News

New scientific paper: Lack of support undermines the agency of rural villages

Villages across Denmark are struggling to maintain basic services, but often, proactive citizens face bureaucratic barriers and a lack of support. A new scientific article reveals that even when local communities mobilize and take responsibility, structural challenges limit their ability to act.

Invitation to PhD defence: How Strategic Planning Affects Villages' Opportunities and Inequalities

On Friday, April 11, 2025, you are invited to attend the PhD defense of Kasper Friis Bavnbæk. The PhD project focuses on strategic village planning and how municipal planning practices and collaboration with local councils and associations in villages can either reduce or reinforce existing inequalities.

New analysis: City residents are less satisfied with life than rural residents.

Do you live in a big city? Then there is a certain likelihood that you are less satisfied with life than those who live in rural areas. This is shown by a new analysis from the Center for Rural Districts Research, which has been conducted by Associate Professor Jens Fyhn Lykke Sørensen. He also points out 4 factors that explain the difference in life satisfaction.

New analysis: City residents are less satisfied with life than rural residents.

Do you live in a big city? Then there is a certain likelihood that you are less satisfied with life than those who live in rural areas. This is shown by a new analysis from the Center for Rural Districts Research, which has been conducted by Associate Professor Jens Fyhn Lykke Sørensen. He also points out 4 factors that explain the difference in life satisfaction.

Uncertain times? Sociology conference focused on the uncertainties that arise in times of crisis

Recent years have been characterized by uncertainty, such as the pandemic, climate change, and the green transition. At a conference, international researchers discussed issues and proposed solutions.

Magazine focuses on the future of rural areas

A new magazine gathers knowledge and experiences about the world's rural areas from researchers and practitioners.

The paradox of rural digital exclusion

The advent of digitalisation has created new opportunities for digital health and welfare services, but also carries a significant risk of exclusion for some citizens. In the REACT project, researchers are investigating how we can achieve more inclusion in digital solutions in rural areas. Read about the challenge in this op-ed.

Morten Frølund has been awarded his PhD for his project on art in the landscape

On Thursday, June 22, Morten Frølund defended his PhD project and was awarded his PhD degree. Morten's research focuses on how art in the landscape affects the sensory conditions of our everyday lives.

Invitation to PhD defence: Art in the landscape affects the sensory conditions of our everyday life

On Thursday, June 22, 2023, you can attend the PhD defence of Morten Frølund. In his PhD project, Morten has investigated how we interact with art in rural public spaces and how it contributes to our understanding of rural spatial justice. In this Q&A, he gives you a preview of the results.

Arts and culture contribute to quality of life and anchor newcomers in rural areas

In a new study, two researchers take a close look at cultural life in rural areas. The results show that art and culture have an impact on local communities.

Strategic village planning from the bottom up

New book explores how community activism revitalizes local communities. The book is for anyone working with strategic village planning.

Who will be losers in Europe's green transition?

Across Europe, coal mines are closing in the name of the green transition. Researchers now need to clarify what the transformation from coal to renewable energy means for the families and communities that have relied on mining as a livelihood for generations.

New perspectives on rural areas - the battle for the place

In a collection of articles in Economy and Politics, a number of accomplished researchers in the field provide insights into the new breakthrough in rural areas

SDU professor: Big cities are dependent on the provinces, we are becoming blind to this

A fundamental argument for investing in rural areas is that the centers are dependent on their periphery. The big cities rely every day on massive imports of energy, goods, labor and talented young people and exports of large amounts of garbage, writes Egon Noe.

Cultural diversity and places to develop life: Project shows young people's own preferences for youth culture in rural areas

The R YouCult project aims to help create a dynamic youth culture in rural areas. The researchers have now completed the preliminary study, which provides insight into what young people themselves want to see in youth culture.

The project on digital exclusion in rural areas is off to a good start: Here are some of the challenges and opportunities

The REACT project explores how volunteers can counteract digital exclusion among older and digitally disadvantaged people in rural areas. The partners have now identified some of the challenges and opportunities.

Do we need a rural-urban investigation?

Recent research in economic geography talks about the geography of discontent when it comes to explaining why we protest through the ballot box.

We put results into action for strategic village planning

In this note, researchers put the results of two publications into practice in relation to strategic village planning.

Annual Review 2022: A year of cooperation

Head of the Centre for Rural Research Egon Noe looks back on the 'year that passed'.

New EU project against digital exclusion in rural areas

In the project, a range of partners will explore how volunteers can be part of the solution to tackling digital exclusion among older and digitally deprived people.

Help test education programme on culture for young people in rural areas

The EU project A "room" of their own (R YOUCULT) is about developing and designing an education programme for cultural workers in municipalities and cultural institutions in the EU.

Digital solutions can increase health inequalities for people in rural areas

Digital solutions should reduce health inequalities for those who live furthest from health services. But digital technologies could end up generating inequality instead, warns rural researcher.

