The Faculty of Science at University of Copenhagen and University College Absalon have agreed on a partnership spanning collaboration and facility-sharing for their respective programs in biotechnology and biosolutions in Kalundborg.
Being Scandinavia’s biggest biotech and process cluster including companies such as Novo Nordisk, Novonesis, Unibio, Meliora Bio etc., few Danish cities play a more significant role in biotech and biosolutions than Kalundborg. On top, there are excellent local opportunities for research and education within the fields.
University College Absalon for example offers a Bachelor of Engineering in Biotechnology, while the Department of Food Science (KU FOOD) and the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences (KU PLEN) at University of Copenhagen jointly launch a master’s program in Biosolutions in Kalundborg this year. A program for which Absalon’s biotech engineering graduates directly meet the entry requirements.
As a result, there are significant shared interests between the two educational institutions, which now has resulted in signatures on a collaboration agreement between the two. The partnership will first focus on coordinated efforts in recruitment for both programs and, in addition to other facilities, KU will get to use Absalon’s physical facilities in Kalundborg right next to the city’s world-leading industry. The close connection on campus is also seen to strengthen the development of an active, exciting and innovative study environment across programs.
We are thrilled about this collaboration agreement with Absalon, as this partnership is mutually beneficial. Our new master’s program is designed so that Absalon’s biotechnology engineering graduates can seamlessly continue with us. Therefore, having a solid collaboration between our institutions makes perfect sense, says Anna Haldup, Head of the Department at KU Food.
Off to a flying start
The long-term ambition is to further strengthen the collaboration between the institutions for the benefit of both the Biosolutions and the Biotech program through a variety of initiatives such as exchange of teachers, opportunities for joint theses, and collaborative projects across institutions.
At University College Absalon, they share the excitement about the newly signed collaboration agreement:
Even though the ink has barely dried on the collaboration agreement, we are already actively working together to find solutions, and we see great value in creating shared environments, both academically and socially, especially when the University of Copenhagen launches their master’s program in Kalundborg. This will strengthen the environment for our students and the professional community for our teachers. From the outset, our students can now see that they have the opportunity to stay and pursue a master’s degree here in Kalundborg, if that is their desire, explains Conni Simonsen, Head of the Centre for Engineering and Science at University College Absalon.
Click here to read more about The Biotech City’s bio-engineering programs (in biotechnology, biosolutions, and biomanufacturing, respectively)
