to say that there is still a struggle ahead if we are to ensure that education and research remains a key factor for the future \u2013 not only in 2016 or 2025 \u2013 but also in the year 2050.<br \/>\nThe fact is, that education is always a good investment. Both for society and for the individual.<br \/>\nAnd as a Danish king once said: “Just because we are poor, we do not need to be stupid\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>“In a time when there is a large focus on quantity, we should insist on keeping the focus on quality\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>You can become overwhelmed by the plans and reforms that reach nine years into the future.<br \/>\nAnd you can be overwhelmed by a world that is rapidly changing with terror, coups and closed borders.<br \/>\nBut here at UCPH we have a long tradition to hold our own in changing times.<br \/>\nSince we were founded in 1479, we have lived through<br \/>\n– Fires in Copenhagen<br \/>\n– The Reformation<br \/>\n– The changing whims of various kings<br \/>\n– The British bombardment in 1807<br \/>\n– German Occupation<br \/>\n– and much more<\/p>\n<p>All the time, university researchers were busy doing pioneering research in, for example, the speed of light, relativity and in existential philosophy.<\/p>\n<p>Look around you here in the square. It looks well packed.<br \/>\nBut actually this year\u2019s admission of new students is slightly less than last year.<br \/>\nIt is because we at UCPH are adapting admissions to the labour market.<br \/>\nBut in a time where there is a large focus on quantity, we also insist on keeping the focus on quality.<br \/>\nHere at UCPH we maintain a high level of core academics, open and global cooperation, and a general education.<\/p>\n<p>The university should never be trivialized into a job machine.<br \/>\nToday, you start your journey of discovery into the depths of UCPH. Into the inner core \u2013 the core of professionalism \u2013 if you will.<br \/>\nStudying at university IS a journey of discovery, where you slowly get smarter, and slowly reach the core of the subjects you study. And hopefully you also learn about yourself.<br \/>\nIt’s hard work! And it requires discipline. Here at UCPH you don\u2019t get your university degree while you are asleep. A university course is a full-time study.<br \/>\nIn return, I promise you that it is all worth it. Both for society. And for yourselves.<br \/>\nPerhaps in the next few weeks, Lenin’s statement about what might happen in a few weeks should come to mind. At least you can look forward to some exciting weeks, months and years here at Denmark’s oldest university. And as Denmark’s oldest university, we have of course many traditions.<br \/>\nHowever, I promise you that your prorectors and deans will not be dressed in these traditional capes every day.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThe university should never be trivialized into a job machine.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>My personal favorite tradition is to welcome you all with a handshake here on the stairs behind me. Like in previous years, Prorector for Education Lykke Friis has promised to help me.<br \/>\nIn the old days, students with this handshake promised to comply with university statutes from 1479, which was that:<br \/>\n\u201cStudents appearing lawless or carrying inappropriate clothing<br \/>\nor are quarrelsome, drunk, wandering around at night, whoring, stealing<br \/>\nand visiting pubs … should be suspended from teaching.”<br \/>\nYes, you could even risk being thrown into the university’s own prison!<br \/>\nIt sounds a bit strict.<br \/>\nFortunately a lot has happened since these statutes were written.<br \/>\nToday I would like you to shake my – or Lykke Friis\u2019 – hand and affirm the university’s core values: Insight, diversity, openness.<\/p>\n<p>(the rest of the speech was in English, ed.)<\/p>\n<p>Thank you very much for your attention.<br \/>\nNow it is time for an old tradition at our university.<br \/>\nI invite you to go up the stairs and shake my \u2013 or prorector Lykke Friis\u2019- hand<br \/>\non the core values of the university: Insight, diversity, openness.<br \/>\nWelcome to the University of Copenhagen!”<\/p>\n<p>uni-avis@adm.ku.dk<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"ArticleEnd"},{"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":42,"name":"Education","slug":"education","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":42,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":661,"filter":"raw"}],"post_tag":[],"post_format":[],"expression":[{"term_id":15,"name":"News Article","slug":"news_article","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":15,"taxonomy":"expression","description":"","parent":0,"count":11493,"filter":"raw"}],"translation_priority":[]},"featured_media_url":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/immatrikulation_ralf_dc_ny_0.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3089","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\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3089"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3089\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31060,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3089\/revisions\/31060"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3090"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3089"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3089"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}