Since 2018, SDU has named an honorary alumnus, and the honour goes to a person who unfolds new talents and promotes the unique. He or she creates value for and with society, breaks boundaries and shapes the future, and finally, the honorary alumnus contributes to SDU's development.
SDU's honoured alumni
-
![Bent Jensen]()
2025
The 2025 Honorary Alum of the Year Award goes to CEO Bent Jensen
Bent Jensen graduated as a mechanical engineer in 1976 from Sønderborg Teknikum (merged into SDU in 1998). He is a successful engineer, entrepreneur, businessman and investor.
-
![Solvej Balle]()
2024
Honourary Alumni of the Year 2024 goes to author Solvej Balle
Solvej Balle holds an MA in Philosophy from SDU. in Philosophy from SDU and is one of the most important and original writers of her generation.
-
![Camilla Sylvest]()
2023
The Honorary Alumni Award 2023 goes to Camilla Sylvest
The title of Honorary Alumna of the Year 2023 goes to Camilla Sylvest, Executive Vice President of Commercial Strategy at Novo Nordisk. Camilla Sylvest holds a Master's degree in Economics from the University of Southern Denmark from 1998.
-
![Peter Mads Clausen]()
2022
The Honorary Alumni Award 2022 goes to Peter Mads Clausen
Peter Mads Clausen has been of great importance to SDU as a regionally anchored university, and with his association with Danfoss, he has played a crucial role in the establishment of SDU Sønderborg and not least the Mads Clausen Institute.
-
![]()
2021
Media specialist named Honorary Alumni 2021
Jimmy Maymann is an entrepreneur and Chairman of the Board of TV 2. Throughout his career, he has headed several successful media and tech companies and has held a top position as CEO of the internet media company Huffington Post.
-
![]()
2020
Correspondent named Honorary Alumni 2020
Puk Damsgård (born 18 September 1978) studied journalism at SDU (she graduated in 2007) and is one of Denmark's most prominent media personalities today.
-
![]()
2019
Scientific entrepreneur is Honorary Alumni 2019
Ole Vorm er serie-iværksætter og har stået i spidsen for flere succesfulde virksomheder. I tæt på 20 år har årets æresalumne været førende indenfor proteinforskning og beskæftiget en række af SDU’s kandidater i sine virksomheder.
-
![]()
2018
SDU announces robot man as first honorary alumnus of 2018
Robot maker Esben Østergaard, co-founder and technical director of Universal Robots, becomes the University of Southern Denmark's first honorary alumnus.
