VIA University College

Mission Statement

VIA Design & Business' mission is to enhance the market value of our students and give fashion, furniture and other lifestyle companies a competitive advantage.

VIA Design & Business is part of VIA University College, which strives to offer high-quality and research-based course programmes and knowledge targeting public and private professions.

VIA University College, located in the Central region of Denmark, educates future engineers, designers, teachers, education specialists, nurses among others. We offer more than 40 degree programmes at eight campusses across the region. VIA's departments of further education has more than 20,000 annual participants in programmes on diploma, academy profession and master degree level. This means that we are the largest institution for further education in Northern Europe. Through research and development, we make sure that our programmes are based on the latest knowledge. In addition, we help develop the society for which we educate students. We cooperate closely with public and private companies and help develop industries and societal solutions.

UN's Sustainable Development Goals 
We educate and research in sustainable solutions that help create a better future. From the principles in our strategy to the education in each classroom. From new innovative research to more thoughtful use of plastic and paper in our canteens. We strive to give our students the best tools to help reach UN's Sustainable Development Goals in 2030. Further information: https://en.via.dk/about-via/sustainability

International Role

Our role internationally is to educate candidates with intercultural competencies – qualifying them for the future global labor market. This we ensure by having a strong international environment at home (more than 400 international full-time students) and every year a high number of incoming ERASMUS students from international partner universities. Further on we encourage our students to study one semester abroad, either with our partners in Europe or in one of our overseas exchange programs e.g. Canada. 

On an institutional level internationally we are members of e.g. EAIE, NAFSA, Eurashe, The Danish-Chinese Business Forum and we have a strong cooperation with CDEU (the Central Denmark EU Office) in Brussels.

Our role internationally is to educate candidates with intercultural competencies – qualifying them for the future global labor market. This we ensure by having a strong international environment at home (more than 400 international full-time students) and every year a high number of incoming ERASMUS students from international partner universities. Further on we encourage our students to study one semester abroad, either with our partners in Europe or in one of our overseas partners e.g. Canada. On an institutional level internationally we are members of e.g. EAIE, NAFSA, Eurashe, The Danish-Chinese Business Forum and we have a strong cooperation with CDEU (the Central Denmark EU Office) in Brussels.

National Role

VIA Design & Business' role nationally and regionally is to ensure a strong connection to the private and public sector by enhancing design and business within the creative industries. Through business-oriented partnerships and development projects VIA Design & Business aims at creating growth and innovation in the creative sector. Therefore we have strong connections to the local industries and authorities in Herning and Aarhus focusing on high quality competencies for the future labor market.

In order to secure this cooperation, VIA Design & Business conducts qualitative interviews every second year, resulting in an analysis of the requirements for the future needs of the companies.

Further on we cooperate closely with e.g. Lifestyle & Design Cluster, the Danish Fashion Institute and the Danish Fashion and Textile Association.

Moreover VIA Design & Business has been invited to partipate in a new task force set in place by the Danish authorities focusing on making the Danish fashion and textile more green. To meet the demands for increased sustainability from authorities and customers facing the fashion and textile industry, the new task force has been set up to strengthen exports and accelerate green transition across the industry. The task force should promote competitiveness of small and medium-sized companies through sustainability certifications and circular business models. The task force consists of representatives with a broad knowledge of the fashion and lifestyle industry. VIA Design & Business is represented by Poul-Erik Jørgensen, Head of Programme, Research and Development Centre for Creative Industries and Professions. The task force will work until the end of 2021.  
 

Main Focus

Academic quality, creativity, innovation, methodology and research within design, business and animation at undergraduate level.