New, dynamic and visible Head of the Department of Political Science

The University and the Department face many challenges, including the changes in the financial frame work. In order to face this situation it is important to have a strong leader with a strong vision, explains Dean at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Troels Østergaard Sørensen.

- In order to rise to the challenges ahead of us we will need to invest, and we need innovation. We need to proactively embrace and create the opportunities of the future. In Mikkel Vedby Rasmussen the Department of Political Science gains a leader full of innovative ideas and energy, says Troels Østergaard Sørensen.

Research and management experience

Mikkel Vedby Rasmussen is 43 years old. He earned his MSc in political science in 1997, and his PhD in 2001, both from the University of Copenhagen. He also holds an MSc in International Relations from London School of Economics and Political Science. He has management experience from his position as director of Centre for Military Studies, which used to be directly under the Ministry of Defence and later became a centre under the Department of Political Science. He also has management experience from his position as professor with special responsibilities. He has also held a positon as permanent undersecretary at the Ministry of Defence.

Currently, Mikkel Vedby Rasmussen is a professor at the Department of Political Science, and, among other things, his research areas include international politics, defence policy, globalisation and conflicts. In 2015, he published the book “The Military's Business: Designing Military Power for the Future” at Cambridge University Press. He is an active contributor to the debate on defence policy, he is strongly committed to research dissemination, and he was part of developing the Department’s new MSc study programme in Security Risk Management.

- In recent years, the Department of Political Science has developed successfully in many areas. The quality of both the research and the study programmes at the Department has been strengthened, and the internationalisation and the external partners of the Department must be areas of focus for the new Head of Department. Reducing average study time to live up to the study progress reform, reducing dropout rates, and increased focus on employment opportunities in the private sector must also continue to receive intense focus in the future, says Dean Troels Østergaard Sørensen.

Current Head of the Department of Political Science Lars Bo Kaspersen wishes to return to research and education. The position was advertised, and the employment committee unanimously found Mikkel Vedby Rasmussen qualified for the position. Dean Troels Østergaard Sørensen will be handing over management responsibility to Mikkel Vedby Rasmussen on 1 September 2016.

Contact

Dean Troels Østergaard Sørensen
Faculty of Social Sciences

Journalist Janni Brixen
Faculty of Social Sciences

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