Alsion

University of Southern Denmark

Syddansk Universitet
Motto	None. The former motto of Odense University was Fructus Increscit Opera Novo In Agro
Type	Public
Established	1998
Rector	Henrik Dam
Administrative staff	3,247 (2012)
Students	26,034 (2012)
Location	Odense, Esbjerg, Kolding, Sønderborg, Slagelse, Copenhagen, Denmark
Campus	Odense Esbjerg Kolding Sønderborg Slagelse Copenhagen
Colors	Black and white
Nickname	SDU
Affiliations	EUA
Website	www.sdu.dk

The University of Southern Denmark (Danish: Syddansk Universitet, literally South Danish University, abbr. SDU) is a university in Denmark. It has campuses located in Southern Denmark and on Zealand.

The university offers a number of joint programmes in co-operation with the University of Flensburg and the University of Kiel. Contacts with regional industries and the international scientific community are strong.

The University of Southern Denmark was established in 1998 when the Odense University, the Southern Denmark School of Business and Engineering and the South Jutland University Centre were merged. The University Library of Southern Denmark was also merged with the university in 1998.

In 2006, the Odense University College of Engineering was merged into the university and renamed as the Faculty of Engineering. In 2007, the Business School Centre in Slagelse (Handelshøjskolecentret Slagelse) and the National Institute of Public Health (Statens Institut for Folkesundhed) were also merged into the University of Southern Denmark.

Princess Marie took over the role of the patron of the University in 2009.

The university is governed by a board consisting of 9 members: 5 members recruited outside the university form the majority of the board, 1 member is appointed by the scientific staff, 1 member is appointed by the administrative staff, and 2 members are appointed by the university students. The Rector is appointed by the university board. The rector in turn appoints deans and deans appoint heads of departments. There is no faculty senate and faculty is not involved in the appointment of rector, deans, or department heads. Hence the university has no faculty governance.

As a national institution the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) comprises five faculties – Humanities, Science, Engineering, Social Sciences and Health Sciences totaling 32 departments, 11 research centers and a university library. University Library of Southern Denmark is also a part of the university.