One of Aarhus University's core tasks is to educate graduates for the labour market of the future, as set out in AU’s Strategy 2025. In order to ensure positive interaction between students and the labour market, AU has set a sub-goal to increase the number of business-oriented elements in degree programmes, as this ties the students closer to the labour market during their studies, while at the same time facilitating graduates' transition to the labour market.

AU therefore focuses on giving more students an opportunity to incorporate project placement or work placement in their degree programme; both of which entail that they are affiliated with a company or organisation. This is a good way for students to gain practical experience both in their field and in the labour market during their studies. Work placements are compulsory on professional Bachelor's degree programmes, while project placements are an option on most Master's degree programmes. Both provide good insight into a specific company, an industry and what it means to be in a workplace. The student also strengthens his/her network and gains some personal experience for when they ultimately enter the labour market.

Support for the students' work placements and project placements is primarily embedded at faculty and board of studies level and takes place according to local frameworks and guidelines. Information and guidance aimed at students are therefore available on local study portals.

AU's business initiative provides a single point of access for companies and organisations who wish to collaborate with students from Aarhus University, including advertisements for work placements or project placements. Here, companies and organisations can find relevant information regarding various opportunities for collaboration as well as local contact information. There is also the AU Job and Project Bank website, which connects students with employers who want to collaborate on relevant projects.

Educational Development and Analysis prepares an annual topic report in Power BI on students' collaborations with companies and organisations – including project placements – that supports quality assurance and management information.