Organization & law

The Danish folk high schools are organised in an association known as ‘FFD’, seated in Copenhagen.

Association of Folk High Schools in Denmark

FFD is the national organising body of approximately 70 folk high schools. Each school is an independent, non-governmental institution with 50 to 200 adult students. FFD develops and maintains political and professional relations with the Government and partners, both at national and international levels.

The purpose of FFD is to work for the idea of the Folk High School and to create good and free conditions for the development of this type of school.

The highest authority of FFD is the General Meeting each spring. The association is run by a chairman and eight members of the committee. The posts are open for election every second year.

Main activities of FFD

Policy making and political lobbying
Advice and guidance on legal and organisational matters
External information and marketing of the folk high schools
Development projects and school innovation
Ethnic minorities at the folk high schools (EMPH)
Education partners
The Nordic, European and International dimension
Democratic education
The future of the folk high schools

Other areas of action

Ethnic minorities at the folk high schools (EMPH)
Education partners
The Nordic, European and International dimension
Democratic education
The future of the folk high schools

Folk High Schools and the state

The Act on Folk High Schools shall apply to folk high schools that provide teaching and fellowship in courses with the primary aim of advancing life enlightenment, public enlightenment and democratic education and training and that have been approved by the Minister for Culture for grants.

The Act on Folk High Schools (Højskoleloven) has been translated to English.

Download "The Act on Folk High Schools"

Nordic partners

The concept of the Folk High Schools does not only exist in Denmark. Since the late 18-hundreds the idea has spread all over Scandinavia. Read more about our Scandinavian friends.

The Swedish Folk High Schools

The overall objective of the Swedish folk high school is to provide general civic education. Integral to this aim is to provide not only knowledge and skills, thus raising educational standards, but also to provide experiences and social awareness leading to a broader and deeper democratic participation.

The 150 Swedish folk high schools offer a unique opportunity to enhance each individual's human resources. NOTE: All courses are in Swedish.

www.folkhogskola.nu

The Norwegian folk high schools

The 78 folk high schools in Norway invite international students of all ages to experience a unique year.

Folk High Schools are one-year boarding schools based on the idea of learning for life, not only for occupations and degrees.

www.folkehogskole.no

The Finnish folk high schools

The 90 Finnish folk high schools of today want to offer a viable alternative to help individuals fulfil their potential, and to help them become more aware, critical and responsible members of society. In the Finnish educational system, the role of the Folk High Schools is to provide adult and liberal adult education.

The courses offered are mainly general or non-formal but initial and further vocational training is also offered.