Written by journalist Karen Løth Larsen for EPALE Denmark.

While starting new projects may demand extra energy, Kompetencehuset day college in Aarhus has discovered that collaborating on the Erasmus+ project has opened global opportunities, particularly in connecting with Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees.  Plus, as an added bonus, it may also be helping shift the general perception around day colleges.

Nis Peter Nissen, as head of the day college, operated Kompetencehuset (the Competence House) with municipal funds earmarked for this purpose.  Due to the limited nature of these funds, it was not always possible to explore new suggestions or ideas. On the other hand, participating in the new Erasmus+ project has provided a fresh perspective on contemporary global issues.  It has also contributed to cultivating a new understanding of the role and benefits of a day school.

The Competence House day school accommodates approximately 32-35 participants daily, aged between 18 and 30 years. They also operate ongoing day college programmes serving around 130-200 users in psychiatry at Aarhus University Hospital.

The current Erasmus+ project focuses on developing a pedagogical method for the democratic reconstruction of civil society in Ukraine. The idea is to provide Ukrainian refugees in Aarhus with insight into the workings of democratic public information. Through the course provided, they are expected to gain the skills and understanding necessary to participate in the reconstruction of Ukrainian civil society upon their return. To achieve this goal, Competence House partners with Gothenburg Folkhögskola.

“We operate independently under public information laws, serving individuals aged 18 to 30. Our primary focus is local, within the boundaries of our city. We are affiliated with Aarhus Municipality and Aarhus City Council, and this is our designated area of operation,” explains Nis Peter Nissen.

Initial experiences with Solidarity projects prompted a challenge to this local perspective. 

“It is a truly exciting tool to use in relation to youth initiatives. For us, it has been, in many ways, a kind of a public information version 2.0,” says Nis Peter Nissen.

Public information entrepreneurs

The experience just made me want to get even more involved. Meanwhile, the sudden invasion of Ukraine by Russia brought the arrival of the first refugees to Aarhus.  This triggered a wide range of thoughts.  Since Nis Peter Nissen and Competency House were actively engaged in promoting public information and democratic principles, it seemed a natural progression to be involved in welcoming the new temporary residents.

From there, the Erasmus+ project was the natural step forward. Particularly impactful and decisive was the participation in a TCA conference for Nordic cooperation under Erasmus+, which proved to be highly motivating. This provided Nis Peter with the opportunity to connect with various stakeholders involved in EU programmes:

“I met a Danish-Swedish school principal from Göteborgs Folkhögskola. In terms of thoughts and values, they are very similar to us, and it was a significant advantage that he spoke Danish and could connect within a Danish context. This laid a solid foundation for building strong cooperation. Together, we developed the idea of providing opportunities for young Ukrainian people in the form of education or courses in public information. It's essentially about becoming an entrepreneur and actively engaging in the public information system,” says Nis Peter Nissen.

He is able to see multiple benefits in the project, both in the short and long run.

"It’s a way of providing a solid introduction to community life in Denmark and Sweden and helping them to establish personal networks with local people and associations. It also serves as a means to equip them with essential skills for engaging in the organisational and theoretical sides of community life, teaching them to participate in an active way and to become public information entrepreneurs. Upon their return to Ukraine in the future, they will have acquired a foundation that will help contribute to the reconstruction of civil society. This prospect deeply resonates with an old educator like myself, because the potential is there to really make a difference. While, everyone else is sending concrete and guns and bullets we want to provide community-building efforts. We believe this slogan encapsulates our mission and embodies its spirit," says Nis Peter Nissen.

The project is currently in the planning phase, and the next step will be to outline the specifics of the course. This will require additional effort from both sides of the strait. Both Nis Peter Nissen and his Swedish partner are balancing their commitments with their respective work commitments.

It's not a lack of willingness, but rather the demands of everyday practical life that must also be addressed. Currently, I am in the midst of organising a conference for 160 participants scheduled for October 8 and 9 at Dok1 in Aarhus. Here we’ll be shining a light on Ukraine and delving into the political, cultural and historical context from which Ukraine has emerged,” says Nis Peter Nissen. 

While Danish public education and community life are rooted in Danish democratic foundations, it is essential that they be communicated in a way which is sensitive towards the culture and history of Ukraine.

We must approach the task with humility. In the end, they themselves must cultivate their own educational traditions, shaped by formats that resonate with their distinctive history and culture. Our role in this context should be to inspire," says Nis Peter Nissen.

Improved networking and increased funding

Balancing the role of project manager alongside his regular managerial responsibilities can be quite demanding. Nis Peter Nissen has ventured into this dual role feeling both challenged and slightly out of his comfort zone. However, he regards this as a valuable opportunity for growth and learning:

“My job has become more complex, but also much more enjoyable,” he says. His advice to others would be to participate in conferences in order to broaden their professional network:

“When you spend three days in Oslo or Stockholm with the Danish representatives from the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science, you establish a bond of trust. Afterwards, it becomes much easier to reach out and say, ‘Hi Tine, I'm currently dealing with this issue, how should I proceed?’ You will come across genuinely supportive individuals who are accessible and willing to share their knowledge, who are deeply committed to the projects they are involved in,” says Nis Peter Nissen.

Participating in both Solidarity projects and Erasmus+ has had a huge impact on Competence House and its staff. It has led them to view their workplace and the world around them in a new light:

“In the past, we were quite insular, not actively participating in external affairs beyond our immediate surroundings. Erasmus+ has significantly broadened our perspective, opening up a wider world where our school can extend its influence well beyond its immediate community. It's clear that getting involved in an opportunity such as this, makes us more visible and compelling for others to connect with. As a result, there are more individuals reaching out to us for potential cooperation. Which also means that our economic circumstances are evolving.” This transition marks a departure from heavy reliance on municipal and political directives that dictate the way the school will evolve. Over time, Nis Peter Nissen believes it is feasible to move beyond such constraints.