New classification of Danish academic ranks and titles adopted

The classification of Danish academic ranks and titles at Danish universities has been revised in a new ministerial order. The most important changes are as follows:

• The position of professor with special responsibilities (MSO) will be phased out
  The position ‘professor with special responsibilities (MSO)’ will be phased out; no more professor MSO titles will be awarded. Personnel currently employed as professor MSO will retain this title and employment conditions until the end of their term as professor MSO.

• Dual university career track structure retained
  The two academic career tracks in the classification are retained: assistant professor-associate professor-professor and researcher-senior researcher-professor. Teaching duties are associated with all of these positions, the ministry emphasises.

• Teaching portfolio and the university teacher training course made mandatory
  All applicants to positions at and above associate professor/senior researcher level will now be required to submit a teaching portfolio or the equivalent to document their teaching qualifications. In addition, all assistant professors, researchers and teaching assistant professors will now be required to compete a university teacher training course (pædagogikum).

• Promotion programme for mid-career academic staff
  The ministerial order gives universities the option to introduce ‘promotion programmes’ offering a clearer path to promotion from associate professor/senior researcher positions to a professorship. Such programmes may be offered to retain and/or recruit particularly outstanding associate professors/senior researchers. 

Implementation process

Aarhus University will now begin the process of implementing the new classification of ranks and titles.

Additional information

• Read the new ministerial order in full(in Danish)
• If you have questions, you are welcome to email Alev Gencay Abde, AU employment law consultant: aga@au.dk