The person behind the first-semester initiative is Fabien Rezac. For him, the collaboration is about far more than an interesting company visit.

For new students who may have travelled here from the other side of the world, the first semester is about working out whether they feel they belong. My job is not simply to teach models, but to help them make the transition to university and spark their curiosity. I want to show them that there are exciting opportunities and companies right on their doorstep, he explains.

A winding road to the lecture hall

He grew up in the Czech border town of A, played in a punk band, dropped out of his first degree programme in Prague and spent some time working as a gardener in Manchester. As a young man, he lacked both direction and confidence, but gradually found his footing and went on to complete a bachelors degree in Scotland.

During a Christmas visit to his hometown, he met his now wife, Diana, and the couple later decided to move to Denmark. She was accepted onto a design programme at VIA, while he enrolled on the masters programme in Marketing and Business Innovation at AU Herning.

He went on to pursue a PhD at AU Herning as well and spent an extended research period at the University of Oxford. He then returned, submitted his dissertation and was appointed assistant professor in organisation and management.

He draws actively on his own experience of feeling unsure about his direction when working with new students:

I want to give them a safe space where it is okay to make mistakes. The aim is to bring out the best in every student, whatever their starting point, as long as they are willing to put in the effort. They may not have been drafted into the NBA, but we play as if they have, he says.

That same approach also shapes the collaboration he has built with B&O.

From five companies to one close collaboration

When Fabien took over the Business Development Project course, students worked with five different companies. He soon realised they would gain more from focusing on one company and getting to know it properly.

Through previous teaching at the department, he was already in contact with Bang & Olufsen in Struer. The company was keen to raise its profile among young people and give them a clearer sense of what the brand stands for. At the same time, it was important to Fabien that the collaboration created value for everyone involved.

A partnership should never be a favour from the company. Businesses have their own goals, and as a university we need to understand what we bring to the table. If a collaboration is to have a lasting impact, it needs to be transparent and create genuine value for both sides, he explains.

After the initial visit to Struer, the students continue working in groups for several weeks. The project concludes on campus in Herning, where representatives from Bang & Olufsen listen to the students presentations and provide direct feedback on their recommendations.

The assignment is based on real business challenges within areas such as branding, sustainability and business development. For example, students have explored how B&O might use hotels as showrooms, and how the company could evolve from a traditional design brand into a modern experience-led brand.

Bringing learning to life

For Fabien, the collaboration with Bang & Olufsen is a clear example of what makes AU Herning stand out. The students do more than simply visit the company. They spend several weeks working on its challenges and present their recommendations directly to the people who deal with them in their day-to-day work.

Close links with the business community are one of the pillars of our department. In many ways, it is why we are here. For a global company to open its doors in this way to brand-new bachelors students is quite unique. And from day one, it shows students how they can apply what they learn in the real world.

She found it at the Department of Business Development and Technology at Aarhus University in Herning, where she is now a PhD student.

She has been living in Denmark for a year. She was prepared for the rain, but the strong winds of western Jutland took her by surprise. She is still taking those one day at a time.

Exploring AI in practice

In her PhD project, Nisha examines how generative AI tools are being integrated into companies day-to-day work.

Among other things, she looks at how employees experiment with using language models to proofread emails, structure meeting notes and handle confidential information responsibly.

For Nisha, close contact with companies is essential to understanding how AI tools are actually being used in practice. Through Manufactory a growth technology centre at AU Herning where researchers and manufacturing companies work together on specific challenges she gained access to companies and employees early in her PhD.

This has had a direct impact on the development of her research:

Im particularly pleased that I had this opportunity so early in my PhD. It has meant that Ive been able to continuously adjust and sharpen my research question. It would have been much more difficult if I had had to establish all the contacts myself from scratch, with the risk of being pulled in many different directions, Nisha explains.

Less administration, more research

Close collaboration with companies involves more than simply establishing contact. Agreements on confidentiality and access to data also need to be in place. This is where Manufactory has made a significant difference for Nisha.

Because Manufactory formalises the collaboration, clear agreements with the companies are already in place, so I know from the outset what kind of access I have, Nisha explains, adding:

It can take a long time to establish contact with companies and put agreements such as confidentiality agreements in place. Through Manufactory, the process is more structured. This means I can spend less time on administration and get started on the research itself more quickly.

