European, global and intercultural dimension in curriculum development
Denmark has a long tradition for including international topics in various learning environments. This is partly due to the size and location of Denmark, which has contributed to an international orientation in the Danish society. The international focus and the international collaborations increase the knowledge of best practices in ECEC and school education, which strengthens the educational institutions.
Since 2004, all ECEC settings have had to compose an educational curriculum that consists of six different themes. The theme called culture, aesthetics and community revolves around the understanding of different cultures, norms and traditions and thus relates to internationalisation.
The Consolidation Act on Primary and Lower Secondary Education states that the schools should provide the pupils with a greater understanding of other countries and cultures. The pupils receive English teaching from year one. When the pupils reach year five they can choose between the subjects French or German.
The Act on Vocational Education and Training and the Law on General Secondary Education state that the educational programmes should provide the students with a greater understanding of the European and global perspective.
Partnerships and networks
Nordplus horizontal
Nordplus Horizontal is a part of the Nordic Council of Ministers' programme for education. The purpose of the programme is to strengthen cooperation across the traditional educational sectors. This is done to strengthen the synergy between different educational sectors and to support projects that employ other, new, wider, and more complex problems and challenges.
The target groups for Nordplus Horizontal are educational institutions, organisations, and other participants that work with education and lifelong learning.
The programme supports project and network activities, which are transverse and innovative in a number of areas. Activities that are eligible for funding are among others seminars, workshops, conferences, studies, development of course modules, and use of new learning platforms.
References
Bibliography
Ministry of Education (Børne- og Undervisningsministeriet), 2018: International work (Internationalt arbejde). [Accessed 24 May 2019].
Ministry of Education (Børne- og Undervisningsministeriet), 2019: Subjects in Primary and Secondary Education (Folkeskolens fag). [Accessed 30 April 2019].
Legislation and official policy documents
Legal Information (Retsinformation), 2018: Ministerial Order on Pedagogical Objects and Content of the Curriculum (Bekendtgørelse om pædagogiske mål og indhold i seks læreplanstemaer), BEK no. 968 of 28/06/2018 [Accessed 30 April 2019]
Legal Information (Retsinformation), 2024: Act on Primary and Lower Secondary Education (Bekendtgørelse af lov om folkeskolen), LBK no. 90 of 29/01/2024 [Accessed 24 June 2024].
Legal Information (Retsinformation), 2024: Act on General Upper Secondary Education Programmes (Bekendtgørelse af lov om de gymnasiale uddannelser), LBK no. 41 of 12/01/2024 [Accessed 24 June 2024].
Legal Information (Retsinformation), 2024: Act on Vocational Education and Training Programmes (Bekendtgørelse af lov om erhvervsuddannelser). [Accessed 24 June 2024].