The labour market and the Danish Tertiary Education

The labour market and the Danish Tertiary Education System Peder Michael Sørensen Head of Division, Department of Higher Education Ministry of Education, Denmark

Tertiary Education in Denmark The responsibility for tertiary education falls under three ministries: Artistic education institutions Ministry of Culture Universities The college sector Ministry of Education

The College Sector The college sector, i. e. professionally oriented tertiary education • Professional bachelor programmes - medium cycle higher education programmes - University Colleges • Academy Profession programmes - short cycle higher education programmes - Academies of Higher Professional Education

A Strategy for Denmark in the Global Economy In April 2005, the Government set up a Globalisation Council • With representation from employers, trade unions, major education and research institutions and companies • And advising the Government on a strategy for Denmark in the global economy. • The council came up with a strategy published in April 2006 containing 350 specific initiatives; two thirds of which concern education, training and research.

Identified problems A number of problems concerning short and medium cycle programmes were identified • Too few enrol in higher education programmes • High drop-out rates • Low employment rates • Too few choose engineering, IT and health • Lack of responsiveness to labour market needs

Drop-out rates are too high

Main objectives Among the main objectives of the strategy are: • By 2015 at lest 50% of young people should complete a higher education programme • World top level short and medium cycle higher education programmes

Short and medium cycle higher education programmes – key initiatives • New profession-oriented education programmes directed at private sector needs • Greater flexibility in relation to the needs of the labour market • All students shall have a practice period in companies as a part of the educations program on at least 3 – 6 months • Accreditation of all higher education programmes that measures up to international standards • New, multi-disciplinary university colleges with a greater range of programmes

Involvement of the labour market - formal set up Two councils are appointed by law to advice the Minister for Education 1. The Council for Academy Profession Programmes 2. The Council for Medium Cycle Higher Education Programmes - both advise the Minister of Education on general questions concerning short and medium cycle programmes, labour market needs, regulation, access, coherence in the education system, etc.

Involvement of the labour market - new forms of involvement (I) Working groups • 9 working groups were set up with strong representation from relevant employers and trade unions • Task: To survey labour market needs and set up recommendations for new programmes or revision of existing programmes • Result: Recommendation were given in full agreement. New programmes expected to be in place by September 2008

Working groups: 1. Education programmes in Administration 2. Information and Communications Technology 3. Education in Media and Communications 4. Technical Education 5. Professional oriented Education in the financial market/sector 6. Education programmes in Experience Economy 7. Health Education 8. Laboratory Technology Education 9. Food Science Education

Involvement of the labour market - new forms of involvement (II) Key recommendations • Greater flexibility and coherence for short and medium cycle higher education programmes • 5 new professional bachelor programmes - IT, finance, administration, leisure business and laboratory- and biotechnology • Greater use of modules / modular education programmes • Better opportunities for lifelong learning

Involvement of the labour market - barriers A strong, self-regulating labour market with very high rates of membership of trade unions and employer organizations presents us with barriers… • A tendency to uphold status quo • The protection of membership interest can work against flexibility and development of existing and new programmes

Involvement of the labour market - opportunities A strong self-regulating labour market with very high rates of membership of trade unions and employer organizations presents us with opportunities… • Involvement and ownership • Better implementation

Thank you