32-year-old Scherrer holds a PhD in economics from the University of London. Originally from Brazil, she has taught at the London School of Economics and was a PhD intern at the Bank of England. But even though she had the option of remaining in London, there was no doubt in Scherrer’s mind – the position at Aarhus University was the most attractive. ”Danish researchers in this field have a strong international reputation, and this particular centre is known as a place where top researchers from all over the world meet,” explains Scherrer.

She and her husband are both employed at the centre in tenure track positions, and they are both very enthusiastic about the research environment and Aarhus in general. ”We arrived here on a January day when it was really cold – seen through a Brazilian’s eyes. But people were just so welcoming and helpful, and there’s also a wonderfully direct and down-to-earth atmosphere that I really like,” says Scherrer.

The name plates on the doors of academic staff members’ offices is one example. In England, the person’s title always prefaces the name, so that their standing is clear from the outset. ”Here at the centre, there’s just your name. No matter whether you’re a PhD student or a professor. This approach really means a lot for cooperation, which is really positive here,” explains Scherrer.

Talent de velopment at the highest international level

In response to the global competition for the best research talents, Aarhus University is committed to creating the best conditions for attracting, developing and retaining the most outstanding junior researchers. One such initiative is the introduction of a tenure track model that offers international research talents a clear, attractive career path.

The School of Business and Social Sciences (BSS) at Aarhus University is extremely active on the international academic labour market and offers tenure track contracts to particularly promising junior researchers. Particularly in the fields of economics, marketing and organisation, a number of talented international researchers have been promised permanent positions (tenure) at the university on the condition that they meet the requirements described in the contract during a probationary period of between four and six years.

Being able to offer longer-term contract is decisive for the university’s ability to attract international talents to Denmark, explains Per Baltzer Overgaard, vice-dean for research at BSS. He emphasises that the university also makes a great effort to assist accompanying spouses find employment, as international researchers who receive job offers from a university that may lie on the other side of the world often have families whose needs must be taken into consideration.

But the exchange of talents isn’t a one-way street. Aarhus University also places a high emphasis on the importance of sending its own talented junior researchers onwards to tenure track positions abroad. “Being on this market means that we also make our own talented graduates more visible. We’re also interested in having our strong graduates find positions at good universities, because it’s good publicity for AU to have them working at elite universities like Cambridge and USC,” says Overgaard.