Strategic rural planning will ensure viable villages in the future

As we move towards a future where energy is a high priority, municipalities need to think much more about the sectors together, says the author of this article.

Eva Mærsk has been awarded her PhD for a highly relevant topic

On Friday 9 September, Eva Mærsk defended her PhD project and was awarded her PhD degree. Eva's research focuses on what makes young people move from, or stay in, their home town while pursuing higher education.

Research on relocation of government jobs presented in Brussels

A national rural conference focused on rural development. CLF research was on the programme.

We are looking for young people who want to help develop rural youth life

Are you aged 15-25, living in the countryside and interested in culture? And would you like to help make rural areas more attractive to young people by developing the cultural offer in the countryside? Then read on.

Be part of creating the story of the 'future of the rural areas'

New summer school focuses on rural future.

Pia Heike Johansen is nominated for the SDG Award 2022

Workshop on the pool for citizen-driven grocery stores

Along with the Danish Housing and Planning Agency, we invite potential applicants to the Citizen-Driven Grocery Store Pool to a workshop.

EU project on youth culture in rural areas is off to a good start

Partners from Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands gathered in Esbjerg to kick-start major EU project

New inspiration catalogue on civic engagement and local innovation: 'If you come together, more things are possible'

New catalogue to inspire rural actors to seize opportunities and tackle challenges in developing local areas.

Three new books put spotlight on rural areas

What is quality of life in the countryside really about? And what does it mean to have a 'right to be rural'? In three book publications, CLF researchers explore key questions about rural life.

New employee to research how we create and sustain grocery stores in rural areas

On April 1st we welcomed postdoc Tobias Gandrup. He will be researching how community economies such as citizen-driven grocery stores can develop rural areas.

Experts give their views on Corona's imprint on buildings, cities and communities of the future

A new collection of essays from Realdania gives ideas on where and how we can rethink the everyday framework with the experience gained from the pandemic. Pia Heike Johansen has contributed with an essay about rythm and resonance in the country.

Higher age and longer distances have increased the national health inequality

The citizens in the countryside is basically disadvantaged compared to citizens in the big cities because the consumption of healthcare decreases as the distance to a bigger city increases.

Rural researcher wins award for research article about tourist activities

The Spanish network of tourism researchers has awarded the prize for the best research article in the field of tourism in 2021 to our former Ph.D.-student and postdoc Barbora Gulisova.

New face: We welcome Maja Jensen

We welcome Maja Jensen who is a new research assistant.

Local community associations play an important role in the development of local areas in Denmark

Local community associations such as citizens' associations and local councils are widespread in Denmark, and a new study shows that the associations contribute with engagement, idea creation and resource generation in relation to developing local communities.

New project to develop a training program for cultural workers in rural areas

Året der gik hos Center for Landdistriktsforskning

I CLF's årsberetning ser centerleder Egon Noe tilbage på nogle af de centrale projekter i 2021.

Videnskabelig assistent til forsknings- og uddannelsesprojekt om unges kulturliv i landdistrikterne

Vil du arbejde med unges kulturliv i landdistrikterne? Så har du nu muligheden.

Regionen spørger unge til råds om kultur på landet

Hvordan skal fremtidens kulturtilbud til unge uden for de store byer se ud? Det spørgsmål stiller Region Midtjylland sammen med Syddansk Universitet til unge i 13 af regionens kommuner.

Sundhed i landdistrikterne: Kom til national konference om ulighed i sundhed

Center for Landdistriktsforskning, Landdistrikternes Fællesråd, UC SYD og Diabetesforeningen inviterer til en national konference, hvor vi samler forskere, praktikere og politikere til en dag i sundhedens og landdistrikternes tegn.

Fortællingen om ’at flytte sig’ er vigtig for unges tilknytning til deres hjemegn

Unge konstruerer fortællinger om ’at flytte sig’ for at forklare og forsvare deres valg om at blive boende i, eller vende tilbage til, deres hjemegn, viser nyt studie.

Doing puzzles with village motifs

In a figurative sense, municipalities have had to put together a puzzle of how they will implement the new legal requirement for strategic village planning. And the introduction of strategic village planning is an opportunity to sharpen the motives that should characterize the puzzle in the future, writes rural area researcher Annette Aagaard Thuesen in this opinion piece.

Kultur og entreprenørskab skal belønnes i landkommunerne

Attraktive kulturmiljøer til unge og længevarende støtte til entreprenante borgeres udviklingsprojekter er vigtige kommunalpolitiske temaer, hvis affolkningen skal bremses.

Esbjerg University Prize 2021: Barbora wins for her PhD on rural branding

PhD Barbora Gulisova is one of this year's recipients of the Esbjerg University Prize. The prestigious recognition was presented on Tuesday afternoon at AAU Esbjerg. Guest speaker was owner of Sports Connection Aps / Skechers Peter Jørgensen.

