Saturday, 23. October at 12.30 (Danish time) Professor Yang Dongping, chairman of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, welcomed the Danish participants of the online LIFE Education Innovation Forum. Mr. Yang had chosen that he himself would host the Danish participation, while the other countries the United States, Canada, Germany and Finland were facilitated by the Beijing based partner TeachFuture.

Professor Yang Dongping, one of China's most influential and reform-minded education experts, introduced the forum to the Chinese public as follows: Denmark is a country where well-being plays a crucial role. Education in Denmark is free, dynamic and diverse and worth knowing more about and learning from. Three years ago, I had the privilege of staying at Nordfyns Højskole for two weeks, so I know a little about the Danish education system. I am therefore very happy to have this opportunity to share, discuss and introduce Danish education to our audience in China and other parts of the world.

Three presenters

Over the course of an hour and a half, three presenters presented some of the areas where Denmark is unique, namely within free schools, efterskole* and folk high schools as well as nature kindergartens. Speakers were former folk high school principal Mogens Godballe, International consultant, Jakob Clausager Jensen, The asscociation of Efterskoler and day care sector leader Mette Hjorth, Børnehuset Skoven.

Dialogue promotes understanding

Presentations were followed by dialogue. The questions were about everything from daycare staff and the difference between private and free schools to how we in Denmark deal with depression among young people. Everyone agreed that there was too little time for dialogue. Previous forums have also shown that it is especially the dialogue that really sheds light on both challenges and the issues that can be difficult to understand due to culture and language, 

*There is no official translation of the Danish efterskole. Efterskole is a school where students grade 9-10 can graduate from. The students live at the school for the week, and often spend the weekends there as well, as this is a very social form of school experience. Curriculum follows standard, and depending on the individual school, there will be special subjects available such as art, music, special types of sports, etc.