New Minister for Higher Education and Science
28 June 2015 Esben Lunde Larsen was appointed Minister for Higher Education and Science.
Esben Lunde Larsen replaced Sofie Carsten Nielsen who had held the position as minister since February 2014.
Esben Lunde Larsen has been a member of the Danish Parliament since September 2011 for the Liberal Party. Since 2012 he has acted as spokesman on Higher Education and Science and has also been a member of the Research, Innovation and Education Committee.
New acting permanent secretary
Changes have also been made in the Ministry´s executive management group as Permanent Secretary Uffe Toudal Pedersen has been assigned as permanent secretary in the newly established Ministry of Foreigners, Integration and Housing. Instead, Head of the Policy Unit Christian Liebing will be acting permanent secretary until a replacement has been found.
Changed areas of responsibility
The area of responsibility for cases regarding the disposal of radioactive waste, except for inspection tasks concerning the disposal of radioactive waste, is transferred from the Ministry of Health to the Ministry of Higher Education and Science.
The area of responsibility for the Appeals Board of the State Educational Grant and Loans Support Scheme is transferred from the Ministry of Higher Education and Science to the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Interior.