Knowledge is one of the prerequisites for growth in Denmark, where social welfare and competition within industry are increasingly dependent on research, highly skilled workers, and an industry with a flair for innovation and renewal.

The University of Southern Denmark, with campuses located in the southwestern part of Denmark - i.e. Funen, Southern Jutland and Sealand - is a research and educational institution with deep regional roots and an international outlook. Reaching even further south, the university offers a number of joint programmes in co-operation with the University of Flensburg and the University of Kiel. Contacts with regional industries and the international scientific community are strong.

Every day approximately 1,200 researchers in Odense, Kolding, Esbjerg, Sønderborg, Slagelse and Copenhagen are engaged in the search for new know­ledge and insight, while 18,000 students are working to further their education. The University of Southern Denmark offers comprehensive programmes in five different faculties - Humanities, Science, Engineering, Social Sciences, and Health Sciences. It incorporates approximately 35 institutes, 30 research centres, and a well-equipped university library.

The University offers a wide range of traditional disciplines as well as a broad selection of business and engineering studies. In recent years the number of options available has been considerably expanded. Examples include the introduction of a very successful Journalism programme in Odense, Information Science in Kolding, and a Mechatronics Engineering programme in Sønderborg. The educational environments on the Jutland campuses have also been strengthened through the creation of new programmes such as a bachelors degree in Business Administration with Sports Management and Public Health Science in Esbjerg, Danish and English Language Studies in Kolding, and a variety of engineering programmes and European Studies in Sønderborg. Moreover, the University of Southern Denmark is the only university in Scandinavia that offers a degree programme in chiropractic studies (Clinical Biomechanics).

Research at the University of Southern Denmark serves a number of purposes: Creating and sharing new knowledge, supporting teaching, and providing industry with new tools and processes.

The University is particularly strong in areas such as communication, information technology, and biotechnology. Outstanding research in other areas has also been acknowledged through the establishment of a number of national research centres at the University of Southern Denmark. Examples include The Hans Christian Andersen Center, the Centre of Sound Communication, and the Danish Biotechnology Instrument Centre. Odense is also well known for its research within the field of geriatrics.

Co-operation with the business community has resulted in three substantial donations from some of the giants in Danish industry: Odense is the home of the Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute for Production Technology, where robot technology is one of the many research areas. The Mads Clausen Institute in Sønderborg is engaged in the design and development of software for integration in intelligent products of the future. Thanks to funding from Kompan and LEGO, a research environment for the investigation of child behaviour and development has also been established.