Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Danish Education Special - Efterskoler
Ranum Efterskole College offers an extraordinary range of co-curricular and extracurricular subjects allowing each of the 430 students to create their own schedule.
International studies your way With exams at IGCSE and AS level, Ranum Efterskole College is at the forefront of international studies for ninth- and tenth-graders in Denmark. Furthermore, the boarding school offers an array of subjects and different academic levels, creating a highly personalised learning experience. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Ranum Efterskole College
At the core of Ranum Efterskole College is the firm belief that interaction with different cultures ultimately strengthens the personal development of individual students. Consequently, tolerance, acceptance, curiosity and open-mindedness are seen as key elements in establishing 21st-century competencies. “We see many educational courses in Denmark being taught in English, and I’m sure this number will only increase in the years to come. However, international education is not just about speaking English – it’s about developing internationally-minded students who are skilled and ready to be part of a global society,” says principal Olav Storm Johannsen. 82 | Issue 118 | November 2018
For this reason, most academic subjects at Ranum Efterskole College are taught in English, and all students enjoy three yearly travel experiences to global destinations that challenge the students’ academic and cultural skillset.
430 individual timetables It is not just the international aspect that separates Ranum Efterskole College from other boarding schools. Based on the philosophies of ‘inclusive community and learning’ and ‘participatory democracy’, the school aims to provide a framework in which each of its 430 students can contribute to the development of school curricula and activities. “We watch
these young people mature a great deal in the year they spend here and strive to create an environment in which they feel safe, supported and encouraged,” says Johannsen. “Combining social and professional development and turning young people into responsible adults is a key aspect of what we do.” In line with this ambition, the school boasts an extraordinary range of cocurricular and extracurricular subjects. All academic subjects have different academic levels, from one to five, and, as the students can choose their own profile subjects, this means that all of the school’s 430 students have their individual schedules. Vice principal Joakim Philipsen explains: “For example, a student can take mathematics at level 1, English at level 3 and Danish at level 4. This is possible because all subjects are taught at the same time. The student attends lessons together with other