Overview of Higher Online Education in Denmark

Overview of Higher Education in Denmark

Denmark has set a national goal of enabling half of its younger population to gain a higher education. Currently, about 41 percent of the Danish population pursues higher education. To help meet its goal, Denmark has a variety of types of institutions that provide educational programs that range from two-year vocational programs through post-graduate doctoral studies.

Admission to Denmark's higher education institutions requires completion of one of four upper secondary school leaving examinations. Depending on the institution and program, students may need to meet specific course prerequisites, take entrance examinations, achieve minimum grades and/or provide a portfolio of work. There is no tuition charged to Danish and EU citizens at any level of higher education.

The Danish Ministry of Education is responsible for oversight of higher education and the Accreditation Council within the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation is responsible for accrediting higher education institutions including private schools that offer state grants.

Types of Schools and Degrees

Higher education in Denmark is provided by four different types of schools:

• Research universities - twelve universities confer research-based bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.
• University-level institutions - offer more narrowly-focused programs such as architecture, design and the arts and confer bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.
• University colleges - offer professional bachelor's degree programs that take from three to four years to complete and include practical experience.
• Academies of professional higher education - offer two-year degree vocation programs resulting in an Academy Professional degree.

All of the bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs conform to the Bologna Agreement's structure which standardizes degrees across Europe.

International Students

International students can apply to study in Denmark directly to an institution or through an exchange program. Courses are usually taught in Danish but there are also many programs available in English, especially at the master's and doctoral levels. About five and a half percent of higher education students have come from outside of Denmark in recent years.

The largest higher education institution in Denmark is the University of Copenhagen which attracts many international students to its 100 or so departments and research centers. Attended by about 37,000 students including approximately 5,500 international students, it is the highest ranked university in Scandinavia.

Each institution in Denmark is responsible for admitting students based on its own requirements for a given program. All programs require a high proficiency in English and programs taught in Danish will necessitate students pass a Danish language exam.

International students from outside the EU pay tuition that typically ranges from 6000 to 16,000 euros a year. No tuition is paid by doctoral students who instead receive a salary from the university; their programs including teaching courses along with conducting research, taking courses and preparing their thesis.

Those who want to learn more about options for studying in Denmark can go to the official government Study in Denmark website.

About Denmark

Denmark is the southernmost Scandinavian country, bordered by ocean on all sides except the south which is bordered by Germany. It also includes two major islands, one on which the capital of Copenhagen is located. Its population of over five million primarily speaks the official Danish language although a large proportion of the population also speaks English.

Although a member of the European Union, it maintains own currency, the Danish krone. The capital of Copenhagen is the most visited city in the Scandinavian countries and has been recognized as having one of the highest qualities of life. Denmark tied for first place with Australia, Finland and New Zealand on UN's Education Index in 2006. It also received a first place ranking by Forbes magazine as having the best business climate.

Overview of Higher Online Education in Germany

Germany's higher education institutions offer an extensive range of high-quality, post-secondary programs that students can choose from. Broad-based universities as well as specialized schools in subjects such as engineering, technology and science provide many options for students to pursue. German higher education is funded by federal and state governments and is overseen by the Ministry of Education.

Although on the rise, only about 19 percent of Germans earn university level degrees, which is a lower percentage than many other developed countries. Their universities in recent years have been crowded although recent increases in government funding and focus is helping to alleviate this problem.

Types of Schools and Degrees

There are more than 90 universities that offer a wide range of programs and award degrees up through the doctoral level. Another 190 schools or so are more specialized and offer bachelor's and/or master's degrees in subjects such as engineering, business and information technology. Schools of Applied Sciences, Technology, Arts, Business and others offer education that is primarily career focused whereas the larger, general universities provide a broader education and focus more heavily on research.

