André Rogaczewski: AAU's strengths must be made clearer

By Lea Laursen Pasgaard, AAU Communication and Public Affairs
Photo: Inna Stelmakh. Graphics: Søren Emil Søe Degn

A spark was lit in André Rogaczewski as a child. It was back in the 80s when he touched a computer for the first time and spent his free time in the arcade in Nytorv in Aalborg. As the years went by, his interest in computers and technology only grew.

"I realized that computer science for me was like a brush for an artist. By touching a computer and building my own games, I found that there was actually nothing I couldn't build. I thought this has to be something the future will need. And you have to say that I was right," says André Rogaczewski, who today is CEO of Netcompany – one of the country's largest IT companies that he co-founded in 1999. Six years after he graduated from Aalborg University (AAU).

This year, AAU celebrates its 50th anniversary, and AAU Update spoke to André Rogaczewski about his relationship with the university and his wishes for the future. In addition to being an alumnus, he is also chair of the university board at AAU.

Collaboration and connection to the business community attracted Rogaczewski

Working in teams and collaborating with companies on the development of real IT systems. This was the attraction for André Rogaczewski who in 1987 began his studies at what was then called Aalborg University Center.

"I quickly made contact with the business world, and it was part of the programme that we had to work together, build something and do projects around it. I have never regretted my choice. The programme gave me great insight into how to build things; I learned to work with other people; and I made some friends for life," says André Rogaczewski.

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Today, there are two types of memories from his time as a student that stand out to him in particular. One is the excitement and feverishness leading up to a deadline with him and his fellow students working late into the night to finish a project. The other is social life that for André Rogaczewski also took up a lot of his time.

"We had something called the F-club. We went on camping trips, got together outside of school and had our own Friday bar. Even though we were from different year groups, we had a strong social framework around us. This meant that we – actually still to this day – maintain a close, close solidarity," says André Rogaczewski.

As he delves into the tales of the old days, more and more memories emerge.

"Would you like to hear a funny memory?" asks the chair of the university board, immediately immersing himself in the story of the time when he, as a student, attended a lecture with a visiting professor from the United States.

"He told us that right now there were 100,000 people around the world who had something called an IP address. He explained to us what it was and that if the trend continued, we would all have at least one IP address within three or four years. That's the equivalent of an internet access, and I remember that afterwards we looked at each other and thought that he wasn’t very smart," says the board chair with a smile on his face.

The most important thing is the people who are created

André Rogaczewski is concerned with development, and he emphasizes that all the development we have experienced over time has been driven by knowledge. And by young people who have put into practice the knowledge they acquired  – including at the university.

"That's why it's been a key issue for me. And I love what AAU has done for Aalborg – and Denmark for that matter," says the board chair, referring to the value that the university has added to the region in terms of knowledge production and jobs.

"When I get really old, the most important thing will be the people who are created. Not the products or the individual services. Therefore, I am very proud to sit on the board of Northern Jutland's most important knowledge centre. I see that as a huge privilege," he adds.

A personal Christmas greeting

When asked how AAU has developed over the past 50 years, several staff members mention that the management is more distant. The former rector, Sven Caspersen, walked around campus and wished people a Merry Christmas. It is difficult for current rector Per Michael Johansen to achieve this with the university's 3,700 employees.

To this, André Rogaczewski replies that you can always be sentimental.

"Believe me, if the university had remained as small and jovial as it was then, it wouldn’t be here today. There are many opportunities in getting bigger. We are on the right track and help create research and knowledge that the whole world can benefit from. We should be proud of that," says the chair of the board.

He also believes that it is a completely natural development.

"Are there some things that can suffer a bit from success? Yes, but what’s the alternative? No success. Standstill. No, I know where I want to be," he states.

Alumni's close relationship with AAU

As CEO of Netcompany, André Rogaczewski has been involved in hiring many talented IT staff over the years. Many of them come from AAU, and they always speak warmly of their educational institution. His experience is that the graduates from the other Danish universities do not necessarily have the same close connection to their old university.

"I think that AAU has managed to maintain intimacy and the feeling that as a student you are part of a community. Despite the university's growth and success. This is actually something we care about at AAU – and to a greater extent than the other universities," says André Rogaczewski.

The chair of the university board hopes that AAU will continue to play a crucial role in the future when it comes to creating prosperity both in Denmark and the world around us.

"I hope that we continue to be a focal point for the belief that you can both have a good life and create the economic foundation for the good society we live in with the help of technology, innovation and research," he says.

Lasting positions of strength

In André Rogaczewski's eyes, AAU has several positions of strength that he hopes the university will also be known for in 25 and 50 years. Positions of strength that are lasting and thus also important in the future.

 "We develop competencies for the whole of Denmark. Our programmes combine the natural sciences and the technical with the social sciences and the humanities. We educate whole, empathetic and result-oriented people who are able to work in an interdisciplinary way – without compromising a high professional level," he says.

André Rogaczewski also believes that AAU is the university in Denmark that has the closest ties to the business community, because students and researchers work in a project-oriented way and are constantly looking for new problems and missions to contribute solutions to.

North Jutland modesty can be a challenge

The chair of the board believes that both the university and Aalborg as a city would benefit from shaking off the North Jutland modesty a little.

"Humility is a good virtue combined with professionalism, but we also need to be able to talk more directly about everything AAU is good at. Because we can actually do more than people think," he says and continues:

"We are among the world's best in engineering and are overall incredibly strong in several different research areas. We must remember to tell this to the wider world so that we can attract even more young people to our degree programmes and create even more collaborations with the business community," he adds.