Denmark has initiated or takes part in several trans-national exchange and cooperation programmes within education. Intercultural dialogue and co-operation are encouraged in all these programmes.
The majority of education programmes available are the result of intergovernmental co-operation mainly within EU and the Nordic Council of Ministers (see chapter 1.4.2). The EU’s Lifelong Learning Programme and the Nordplus programme support European cross-border co-operation at all education levels, and there are EU programmes for co-operation at higher education level with all continents. The decentralised funds within the LLP and Nordplus are administered by the Danish Agency for International Education, an authority within the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. On 3 October 2011 the ministry was renamed the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education, and its fields of responsibility have been altered (further information: http://www.fivu.dk)
Some programmes focus particularly intercultural dialogue in the sense of inclusion, personal development, active citizenship and democracy. Among these programmes are:
- the Danish Folk High School Grant Scheme – which support citizens of new EU-countries coming to Danish folk high schools and Danes going to folk high schools in other Nordic countries. Danish Folk High Schools provide courses in art, culture, history, politics etc. without any formal examinations. The Folk High Schools were created as a part of the liberal movement in late 18th century (see chapter 1.1). The overall purpose is “enlightenment of citizens” and especially to promote intercultural dialogue;
- the Nordic Nordplus programme for adult learning;
- Grundtvig – part of the Lifelong Learning Programme focusing on adult learning. It supports co-operation projects, for example: “Intercultural Co-Existence – Rights and Duties (ICCORD)”, “From Migrant to European Citizen” and “Sharing and Understanding Identity Through Culture, Art & Self-Expression (SUITCASE)”; and
- Youth in Action – the EU programme for young people aged 15-28. It aims to inspire a sense of active citizenship, solidarity and tolerance among young Europeans and to involve them in shaping the Union’s future.
Others schemes are based on bilateral agreements between Denmark and foreign governments or regions, for example:
- the Danish Government Scholarships under the Cultural Agreements with 27 countries;
- DK-USA programme for higher education in the vocational field; and
- Denmark – USA / Canada supports cooperation between university colleges and academies of professional higher education and similar institutions in the US and Canada.
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