Bachelor's degrees can usually be earned in three years and master's degrees in another year or two. The length of doctoral degree programs vary depending on the program. All post-secondary education institutions must be accredited by one of seven certified accreditation agencies. As a result of the Bologna Process which created standardization of degrees across the European Union, German degrees are considered equivalent to degrees earned throughout Europe as well as many other countries.

Private universities and colleges are growing in numbers, size and reputation with over 60 now in operation. These schools tend to be more practically-focused with an international orientation and thus appeal to international employers. Private schools charge tuition whereas public schools are free to German and EU citizens as long as the program is completed in a timely manner.

International Students

Germany is a popular destination for those who want to study abroad, with about 200,000 international students attending German schools of higher education each year. International students can attend German schools assuming they meet the admissions requirements set by the school. Some subject-matters, mostly in science and medicine are restricted at the federal level while some subjects are restricted by individual schools. Admissions are competitive at some schools with aptitude exams becoming more commonly used in evaluating international students. These exams can often be taken in one's home country. Additionally, foreign students must be speak German fluently and may need to pass a language exam before being accepted. They must possess proof of completion of secondary school or higher education entrance exam that is deemed equivalent to Germany's higher education entrance exam.

A number of schools now offer degree programs taught primarily in English to meet the increasing demand of international students who want to study in Germany. The program options are more limited but provide a unique opportunity to international students who don't have the advanced German language skills that would lead to success in traditional courses.

Tuition for non-EU international students is very reasonable, costing about 500 euros a semester at public schools in 2010. There are typically some other fees, such as a semester fee of about 100 euros and living expenses to consider. Non-EU students must remember to apply for a study visa well in advance. All students should plan to arrive early as they will need to register in person before the semester starts.

The German Academic Exchange Service website provides detailed information to help international students who are interested in attending school in Germany.

About Germany

Germany is a country of 16 states with a population of over 82 million people. Berlin is the largest city with over three million people. It has the fifth largest economy in the world and is known for superior product design and quality of its manufactured products. It's climate overall is moderate, but varies between the mountainous, low-lying and coastal regions.

Germany's elementary and secondary education system is very strong resulting in a 99 percent literacy rate. Due to a long-standing focus on vocational training, 70 percent of secondary school graduates continue on with three years of vocational training which often coincides with apprenticeship training. About another 19 percent continue on to earn a university-level degree.

Overview of Higher Online Education in Spain

Spain's higher education system includes a large number of public and private universities as well as other non-university schools of higher education such as business schools and schools that offer programs in tourism, visual and performance art and physical education. An estimated 88 percent of Spain's higher education students attend one of over 45 public universities.

Spain's public higher education system is known to be overcrowded, especially in the first year, before tough exams have weeded out the less committed students. The system is very structured and students are not allowed to move between public schools except for reasons of necessity. Most students live at home and thus the full experience of higher education many students benefit from in other countries is not common in Spain.

Admissions to public universities is based on a student's secondary school grades as well as their score on the PGB university entrance examination given at the end of secondary school. Tuition at public universities and other public schools is fairly low – typically up to about 1000 euros a year for undergraduate programs.

Higher education in Spain is the responsibility of the Ministry of Science and Innovation, which is a newly created organization that is focusing attention on the need for research and innovation in sciences to promote the economic and social development of Spain.

Types of Schools and Degrees

Until very recently, Spain's higher education schools and degrees were quite different from those of most other western countries. As a result of the European Bologna agreement of 1999, which set a goal of standardizing higher education degrees across Europe, Spain has been making significant changes to their higher education structure. Most schools now offer bachelor's, master's and doctoral level degrees but some still offer old-style degree programs as the transition from old to new continues.

Bachelor's degrees, which are referred to as a "graduado degrees" are earned in four years for most programs, master's degrees in another year or two and doctoral degrees in a varying amount of time, depending on the program. Schools may also offer other certificates and diplomas in addition to these degrees.

