The History of Roskilde University

This chapter describes the background for the establishment of Roskilde University, and traces its history over the first four decades. The focus will be partly on the interaction between the university and broader society and partly on the internal developments at the university. Since its inception in 1972, Roskilde University has evolved from being a key innovative creation in the higher education system, in many ways ahead of its time, to become a university that today is recognized as an important educational alternative in the university world. We highlight the historical background of the founding of the university, with a particular focus on the interplay between its institutional and structural framework, and the development of the pedagogical ideas underlying the study programmes. We conclude the chapter by describing the background to the current situation, as the university sets new goals for organizing teaching, as well as for programme structure and content.