IT University of Copenhagen turns 25
Today, IT University celebrates its 25th anniversary, marking a significant journey since its inception in 1999 with an inaugural class of 147 students. Since then, the university has grown exponentially to accommodate approximately 2,800 students. According to ITU Rector Per Bruun Brockhoff, this growth is driven by the soaring demand for the skills that ITU graduates possess.
Per Bruun BrockhoffAbout ITUEducationResearch
Written 30 August, 2024 06:58 by Theis Duelund Jensen
Over its 25-year history, IT University has experienced substantial growth, now enrolling around 1,300 students annually across its bachelor's, master's, and continuing education programmes. The industry's appetite for IT graduates continues to increase year on year, and according to ITU Rector Per Bruun Brockhoff, there is a particular reason why ITU graduates are highly sought after in the job market:
"Our graduates are not only skilled programmers, organisational and business specialists, and designers – they are well-rounded individuals with expertise in all three areas. When you hire an ITU graduate, you gain an employee who is not only a specialist in their field but also capable of seeing their work within a broader context. This holistic approach to working with the digital realm benefits both the employer and society, and it is this that makes ITU unique in the Danish educational landscape."
Started as an "IT College"
The idea of establishing an institution in Denmark dedicated solely to IT research and education was first introduced in 1997. Increasing digitalisation was creating a massive shortage of IT professionals, and there was a need to take extraordinary measures to educate more IT graduates. An educational institution with close ties to the job market was required, one that could equip graduates with the exact skills that employers were seeking.
In 1998, the then Ministers of Education and Research established a working group to investigate what could be done, and one of their recommendations was to create an IT College in Copenhagen.
Formally, the IT College was part of CBS from its inception, but with its own board and budget allocation. This arrangement continued until 2003, when an international evaluation recommended a separation. On 1 July 2003, IT University became an independent university.
Diversity is key to success
According to the rector, one of the most important ingredients for ITU's success is a continuous focus on both academic and social diversity. He points out that ITU's graduate programmes have been characterised by great academic diversity from the beginning, and gender diversity has been a high priority since 2015.
"The fact is, the more diverse perspectives you have on a problem, the stronger the solution you create. Diversity is deeply embedded in ITU's DNA. Students are challenged in their disciplines and are constantly exposed to new perspectives – both in teaching and in student life. This is of great benefit to the graduates, the job market, and society as a whole, and it is one of the things we are most proud of at ITU," says Per Bruun Brockhoff.
When asked where ITU will be in another 25 years, the answer is unequivocally positive:
"IT University has unique prerequisites to contribute to solving the labour market's shortage of IT-skilled professionals. This shortage will only become more pronounced in the coming years and decades, and it is very unfortunate that we have to turn away hundreds of qualified applicants to our programmes because we are required to reduce study places. ITU is in the world to create value with IT for society – and we will continue to do so in 25 years."
Theis Duelund Jensen, Press Officer, phone +45 2555 0447, email thej@itu.dk