Students who wish to study engineering or architecture can attend universities that specialize in these areas. Other universities offer a broad range of programs of study while smaller non-university schools offer a limited scope of programs. Foreign universities and colleges attract international students who want to study in Spain. Study programs in Spain's public institutions typically have a fixed curriculum, leaving students with minimal flexibility to explore subjects outside their program of study.

International Students

Less than two percent of higher education students in Spain are from abroad. Those that do choose to study in Spain often do so through an exchange program or choose to attend a private school which is often an American or European school.

European Union citizens are admitted on the same basis as Spanish citizens, substituting their own country's secondary qualifications for Spanish qualifications. Proficient knowledge of the Spanish language is necessary and is confirmed by the individual university. Tuition for international students at public schools is the same as for Spanish citizens which tends to run up to about 1000 euros a year but varies from school to school.

About Spain

Spain is a country of diverse geography, climates, and cultures. It's population of about 46 million people live in higher densities near the capital of Madrid and in coastal areas which exist on three sides of the country. Spain is a popular tourist destination that is well-known for its many historical sites, artistic influences and Spanish architecture.

Spain ranks 15th on the 2007 United Nations Human Development Index and has the 9h highest life expectancy in the world, based on the same report. It's GDP is about the 10th highest in the world. It is a member of the European Union, the United Nations and NATO.

Internet Archive shows Sept. 11 TV coverage

For many in New York and Washington, D.C., Sept. 11, 2001, was a personal experience, an attack on their cities. Most everywhere else in the world, it was a television event.

TV’s commemoration as the 10th anniversary of the event approaches puts that day in many different contexts. There is one place, however, for people to see the Sept. 11 attacks and the week after as they unfolded, without any filters.

The Internet Archive, a California-based organization that collects audio, moving images, and web pages for historical purposes, has put together a television news archive of that day’s coverage.

More than 20 channels were recorded, with more than 3,000 hours of television. Besides major U.S. networks like ABC, CBS, CNN, and NBC, the Internet Archive has posted online TV recordings from Moscow, Paris, London, Baghdad, Tokyo, Ottawa, and elsewhere.

Called “Understanding 9/11,” the site is available.

The material is valuable to researchers and educators, but the Internet Archive wanted to make it easy to use so the general public can go back and see what that day was like, said Brewster Kahle, the organization’s director.

Online video service gives coaches new teaching tools

Tigard, Ore., high school football coach Craig Ruecker doesn’t recoil from using computer technology. But at 62, it doesn’t exactly come naturally to him, either.

“On the whiteboard in our coaches’ office, they have ‘Rueck’s instructions,’” Ruecker said. “No. 1, turn on the computer. No. 2, hit this button.”

Still, despite his lack of expertise, even Ruecker can’t deny how the latest innovations have enhanced his job in his 35th season as a head coach.

This season, Tigard signed up for Hudl, a service that allows teams to catalog video of games and practices online. Accessing the secure site, coaches can analyze and edit video, make notations, and eMail the clips to players. They also can exchange game footage with other teams that subscribe to the service.

“All the young guys on my staff are really excited about it. I’m still trying,” Ruecker said. “It has wonderful capabilities. The coaches have been playing with it all summer long, taking game films and putting them on to Hudl.”

More than 100 Oregon high schools—and 6,000 across the country—subscribe to Hudl. The company, which began at the University of Nebraska in 2006, doubled its client base in July when it bought out Digital Sports Video, a competitor that had become a popular choice among Oregon schools.

Nebraska was the first team to use Hudl in 2007, and the New York Jets became the company’s first NFL client in 2008. Nine schools in the Pacific-12 Conference use Hudl, including Oregon, which signed up last year, and Oregon State, which joined this year.

Hudl charges high schools $800 per season for the full service, or $200 for video exchange only.

“It adds a lot of value,” said Sunset, Ore., coach Faustin Riley, who started using the service last year. “There are a lot of different things we can do with it. For what they give you, it’s very reasonable.”

Ruecker said the service allows for more focused instruction.