Companies open their doors

Having studied in the United States and worked for the technology company Intel, Nisha has been struck by the openness of companies in central and western Jutland.

Even within Intel, it was incredibly difficult to gain access to data across departments. But through Manufactory, Ive found and I think this may also be part of Danish culture that people are very open. Particularly when it comes to interviews, employees are very willing to talk and share details about their day-to-day routines, she says.

These conversations give Nisha insight into how employees actually use AI, the opportunities they see and the challenges they encounter along the way. At the same time, the companies gain new knowledge about a technology that is already changing a wide range of work tasks.

Nisha currently collaborates with several manufacturing companies, including Arla. Her PhD project is expected to be completed in 2028.

It sounds simple enough. But how does a group decide what to try first? Who gets heard when everyone has ideas? And what happens if the first attempt does not work?

These are some of the questions explored when around 45 first-year students from the Bachelor of Engineering programmes Business Development, BDE and Global Management and Manufacturing, GMM take part in a workshop as part of the course Personal and Social Competencies (PKO).

Working in five groups, the students complete a series of exercises designed to challenge the way they work together. They test catapults, tackle a task involving stones and take part in an exercise focusing on trust.

Afterwards, they reflect on how they worked as a team. How did we make decisions? Did everyone have a chance to contribute? And what could we do differently next time?

When the group knows more than the individual

The students continue to explore these questions in PKO, looking at how they communicate, the roles they take on in a team and how individual differences can strengthen collaboration.

One of the key questions is how a team can make the most of the knowledge and ideas each member brings. That involves more than simply dividing up the work. The students also practise listening, asking questions, explaining their ideas clearly and adapting their approach along the way.

These are skills they will need as the challenges they face become more complex.

On BDE, students develop ideas and explore whether they can be turned into viable products or solutions. On GMM, they work with how companies can plan and improve their production and supply chains. And when working on projects with companies, students need to draw on different perspectives and make decisions together.

That work starts in the very first semester. Even when the immediate challenge is simply to make a tennis ball travel a little further.

As a researcher, he had always been interested in businesses and had worked with data from companies. So when he heard about the university environment in Herning and its close collaboration with the business community, he was intrigued.

I had heard that the environment in Herning was closely connected to industry, and I thought, well, lets give it a try, he says.

That led to a position as a professor and, later, the role of Head of Department. But what drew him to Herning back then is still what motivates him today.

What motivates me is creating value for the society were part of. Its about engaging with businesses to understand the challenges they face and seeing how we as a university can contribute while also generating new knowledge.

A problem isnt a research question

Bringing research and business closer together sounds simple. Find a company. Find a researcher. Get them around the same table. In reality, it rarely works that way.

Businesses dont necessarily come with a research question. They come with a challenge they need to solve. A technology they want to develop further. Data they dont know how to use. A process that could be improved. Or an idea that might be developed into a new business opportunity, Anders explains.

Some of these problems can become research projects. Others are better suited to a student project. And some may not belong at a university at all.

If a company has a problem and we can sit down together and say that in 200 hours, well have the answer, I would call that consultancy, he says.

For him, things only become really interesting when the answer doesnt already exist. When a companys challenge contains a question that can generate new knowledge.

Trust takes time

To identify that question, the researcher needs to get close to the business.

I need the dialogue with the companies to qualify the research questions I ask. Its important to me to work on issues that have a real impact on the society were part of.

Anders has experienced this first-hand through his research into personnel economics. Access to company data has, among other things, made it possible to examine how incentives support employee performance, productivity and career development. But that kind of access doesnt happen by itself.

It takes time to get to know a company and understand its challenges. It requires trust if youre going to be given access to knowledge and data. And both the researcher and the company have to accept that we dont necessarily know in advance what will come out of the collaboration. Thats also what makes it difficult, interesting and research.

When the researchers models met reality

Anders came to Herning as a researcher. Becoming head of his own department was not part of the plan. And for a professor researching people, incentives and organisations, taking on a leadership role proved something of a reality check.

From day one, I realised that there were dimensions to my models that didnt quite match the complexity of the real world, he says with a laugh.

A strength that could be put to even greater use

Anders wants to draw even more on his many years of experience of getting close to businesses and understanding their situation. One example is Manufactory at AU Herning, a growth and technology centre where businesses and researchers work closely together on specific manufacturing challenges.

