International research collaboration can help to raise the quality of our research, as knowledge and talent do not follow national boundaries. Providing evidence-based and high-quality patient care is not just a local wish, but reflects a global need to improve the level of Health.

Researchers at OUH and KI have shown for some time that they can easily be at the forefront of research fields. In the new strategy, we will focus on increasing the international visibility of OUH and SDU. At the same time, we will contribute to setting the agenda for areas where we want to distinguish ourselves even more clearly, so that we can attract the best researchers from home and abroad. This will be done, for example, through creation of new attractive research centres, increased focus on networking, and collaborations with international research environments, for instance via the exchange of researchers.

Improving the world’s health is a global challenge. It requires a focus on health research in a global context, meaning that we also need to support research projects that are undertaken by local researchers in non-Western countries.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

International postdocs and PhD students: OUH and KI will continue to recruit international postdocs and PhD students to strengthen existing research environments.

Research stays at institutions outside of Denmark: OUH and KI will continue to encourage researchers and PhD students to go on a research visit to an international institution to strengthen their know-how and networking.

Strengthen the quality of research: OUH and KI will raise the quality of research at OUH by strengthening the collaboration with leading international research environments.

Global health: OUH and KI will strengthen the research collaboration with countries where we have the capacity to contribute to further development.

Recruitment of top scientists: OUH and KI will increase the focus on recruitment of top researchers from abroad who can strengthen existing research environments at OUH and build up new ones.

PERFORMANCE GOALS

• By 2017: All research units will be benchmarked with one or more similar international research units.
• From 2018: Every year, two to three PhD students from non-Western countries will be affiliated to OUH and KI
• From 2018: Every year, at least eight external PhD students and two postdocs will come on a prolonged visit.
• By 2019: WE will have at least 40 international honorary adjunct professors at OUH.
• By 2020: OUH and KI will have established at least one to two new world-class research environments.
• By 2021: OUH and KI will have had at least nine twin-PhD programmes with international elite hospitals.
• By 2021: At least ten PhD students will have received a joint degree from OUH and an international university.
• By 2021: At least 90 per cent of OUH PhD students will have been on an international research visit. At least 50 per cent will have been overseas for about five to six months.

Status

OUH and KI have been focusing on internationalization of research efforts to increase the hospital’s research volume, quality, development, networking, and recruiting capacity for the benefit of patient care.

Establishment of the Internationalization fund has meant that we can offer honorary positions for international professors and send our own researchers abroad for shorter or longer periods.

Attracting and hosting international congresses and conferences is a key tool in the internationalization of the university hospital. It is still possible to obtain a financial guarantee when organizing international conferences.