Linda Maria Koldau
THE WRITING ON THE WALL The trilogy 'Jante Universitet' offers a comprehensive critique of the Danish university system, showing the general consequences of New Public Management for a country's educational standards and its economy. HANDBOOK AND NOVEL-LIKE STORY The trilogy offers the unique combination of a handbook and an authentic story. The novel-like story line is based on the experiences of a German professor, documented over 3 years at a Danish university.As a systematic handbook, 'Jante Universitet' offers two 'short cuts' that can be read within two hours. The individual episodes depict the absurdities of everyday life at a university, from department structures and petty intrigues through a scandalous teaching strategy to the questionable management methods of administrators who have total power over the academic staff.The handbook is a tool for those who are interested in and have responsibility for university education - not only in Denmark, but in all countries where New Public Management has begun to dumb down higher education. VOLUME 2: UDDANNELSESKATASTROFENProfessor Liane's persistent attempts at establishing well-founded academic work in a more and more stifling atmosphere at her institute are met with rejection, censorship and eventually with chicanery. As a last resort, she turns to the media to make her concerns public. Her public criticism triggers a tremendous debate about the disastrous standards in Danish education in the Humanities.UDDANNELSESKATASTROFEN shows in its true light the worthless nature of education focusing on so-called 'market-orientation' and 'competences'. The consequences adversely affect the whole of society and decisively weaken a country's competitiveness.BACKGROUND The trilogy is based on the so-called 'Koldau Case' that caused a major scandal in Denmark in 2012, concerning• the right of university staff to freedom of speech,• the mismanagement of and totalitarian structures within Danish universities,• the low standar
