A new educational chapter is being written in Slagelse

For more than 50 years, Roskilde University, from its position in Roskilde, has provided education on Zealand for the benefit of citizens, public institutions and businesses. This development is now being consolidated after Roskilde University has entered into a dialogue with SDU to take over SDU’s educational activities in Slagelse. Both universities have just signed a letter of intent that an agreement can be reached during 2023 for Roskilde University to take over the educational activities on 1 January 2024.

With the takeover of the University of Southern Denmark's educational activities in Slagelse, a chapter in West Zealand will be closed for the university. Over the years, committed and ambitious employees have not only set up new programmes, but also built up important collaborative relationships established with the municipality, region, businesses and other educational institutions, including University College Absalon, with which SDU shares a canteen. Roskilde University will maintain and build on these good relationships.

For the benefit of all Zealand

In January 2022, SDU formulated a plan to relocate and build programmes in Slagelse as part of the University’s institutional plan in relation to the political agreement on More and better educational opportunities throughout Denmark from June 2021. In January 2023, SDU’s plan to set up a new MSc in Public Health programme in Slagelse was rejected, as were plans to relocate a BSc programme in Public Health from Odense to Slagelse.

"The rejections weaken our ability to implement the overall relocation plan as planned. Therefore, we are also extremely pleased with Roskilde University’s indication that they would like to take over SDU’s educational activities in Slagelse, as expressed in the letter of intent. The takeover ensures that West Zealand’s need for education continues to be developed and expanded for the benefit of everyone," says Jens Ringsmose, Rector of SDU. He continues:

"For SDU’s part, we are now focusing on our educational activities in Odense, Kolding, Esbjerg and Sønderborg, thereby emphasising our regional roots in the Region of Southern Denmark."
 

Synergy between Roskilde and Slagelse

"As the university of Region Zealand, we are delighted to have the opportunity to take over SDU’s educational activities in Slagelse. It strengthens our presence in West Zealand and allows us to work even more strategically with municipalities to meet the region’s educational needs. Moreover, we see opportunities to create a fruitful interaction between the educational activities in Slagelse and our programmes at the Roskilde Campus. This could benefit both students and staff on the Slagelse Campus," says Hanne Leth Andersen, Rector of Roskilde University. She continues:

"We also see opportunities in expanding our collaboration with Absalon and Zealand. In the coming period, we will invite politicians and the business community to a dialogue on educational needs and development, as well as the financial basis for expansion."
 

Facts:

The dialogue on Roskilde University’s takeover of the University of Southern Denmark’s educational activities in Slagelse will include full-time and part-time education provided by the University of Southern Denmark in and from Slagelse and staff employed at the Slagelse Campus.

Press contact:

Roskilde University: Charlotte Konow, konow@ruc.dk / (+45) 50 50 95 01
University of Southern Denmark: Bolette Marie Kjær Jørgensen, bomk@sdu.dk / (+45) 93 50 72 16