The eight universities in Denmark have decided to combat unemployment by agreeing to regulate student admission based on the development of the job market.
Ralf Hemmingsen, the dean of Copenhagen University, said that it was important that the decision was collectively agreed to by the universities.
“No-one has an interest in educating towards unemployment," Hemmingsen told Berlingske newspaper.
"The individual universities have previously tried a similar initiative, but because the deans haven’t discussed it together, it hasn’t had much of an effect. Now it’s a joint and national co-ordination.”
READ MORE: Danish graduates poorly suited to an international career
Based on unemployment figures
For years, various ministers have called for the universities to limit access to courses and degrees that fail to lead to employment, and the education minister, Sofie Carsten Nielsen (R), is pleased that a decision has finally been made.
“It’s invigorating to see how much the universities have done in such a short period of time,” Nielsen told Berlingske. ”I am happy that they constructively embrace the government line to ensure that all students enjoy good opportunities on the job market.”
This year, the admission regulations will rely on existing unemployment figures, but Hemmingsen underlined that the universities would in the future co-operate with the Education Ministry in order to calculate unemployment figures two to three years after final exams are taken.
