A commitment to common good
At DIS, we’re proud to be an organization dedicated to making a positive impact for the greater good of society.
Recognized by the Danish Ministry of Higher Education & Science, DIS holds the status of an almennyttig organization – a designation reserved for organizations that work for the common good rather than commercial profit. Almennyttige organizations focus on initiatives such as supporting social development, the environment, or education.
In 2023, DIS received a positive Declaration of Recommendation from the Danish Evaluation Institute (EVA), a recognition that we’re especially proud of. EVA, an independent institution under the Danish Ministry of Education & Science, evaluates educational programs using internationally recognized standards from the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA). This recommendation confirms that DIS meets the highest standards of quality and serves as a prerequisite for student visa applications.
Board of Directors
The DIS Board consists of eight members. DIS is recognized by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science which appoints one member to the Board.
Five members are selected by the Board appointed nomination committee which selects members based on the following qualifications: experience with business administration, knowledge of U.S. higher education, and knowledge of Danish higher education.
In addition, two members are appointed by the DIS staff and faculty (one member each). The Board is committed to diversity and supports the election and appointment of diverse candidates to the Board.
Executive Director
Malene Torp became Executive Director in January 2014. Malene has a long history with DIS, starting as a Program Director in 2001. Since that time, she has held various positions including faculty member, Academic Director and, since 2008, Associate Director. In her role as Associate Director, she worked closely with the previous Director, U.S. partner institutions, the DIS faculty, and staff throughout the organization.
She is a political scientist (Cand. Scient. Pol.) from the University of Copenhagen and was a Fulbright Scholar at New York University. In 2023, Malene was appointed to a three-year term on the Board of Directors of The Forum on Education Abroad, where she works with her fellow board members to create and implement strategic objectives for the leading association within the field of scholarship abroad.
Malene continues to serve the mission of DIS and is committed to the DIS vision of ongoing program development, quality improvement, and strong partner relations.
Executive Team
The Executive Team prepares strategic plans, handles significant or fundamental operational matters, and ensures effective communication channels at DIS.
The Executive Team handles, in particular, the organization’s strategy and action plan process, budget, major procurements and projects, DIS structure and organizational development, as well as major administrative and HR policies.
School of Record
The University of Minnesota is the DIS school of record. The University of Minnesota works closely with DIS regarding curriculum and program quality through representation on the DIS Curriculum Committee and through program reviews every fourth year.
DIS issues students a final grade report after completion of the term of attendance. The student’s home institution determines whether the final grade report is accepted directly, or whether an official transcript from a U.S. accredited institution is needed. If this is the case, the University of Minnesota acts as the School of Record and provides an official transcript.
