Dean's Christmas letter

Dear staff and students,

 

Christmas is approaching, and an unusually eventful year will soon be over. The last three months have been dominated by the forthcoming merger. And we know that the new year heralds major changes. For each and every one of us. For LIFE. And for the University of Copenhagen as a whole, which will see the creation of a new SCIENCE faculty and a new HEALTH faculty.

 

Many people here at the Faculty of Life Sciences (LIFE) therefore have a bit of a strange feeling in their tummies at the moment. For many of us, it is sad to be saying goodbye to LIFE. The old KVL. The old Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University. It is an institution that has meant a lot to us, and one which is imbued with special values, values which we who have spent many of our working days on the LIFE campus hold dear.

 

When we celebrated the 150^th anniversary of Frederiksberg Campus in 2008, this strong sense of togetherness was particularly clear. At parties, talks, conferences and special events, we were all able to recall how, for 150 years, we have worked to create a sustainable future for animals, plants and people. We expressed a strong sense of commitment combined with the will to create new and sustainable solutions for the society which we have always been part of as a research and educational institution. We had a common vision and stood united as a strong faculty. We must now try to take this togetherness and team spirit with us into the two new faculties.

 

For many LIFE graduates, their student years have been the best of their lives. It is not just the ‘Smediefest’ Party, A-vej and the fresher’s trips that elicit happy memories. I know that many people feel that they have been taken seriously from the very first day of their studies. This is one of the things that also characterise our faculty. The mutual respect we have for each other. Whether you are a PhD student or a professor. Academic staff or technical and administrative staff. Office staff or director. Everyone has been able to express themselves, participate and make their mark on LIFE’s agenda. I hope that this tradition will live on in the new SCIENCE and HEALTH faculties.

 

I myself have been associated with the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University/LIFE for more than 35 years. As a student, lecturer, researcher, affiliate professor and head of department. And now as temporary dean from 1 January 2012 with the special challenge of merging the 153-year-old Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University/KVL/LIFE with the Faculty of Science to create the best possible new SCIENCE faculty and help LIFE’s vets to find their feet in a new faculty of health sciences.

 

For me personally, it is therefore also strange to be shutting down the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University/KVL/LIFE. However, I believe that the two new faculties will offer some great new opportunities. I, at least, will do my very best to assist the process. It is a difficult task, and undoubtedly one which will require combined efforts in reorganising the University of Copenhagen to create new and strong communities which are based on our own best values and those of our new colleagues.

 

I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

 

Kindest regards,

 

Niels Elers Koch

Dean of LIFE from 1 January 2012