Publication: Better Education

Initiatives in the various areas of education

Reform of the Gymnasium (general upper secondary level)

It is the aim of the reform of the Gymnasium to improve the pupils' real study competence and thus strengthen their possibility of completing a higher education programme. In the course of the three-year Gymnasium the pupils must develop from being pupils to being students. Their qualifications and competences must be strengthened through better possibilities of immersion. More optional subjects are to ensure a freer choice for the individual pupil and better possibilities of directing the final examination towards future education and employment. The present division into mathematical, science or language lines will be abolished. Instead, there will be a short introductory period before the pupil chooses his or her subject combination.

Reform of the HF Programme (Higher Preparatory Examination) (general upper secondary level)

The HF programme must be based on proficiency and competence and enable the pupil to qualify for further study, and ensure a good basis for the choice of further education and of a profession. The qualifications and competences must be strengthened through the creation of a greater coherence between the subjects. The HF level must be more flexible so that the schools are to a greater extent able to organise the teaching according to the students' different prerequisites. Dependent on the individual student's choice of subjects and levels, the HF level may give access to all higher education programmes.

Innovation of the vocational education and training programmes (EUD) (vocational upper secondary level)

The commercial vocational education and training programmes must be innovated with a view to meeting the needs of the business sector regarding a variety of competences.

The programmes must be target-oriented so that it will be possible for the pupils to complete them more quickly and find a job. The practical training must be organised in a more flexible way, and new solutions must be developed to replace the school-based practical training scheme.

Within the technical vocational education and training programmes, the government will carry through an assessment of the practical training place situation (including the school-based practical training), the qualifications and competences acquired and the resulting employment prospects.

It is the aim to establish more flexible education courses in order to provide recognised vocational competence with the possibility of a later upgrading of the acquired qualifications.

Reform of the continuing vocational training programmes (AMU) (adult vocational training)

The vocational education and training programmes and the continuing vocational training programmes must be merged in such a way as to give a broader, flexible and transparent supply of programmes, which meet the needs both of the business sector and of the individual. Furthermore, there must be a greater extent of bridgebuilding between what is learned through the courses and what is learned at the place of work.

Higher education

In short-cycle higher education, there must be an innovation of the interaction with the business sector with a view to a continued assurance of the relevance of the programmes.

Medium-cycle higher education must be upgraded with a view to reaching the professional bachelor level. The need for development of medium-cycle higher education, directed at the private sector, must be clarified.

The university programmes

The research-based bachelor and master's degree courses must have a clearer competence profile. It must be more apparent that the academic bachelor-programmes are independent, complete programmes. There must be a supply of university programmes where the focus is both on the quality of the teaching and on the social relevance. It is the aim to reduce the dropout rate and ensure that even more university graduates enter the labour market faster.

Art and architecture programmes (higher education level)

Wherever possible, the art and architecture programmes must be structured with a bachelor and a Master's degree course, and the building up of knowledge must be strengthened. It is the aim to ensure more flexible, transparent, coherent programmes with a greater freedom of choice for the individual student and better possibility of adaptation to the demands of the labour market. At the same time, the vocational guidance in the art and architecture education programmes will be extended.

Maritime programmes (higher education level)

The maritime programmes are to be reviewed in order to strengthen the coherence, flexibility and the further edu 8 cation possibilities as well as possibilities of a more effective duration of study.

Health education (higher education level)

It is of decisive importance that Denmark has a welleducated workforce in the health sector. The government will make greater efforts to recruit and train more people for the health education sector.

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