The challenges businesses face rarely fit neatly into a single academic discipline. And thats why Anders sees great potential in connecting the departments relationships with the business community with expertise from other disciplines at Aarhus BSS and across Aarhus University.

We have developed processes and a structure for working with businesses. But there may well be challenges where we need colleagues who are more technical than we are, or who can bring different perspectives from other parts of the university, he says.

Students need to get close, too

When Anders is asked to point to something hes particularly proud of, he returns to the students. Every year, around 500 students from the department work with more than 250 companies as part of their education.

It gives businesses new perspectives, while the students get to apply their academic skills to something that actually matters to a company. Sometimes it leads to an internship, a student job or a job afterwards. Im proud that we have succeeded in creating that link between our study programmes and businesses.

Still on a journey

Anders is now turning 50. And when he looks back on his years in Herning, its not titles or figures that he highlights.

It has been incredibly rewarding to help build a department together with the people and students here, but just as much to be able to bring the department and Aarhus University into play in the society were part of. And I still feel that were on a journey of development that has only just begun.

The tents in the forest and the universitys own laboratories were buzzing with activity as visitors tried their hand at everything from eye tracking and recycled jewellery to industrial robots and 3D printing.

Getting hands-on with technology

In one of the tents, engineer Simon Hauge from DAMRC was showing the young visitors what a 3D printer can do. They could have their names printed on keyrings while watching the process.

"The young people are really interested in our 3D printer. They get to take something personal home with them while also gaining an insight into the technology behind it. They find that really fascinating," says Simon Hauge.

Perhaps the experience will inspire some of them to explore technology further:

"Of course, we hope that some of them will be inspired to follow this path and perhaps become engineers or technicians one day."

The teachers also appreciated the opportunity to take learning outside the classroom:

"The pupils find it exciting when they get to try things for themselves. And they always benefit from getting out and experiencing something different from the usual school day," says Anders Bjerge, a teacher at Sødalskolen.

Taking new ideas home

MakerFest is not just about robots, printers and new technology. At the Danish Foundation for Entrepreneurship's tent, the young visitors were encouraged to move between the maker tents, network, ask questions and gather inspiration.

"The idea is for them to take new input and ideas back to school and use them to continue working on a particular challenge," explains programme manager Henrik Thise.

There was also room for a little hands-on creativity in the tent. Anyone who managed to fold a cup was rewarded with popcorn or crisps to fill it.

Connecting the whole chain

For AU Herning, MakerFest has become a success that brings different levels of education and the business community closer together. Head of Department Anders Frederiksen is delighted by both the strong support and the many new participants:

MakerFest has become a joint project that connects the entire chain from primary and lower secondary schools through upper secondary education and higher education to the business community.

It is a celebration for everyone with a passion for creativity, design, technology and innovation, whether you are a student, a company, a passionate specialist or something else entirely.

MakerFest 2026 was organised by AU Herning, VIA University College, Business Academy MidtWest and the Danish Foundation for Entrepreneurship, with support from AUHE Fonden, Færchfonden, Nordea-fonden, Nordjyllandsfonden, Herning Municipality and Bravida.

Tutors have been on hand to show the new students around, answer questions and help give them a great start to student life in Herning.

Close interaction with companies throughout their studies

At AU Herning, many students will have the opportunity to engage with companies during their studies. This happens through projects, real-world cases and internships, among other things.

For some, these collaborations lead to a student job. For others, they become the first contact with a future employer in Central and Western Jutland.

Among this years new students is the latest intake on the English-taught bachelors degree programme in Economics and Business Administration. Danish and international students study together, bringing different experiences and perspectives into the classroom.

Welcome to all the new students at AU Herning. We look forward to following you throughout your time here.

The photo shows the new Economics and Business Administration intake together with their tutors.

These are three very different examples of the AI research being carried out at Aarhus University.

On Tuesday, 11 August, AI researchers from across the university gathered at AU Herning for the launch of the new AU AI Research Community. The community was established by the university leadership to strengthen the focus on AI in research and create better opportunities for collaboration across Aarhus University. 

Different disciplines, shared questions

Although a cancer researcher, a cultural researcher and a technology researcher use AI for very different purposes, they also encounter some of the same questions along the way.

Access to data. Computing power and research infrastructure. New methods and tools. And how AI is developed and used responsibly in research.