Bo Villumsen has been awarded his PhD degree

Invitation til ph.d.-forsvar: Tværsektorielle samarbejder mellem idrætsforeninger og turismesektoren

Fredag den 15. oktober kan du deltage i ph.d.-forsvaret for Bo Villumsen. Bo har i sit ph.d.-projekt undersøgt de potentialer og udfordringer, der kan være i samarbejder mellem idrætsforeninger og turismevirksomheder omkring outdoor aktiviteter. I denne Q&A-artikel giver han en forsmag på resultaterne.

New inspiration catalogue provides tools to develop sustainable tourism

A new inspiration catalogue from the Danish Centre for Rural Research equips rural tourism actors with locally adapted tools to develop tourism sustainably.

Welcome, Kasper Friis Bavnbaek

Kasper started the 1st of August, 2021.

New report: Culture is not just for big cities

In a new report, Pia Heike Johansen and Morten Frølund uncover cultural consumption and cultural activities in three regions.

Vær med: Sammen skaber vi verdens første verdensmålspark

Hvordan kan vi arbejde med at gøre de 17 verdensmål nærværende i vores hverdag? Det er det centrale spørgsmål på verdensmålsdagen i Anneberg Kulturpark, hvor borgere, kunstnere, praktikere og forskere skal finde vejen sammen. 17 forskere på tværs af SDU giver deres input, og alle er velkomne.

Barbora Gulisova has been awarded her PhD degree

Congratulations to Barbora Gulisova, who has been awarded her PhD

New catalogue provides inspiration for strategic village planning

A new inspiration catalogue from the Danish Centre for Rural Research aims to inspire rural and peripheral municipalities on how to work with strategic village planning.

Invitation to PhD defense: Rural place branding

We invite you to the online PhD defense of Barbora Gulisova on June 11, 2021. In her PhD project, Barbora has investigated the processes of place branding and how place branding is organized and undertaken in different places within the rural areas. In this article, Barbora gives a foretaste of her defense in a Q&A.

Aktører: Vi skal udvikle grønne uddannelser i provinsen

Det er på tide at gøre op med forestillingen om, at kampen for grøn omstilling kun er for ildsjæle. Vi skal udvikle grønne og praksisnære videregående uddannelser i provinsen, skriver Pia Heike Johansen, Gitte Klausen og Thomas Adelskov (S).

Småbyer er blevet mere attraktive: Corona og hjemmearbejde har fået os til at genoverveje vores postnummer

Siden coronavirussen gjorde sit indtog i Danmark, har mange af os fået andre værdier i hverdagen. Imens hjemmearbejde er blevet mere almindeligt, overvejer flere danskere at flytte længere væk fra storbyerne. Der er nemlig mange gode kvaliteter ved de mindre byer.

Branding processes in rural areas depend on six factors

Like big cities, rural areas are increasingly using place branding to improve their reputation and attract citizens, tourists and consumers. Six factors determine which branding process rural areas use, according to a new study.

New PhD project: Performing the rural landscape through art in situ

Morten Frølund is new PhD student at the Department of Sociology, Environmental and Business Economics as of 15 March, 2020

PhD student Bo Villumsen in the guest corner

That's why Bo decided to do a PhD on "How the tourism industry can collaborate with voluntary organisations on nature and outdoor activities"

Hvem skal eje fremtidens jordbrug?

Nordisk Landdistriktskonference i Vingsted centret i maj 2018

Konferencen har titlen ’Challenged ruralities – Welfare states under pressure’

Growth requires managers’ passion and compassion

The article 'Passion and compassion represent dualities for growth’ has achieved 'the 2016 Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence award for 'Highly Commended Paper’ in the journal International Journal of Organizational Analysis 2015 Vol 23 1

International COST Action TobeWELL Training School

'Sensorium, Wellbeing and Ecosystem Services' taking place at SDU in Esbjerg from 16 to 18 September

New members of the CLF Board of Governors

New Head of Centre for CLF

More research focus on pheripheral rural areas

International evaluation of CLF

In 2010 CLF was evaluated twice

PhD

PhD

PhD defence by Annette Aagaard Thuesen on 12 May

Mark Shucksmith seminar on 12 May

IFUL ends as an institute - but will continue as a centre called CLF

Malene Brandt Winther - new PhD fellow at IFUL

Gunnar Svendsen at the editorial board of Sociologia Ruralis

Denmark's first professor of rural areas: Gunnar Svendsen

Report on the new municipalities’ rural policies

As part of the institute’s performance contract with the Ministry of Social Welfare the institute has examined the rural policies of the new municipalities. The report’s results, which are based on an electronic questionnaire, will be part of the Ministry of Social Welfare’s contribution to the government’s 2009 Account of Rural Districts.

February 23rd: Seminar on the new rural paradigm

New IFUL REPORT: Local Action Groups in Denmark 2008

This is one of the first European reports on the initial experiences from establishing Local Action Groups (LAGs) within EU’s programme 2007-2013 for the development of rural and coastal areas.

Guest Researcher visiting IFUL

Dr Maiti is from India and a trained sociologist

Guest Lecture

A Risk Assessment Study

IFUL Newsletter April 2008