Danish businesses hit back at critics of 2003 reform

Decision to put industry managers on university boards has improved competitiveness, they say

Danish employer organisations have rejected recent criticisms that their involvement in universities has been detrimental to the functioning of the country’s higher education institutions.

Such criticisms have been voiced by universities following an analysis of the Danish University Act 2003, which gave industry representatives access to university management. Mads Eriksen, head of education and research policy at Dansk Erhverv, the Danish chamber of commerce, said that Denmark has a much better university sector now that businesses can sit on academic councils.