These are some of the areas where the new AU AI Research Community aims to build stronger connections.

Mirko Presser, Professor at AU Herning and a member of the steering group for the new community, sees great potential in bringing researchers from different disciplines closer together.

AI is developing incredibly quickly, and none of us can keep up with everything within our own fields while also knowing what is happening elsewhere. We work with different questions, but we may need the same methods, data or technologies. There is therefore a great deal to be gained from getting to know each other and sharing experiences across disciplines, says Mirko Presser.

AU Herning brings strong links with industry

The launch also gave participants an opportunity to learn more about the research into AI and digital technologies being carried out at AU Herning. As part of the programme for the day, participants visited laboratories on campus, where researchers work with technologies such as robotics and extended reality.

AU Herning also brings many years of experience in applied research and research collaborations with companies, including in the manufacturing sector.

At AU Herning, we have a strong tradition of developing new knowledge together with companies. This gives us a perspective on AI that is not only focused on what the technology can do, but also on the challenges it can help address. This is a perspective we can bring to the university-wide AI community, says Mirko Presser.

The launch was the first step in the work of the new AU AI Research Community. During the day, researchers identified needs and topics for the community to take forward.

At Masters degree level, 157 students have already accepted places on either Technology Based Business Development or IT, Communication and Organisation (ITKO).

At the same time, 72 students have been offered places on the new Masters degree programme in Medicine in Herning. They will become part of SUND+, where medical students from Aarhus University and nursing students from VIA University College will study under the same roof. 

New students = new opportunities for collaboration

The new students will become part of the study environment in Herning, where education, research and the business community come together.

During their studies, they will have the opportunity to work on real-world challenges through projects, internships and collaborations with companies. At the same time, companies will have the opportunity to meet and collaborate with people who may eventually become their colleagues.

This years student mentors are already busy preparing to welcome the new students and ensure that they get a good start to university life.

We look forward to a new academic year with a lively campus and many successful collaborations.

MakerStreet provides the setting for this approach: a place where ideas can be tested, developed and turned into something tangible.

There has been a special atmosphere at AU Herning over the past few weeks. Smiles, hugs and a sense of relief. Some carrying flowers. Others surrounded by family. And that quiet feeling that an important chapter is coming to an end.

On Friday, 26 June, it all culminated in the graduation ceremony, where we welcomed graduates, family and friends for a day of applause, music and speeches. It was an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate several years of projects, exams and collaboration with industry.

And then the speeches

The programme was opened by Head of Department Anders Frederiksen, who welcomed everyone and reflected on the graduates journey through university, as well as the opportunities and challenges that now lie ahead.

This years guest speaker was Jakob Nørgaard, Head of Department at JN Data and an ITKO graduate, class of 2020. He shared his experiences of transitioning from student life to professional life and spoke about the choices and opportunities that come with earning a degree.

There is not one correct way to succeed. There is only the challenge and opportunity of finding the role where you can become the best version of yourself. Take the time to celebrate this moment. Enjoy it fully. Enjoy your friends. Enjoy your families. Enjoy what you have achieved.

Later, newly graduated MSc in Engineering Julia Koch delivered the graduate speech. It was a personal reflection on community, finding your footing along the way and growing through experiences you may not have expected when you first began your studies.

Here, you call your professors by their first names (really had to get used to that), and theyre actually really approachable for questions, ideas and as sparring partners.

Celebrating academic achievement and dedication

Following the speeches and musical performances, each graduate was recognised individually with a handshake, applause and a letter of congratulations.

Among the highlights of the day was the presentation of graduate awards to two graduates whose masters theses stood out as the strongest of the year:

• The MSc in Engineering award for best masters thesis was presented to Alex Fredsgaard Skotner and sponsored by Kyocera Unimerco.
• The MSc in Information Technology award for best masters thesis was presented to Mikkel Meineche Kristiansen and Frederik Thrane Møller and sponsored by SMV Herning.

The 154 graduates are distributed across the following programmes:

• Bachelor of Engineering in Business Development, BDE
• Bachelor of Engineering in Global Management and Manufacturing, GMM
• Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics
• MSc in Information Technology in IT, Communication and Organisation
• MSc in Engineering (Technology Based Business Development)
• Graduate Diploma in Business Administration

Congratulations to all graduates. We are proud to have been part of your time at university and look forward to following your future paths.