Co- operation with the surrounding society, regarding education and research is an essential characteristic for the University of Southern Denmark in Sønderborg.
Alsion – the new buildings of the university is a visible proof of co-operation with the surrounding society. Besides being the address of the University of Southern Denmark, Alsion also houses Forskerpark Syd (science park south), a concert hall and Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester (symphony orchestra of Southern Jutland). This gives unique possibilities for extending the co-operation between the university, the business life and culture.
The co-operation with the business life concerning education and research is very close. A living proof of the close contact is the Mads Clausen Institute, established by means from the Bitten and Mads Clausen fund, and today a power centre for research in a user oriented design, software design and mathematic modelling.
But Danfoss is only one in a long row of high technology companies that the university is in contact with. Other examples are Linak, Infocom, Ecco, Hydro and Focon. Together the university and the business life form an intense knowledge environment that strengthens the further growth in Sønderjylland (Southern Jutland).
Students from the University of Southern Denmark find it easy to get in touch with companies when writing their final project. To support the students at the University of Southern Denmark in Sønderborg, the local business life has instituted a prize to be given to one of the projects written at a company.
A specific characteristic of the University of Southern Denmark in Sønderborg, is the unique co-operation with Universität Flensburg concerning a number of educations in Sønderborg and Flensborg. The co-operation between the two universities has resulted in an international environment with Danish and foreign students, and teachers from both sides of the border.