The anniversary celebrations at Business Factory started in the early afternoon with a welcome and official opening in the canteen. Here, attention was drawn to 20 years of work supporting entrepreneurship and student-led businesses, before the ribbon was cut to mark the opening of the new facilities in MakerStreet.
Afterwards, guests moved on through Business Factory and the new workshop areas. Along the way, stories were shared by both former and current Business Factory start-ups, who spoke about the journey from idea to business and the importance of having access to professional guidance, networks and physical facilities close to their studies.
The guided tours provided an insight into MakerStreet’s new prototyping and workshop environments, which will support students in turning ideas into tangible solutions in the future. The atmosphere was informal, and conversations arose spontaneously between entrepreneurs, students, lecturers and partners.
Later in the afternoon, the anniversary programme continued with networking and informal socialising in the student bar, Jigsaw.
At the same time, prospective students and curious visitors began arriving for the open day event. At the education fair in the canteen, students, lecturers and student guidance counsellors were ready to answer questions and provide an insight into everyday life at AU Herning.
The programme included presentations on the bachelor’s degree programmes, giving participants an overview of academic content, teaching formats and career opportunities. Guided tours offered the chance to see teaching facilities, communal areas and the student bar. The informal conversations also created space for the kinds of questions that often only arise when you are standing right in the middle of the student environment.
Holding the anniversary celebrations and the open day event at the same time gave the campus a distinctive atmosphere on this winter Wednesday in February. For some, the focus was on entrepreneurship and collaboration with the business community. For others, it was their first encounter with the university and the beginning of reflections on a future choice of study.
Overall, the day provided a glimpse into AU Herning – close to knowledge, friendships and businesses.
]]>Now, with support from InnoFounder, a programme under the Innovation Fund Denmark that enables entrepreneurs to work full-time on developing their ideas, they can gain additional momentum. For David and Mads, the funding means they can focus on making the platform even smarter through self-service onboarding, flexible templates and integrations, so more companies can get started quickly without heavy implementation.
From an idea at Business Factory to InnoFounder support, David and Mads are well on their way to creating a more digital and efficient daily workflow for catering companies.
]]>According to Jan Kvist Martinsen, Associate Professor and Head of the Business Factory, it was a natural next step:
“Our students already work with digital designs in software such as SolidWorks. With the CNC machine, they can now take their design all the way from screen to physical prototype. This provides both solid academic grounding and the confidence to experiment with new ideas.”
The new CNC machine is part of the development of MakerStreet – AU Herning’s new workshop environment for innovation and product development. Here, students and entrepreneurs gain access to modern industrial tools that strengthen skills in design, prototyping and product development.
LINDLARSEN A/S has supplied the machine. Read more about the technology behind it here.
]]>The canteen area was filled to the very last seat as graduates from the Bachelor's and Master's of engineering programmes gathered with family and friends to celebrate the completion of their studies and the beginning of the next chapter. Head of Department Anders Frederiksen opened the celebrations with a warm welcome and emphasised the importance of community and collaboration throughout their years of study.
This year’s keynote speaker, Kenneth Rønne Jensen, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Spectre, shared experiences and advice with the graduates. He emphasised that the courage to take responsibility, the ability to collaborate and the willingness to believe in people are essential to achieving results in the business world.
”Choose to be positive towards those around you. If you approach people with trust and goodwill, you will not only be happier yourself but also earn deep respect from others.”
With a smile on her face and confident steps, Malin Schneider took to the podium as the graduates’ representative. As a newly qualified Master of Engineering in Technology Based Business Development (cand.polyt.), she reflected on a period of study shaped by collaboration, responsibility and practice-oriented projects in close cooperation with companies.
In her speech, she pointed out that the programme had not only been about theory and textbooks, but about becoming an active part of the real-world challenges faced by companies in practice:
“We didn’t just study case examples. We became part of them. We collaborated with world-class companies such as LEGO, Siemens, Vestas, Kamstrup, LINAK and many more."
In closing, Malin addressed the transition from student life to the next chapter. Some graduates are leaving AU Herning with a job already secured, others with plans in the making, and some still weighing their options. What they all share is that they are now standing on their own feet:
“Leaving through this door today, some of us already have our first full-time position waiting, or a concrete plan for the next steps we want to take. Some of us are still figuring it out. But regardless of where we start, what unites us is this: We are all leaving behind a life with a clear structure, clear milestones and a clear path forward.”
Following the speeches and the musical performance, all graduates were presented with congratulatory letters and a handshake in recognition of their efforts throughout their time at university.
In addition, awards were presented to three students in recognition of outstanding achievements:
The graduates leave AU Herning with hands-on experience from real-world engineering projects and close collaboration with companies as an integral part of their education. This equips them with both the skills and the confidence to take the next step, whether that be employment, further study or new projects.
We extend our warmest and well-deserved congratulations to all of this year’s winter graduates. Thank you for your time at AU Herning – and we wish you all the very best for the future.
]]>What happens when technologies capable of affecting the Earth’s entire climate are deployed without shared rules? In 2025, a worst-case scenario became real when a private actor planned to release particles into the atmosphere without regulation or transparency.
Chad M. Baum, Assistant Professor at AU Herning, is part of a European research project that examines how people respond to this type of technology, and how concerns, hopes and dialogue shape the debate. In his new project, he is working with Danish farmers on CO2 removal using crushed rock spread on fields. At the same time, the farmers are given a voice in the development of solutions that are practical and usable in real life.
Read the full interview in Omnibus and gain insight into how people understand and respond to technologies that influence the climate.
Their pitches addressed questions such as: How can B&O evolve from a design brand to an experience brand? Could hotels serve as showrooms? And how can the company optimise production while strengthening sustainability?
The day was about more than just presentations. It sparked a lively professional dialogue, with B&O representatives providing feedback, asking questions and sharing insights, while students had the chance to discuss and refine their proposals. Theories such as SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and benchmarking strategies were transformed into actionable suggestions, demonstrating how academic knowledge can be applied directly in practice.
“It’s impressive to see how quickly the students take on complex challenges, analyse them and present well-considered proposals,” says Fabien Rezac, lecturer in Business Administration and coordinator of the collaboration with B&O.
The day concluded with networking, a campus tour and a cosy cake break.
A big thank you to Bang & Olufsen for their strong commitment and for helping our students gain hands-on experience with real business issues from their very first year of study. The event clearly illustrates how our BSc programme combines theory with practice and gives students the opportunity to work closely with the business community – both locally and internationally.
]]>It’s truly special to feel the energy that arises when former and current students meet each other and our industry partners. It clearly shows that GMM is not just a degree programme. It’s a strong community that reaches far into the business world, says John Bang Mathiasen, Director of Studies for GMM.
For two decades, the GMM study programme has educated graduates who now work as operations managers, supply chain specialists, project leaders, consultants and production managers in both Danish and international companies. They play a key role in developing, optimising and managing complex supply chains in a globalised world.
The day concluded with networking, engaging conversations, and – above all – a celebration of the many GMM students and alumni who have each made a significant impact on business both in Denmark and internationally.
Congratulations to all – we look forward to the next 20 years!
]]>