HoD News - 3 March 2020
Dear colleagues,
Covid-19
In separate correspondence, you have already been informed about the University´s advice concerning the coronavirus, which has now spread to most of Europe including Denmark. The University is following the situation closely and recommends that we comply with the recommendations of the Danish Health Authority, who still considers the risk of infection generally to be low. However, you should watch out for symptoms if you have been travelling in an area where the virus is widespread, or if you have been in contact with someone who has. Make sure to wash your hands and/or use hand disinfectant frequently, and cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough, and cough into your elbow or armpit instead of your hand.
First-year dropout rates
The Department of Economics and Business Economics is involved in almost 20 different education programmes, many involving collaboration with other BSS departments and departments at the Natural Science Faculty.
While the dropout rates for the master’s programmes offered by ECON are generally low and satisfactory, the first-year dropout rates at our major bachelor’s programmes such as HA and BSc oecon. are too high (typically 20-27%). We should have a continued focus on the first-year dropout rates, and it is part of the BSS and department strategy to intensify actions to improve these figures.
In the near future, I will ask the study councils to discuss and encapsulate the problem and to provide a catalogue with possible concrete action bullets. Previous studies have indicated some suggestions about some sources of the first-year drop out, but we need to be much more specific towards actions that can change the current state. For the discussions in the department management team we will also ask for input and suggestions from the sections and the departmental forum. Also, I want the students to participate actively in the debate, including the discussions in the study councils and in other fora where our students are represented.
Niels Haldrup