Denmark: increased focus on wellbeing among VET students

The latest assessment of students’ wellbeing by the education ministry shows that students in vocational colleges thrive. On a scale from 1 to 5, the assessment shows that their wellbeing level is 4.1. The year before, their wellbeing level was measured at 3.8. The current wellbeing among students in vocational colleges is on a level with the numbers reported among students in general upper secondary education.

The assessment also shows that students with an apprenticeship contract are more likely to thrive. One of the aims of the latest Tripartite Agreement is to increase this number; DKK 500 million (EUR 67 million) have been allocated to strengthening apprenticeship support initiatives.

The COVID-19 pandemic, however, has taken its toll on the professionalism and wellbeing of Danish vocational college students. More specifically, as a result of the second COVID-19 wave, Danish vocational colleges closed from December 2020 until May 2021. During this period, the only way students could participate in education was online, through distance learning; this affected the teaching-learning quality, as well as their wellbeing. In response, in February 2021 a large number of elected politicians agreed to spend DKK 122 million (EUR 16 million) on improving the quality of students’ professionalism and strengthen their wellbeing. The agreement foresees wellbeing-promoting initiatives based on specific needs described by students or educational institutions. It has given vocational colleges an opportunity to evaluate how the resources available should be transformed into specific initiatives to ensure the wellbeing of their students.

Further, financial resources have been assigned to pedagogical psychological counselling (PPR) to support students at risk of low wellbeing levels.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government initiated in March 2021 a Youth Panel. Its goal was to explore how dissatisfaction caused by the pandemic can be countered, and how the life of young people in general can be improved. Vice Chairman of the Pupil’s Organisation of Vocational Colleges and member of the Youth Panel, Kaja Nielsen, stated: ‘Wellbeing is a right for young people that we must ensure, especially in times of crisis.’ The Youth Panel presented 15 recommendations to inspire the Government’s work towards strengthening wellbeing in vocational colleges. The recommendations are divided into four themes with different perspectives on wellbeing: (a) learning and wellbeing; (b) education, employment and wellbeing; (c) community and wellbeing; (d) vulnerability and wellbeing.

Minister for Children and Education, Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil, commented: ‘Sometimes you have to create space to dream big, to be able to think of good and creative solutions. The Youth Panel has taken that opportunity. I would like to thank the members for the interesting recommendations regarding how we should kickstart the life of the young when the pandemic is over.’

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Kommunalt tilskud til indsatser, der skal styrke faglighed og trivsel, er nu pa plads [Municipal grants for initiatives to strengthen professionalism and wellbeing are now in place]