And before you wonder, no, not the howling, four-legged kind. I’m talking about the inventive, creative, entrepreneurial, athletic kind: the Great Danes who have made their mark on the world such as:
- Hans Christian Andersen (does he need an explanation?),
- Mads Mikkelsen (Actor – most famous movie – Casino Royale),
- Helena Christensen (Supermodel)
- Christian Eriksen (World class footballer),
Or world-renowned companies such as:
- Pandora (Jewellery brand),
- Novo Nordisk (Pharmaceutical company producing world famous diabetes and weight loss medication),
- Carlsberg (“Probably the best lager in the world”),
- LEGO (Need I say more?)
And what do any of the above have to do with my episode this month? Well, it’s got to do with the question: Should immigrant parents in Denmark worry about their child’s ability to thrive here?
My two boys are in local Danish institutions and the language barrier (for me, not my kids) is, well, just that: a huge barrier to truly understanding what my children are learning, what their progress is and how I can best support them. The system here is not so focused on tests, which is a huge plus for them, but very difficult for me to get used to coming from a high-test, high-performance culture.
The above list along with many more names is a part of what keeps me going when I am in doubt about education in Denmark. Not because I am an obsessive parent, trying to curate famous little immigrant exports! No! It’s because it serves as a little reminder that just because Denmark is a small country, does not mean to say it has an introverted, parochial outlook.
What really strikes me is how this tiny country with such a modest population has managed to churn out world class people and products. But how? What’s its secret?
Here are just a few key explanations of how tiny, little Denmark builds world class, Great Danes:
1 – Innovation culture: Creativity and problem solving are embedded in children’s learning right from an early age. Independent thinking and collaboration are heavily encouraged which leads to this strong innovation culture, particularly in business and tech industries
2 – Global Mindset: Denmark does not have the luxury of thinking domestically because of its small size. Businesses are required to think globally from the offset, designing products for an international market right from the start.
3 – Investment into Research and Development: Not only is there a strong collaboration between industry and academia in Denmark, but the government also provides heavy and consistent funding to support research and development, which often means research can be applied in a more timely fashion
4 – Strong welfare system: Risk-taking is so much easier when you know there is a safety net that is as strong as the Danish welfare system! It’s easier to start businesses or create high quality products knowing that failing is also a safe option.
5 – Foreninger: As touched upon in episode 2, music, arts and sports tend to take more of a personal preference outside of school. Individual associations or foreninger (clubs) are usually heavily funded by the government, creating strong grassroots systems that are built deeply on community engagement, creating a collective, structured way of nurturing talent.
So, do I still have reason to worry? Should immigrant parents in Denmark be concerned about whether their children can truly thrive here? Well, technically, we’re always going to worry! It’s how parents are programmed, am I right? Although, as non-EU residents, I guess it’s hard not to worry right now. Many non-EU internationals and their children don’t have the same privileges as EU or Danish citizens, not unless they obtain permanent residency or eventually Danish citizenship, which can be after as much as 9 years of residency and dependent on passing various tests and ticking certain checkboxes.
So, my worry remains, but I can take steps to diminish the worry, namely by studying the language myself, having my kids explore “foreninger” to their fullest and establishing good relationships with their teachers and friends, both for them and for myself! And who knows what the future holds for our residency? Maybe, just maybe, I’m raising the next generation of Great—if slightly hybrid—Danes!
