Nordic Summit 2026: Folk High School, the Beacon of Democracy

(FYI! English version available further down on this page.)

Den här konferensen riktar sig till skolledare och pedagoger på folkhögskolor i hela Norden som vill stärka sitt demokratiarbete, få nya insikter, utbyta idéer och ta del av beprövade pedagogiska modeller. Under två dagar kommer vi att varva inspirerande seminarier och workshops med tid att umgås och nätverka med kollegor från Danmark, Finland, Norge och Sverige.

Keynote speaker 

Margot Wallström, tidigare kulturminister, socialminister och utrikesminister, samt EU-kommissionär och FN:s särskilda representant för sexuellt våld i konflikter.

Innehåll

Vi lever i en orolig tid. Flera nordiska länder vittnar om antidemokratiska strömningar i landet och de internationella konflikterna har eskalerat till nivåer som var otänkbara för tio år sedan. Det är viktigare än någonsin att vi tillsammans arbetar för att stärka det demokratiska arbetet och rustar våra deltagare på de nordiska folkhögskolorna med kunskap och makt att påverka.    

Under den här konferensen kommer ni att få ta del av forskning, beprövade modeller för det pedagogiska arbetet i klassrummet och själva bidra till idéer som syftar till att fånga upp den kraft som finns på de nordiska folkhögskolorna idag och vilja att engagera sig.

Program måndag

11.30–12.30   Registrering och val av seminarium

12.00–13.00    Lunch

13.00–13.10   Anna Ekström, ordförande i Nordiska folkhögskolerådet hälsar alla välkomna!

13.10–14.00   Margot Wallström, tidigare utrikesminister, kulturminister och socialminister i Sverige. Har även varit EU-kommissionär och FN:s särskilda representant för sexuellt våld i konflikter.

14.00–14.30   Hope for democracy

Nordiska folkhögskolerådet har i samarbete med sex folkhögskolor från Finland, Danmark, Norge och Sverige skapat projektet Hope for Democracy som genomfört en omfattande enkätundersökning och ett antal intervjuer med deltagare från dessa skolor om synen på demokrati och deras samhällsengagemang.

Vi inleder eftermiddagen med att få en gemensam dragning av resultaten för att sedan delas in i olika workshopsgrupper där vi tillsammans diskuterar möjligheter, utmaningar och hittar idéer som leder till att fler folkhögskolor ger näring åt en folkrörelse av unga i hela Norden.   

14.30–17.30    Call for action – så aktiverar vi en rörelse av deltagare på folkhögskolor i Norden

Enkätundersökningen som Hope for democracy har gjort, visar på en önskan om att engagera sig. Även om det bara är 119 av 1 084 deltagare som har varit engagerade i ett politiskt parti, så har nästan hälften (434) engagerat sig i en specifik fråga som till exempel klimatfrågan eller migrationspolitiken. 

Hur kan vi fånga upp deltagarnas engagemang på närmare 400 folkhögskolor i Norden och hur kan vi använda klassrummet som katalysator för en rörelse av samhällsengagemang hos unga? Och hur kan vi som lärare och skolledare inspirera varandra till en handlingsplan för action som alla folkhögskolor kan använda i formandet av egna arbetssätt?

Vi kommer att delas in i mindre workshopgrupper som leds av lärare och skolledare från sex folkhögskolor i fyra nordiska länder som har jobbat tillsammans i 1,5 år med Hope for democracy. Kaffe och fika kommer att serveras under workshopen.

Två grupper kommer att arbeta på engelska, de övriga på skandinaviska.

17.30–18.00   Incheckning på rummen

18.00 - -          Middag med underhållning

Program tisdag

07.00–08.30   Frukost

08.30–09.00   Folk high schools are strengthening the civil society in Ukraine

Presentation and challenges from the Strategic coordinating group for folk high schools in Ukraine.

09.15–10.45   Parallella seminarier:

1. Du har fel! Hur konstruktiv oenighet räddar demokratin (på engelska)
   Hur undviker vi att högskolor blir ekokammare där alla tycker samma sak? Detta kräver att vi praktiserar konstruktiv oenighet. För även om konflikter är svåra är oenighet en förutsättning för frihet och demokrati. Därför måste vi lyssna på och erkänna åsikter och värderingar som skiljer sig från våra egna – även när de provocerar eller är svåra att förstå.
    
   I den här workshopen kommer vi att introduceras till en modell för oenighet med konkreta steg som du kan öva med högskolestudenter för att bli bättre på att vara oense utan att stänga ner samtalet.
    
   Medverkande: Vanessa Pröschold, journalist och lärare på Grundtvigs Højskole i Danmark.
   
   
2. När hela folkhögskolan räknas – fem utgångspunkter för demokratiskt utvecklingsarbete (På skandinaviska)
   
   Hur kan hela folkhögskolan arbeta med demokrati på ett sätt som stärker mod och lust att delta? I denna workshop arbetar vi med fem grundläggande principer för demokrati- och utvecklingsarbete, med fokus på hela verksamheten. Demokratistegen används som en inspirationskälla för reflektion och dialog.Demokratistegen är en modell för hur folkhögskolan kan arbeta systematiskt med frågor om demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter utifrån verksamhetens behov.
   
   Medverkande: Marcel Rådström och Cecilia Ferngren, pedagoger på Forum för levande historia
   
   
3. Jag–vi–världen, en metod som skapar engagemang och förändring (På skandinaviska)
   
   Jag-vi-världen är en engagemangsresa som är uppdelad i tre delar. Den tar avstamp i den egna berättelsen och att hitta sitt engagemang, tar sig via de globala målen, för att landa i deltagarnas eget förändringsarbete. Under workshopen får ni testa några av metoderna som utvecklats i Jag-vi-världen.
   
   Jag-vi-världen har utvecklats av deltagare och pedagoger på sex folkhögskolor inom projektet Min story – vår Agenda.
   
   Medverkande: Marie Höglund, Jag-vi-världenfortbildare och lärare på Löftadalens folkhögskola.
   
   
4. Sustainable Bridges (In English)
   
   The project gathered information on how sustainability skills, human rights, gender equality, global citizenship, and cultural diversity are implemented in folk high schools in Finland and Norway.
   
   In the workshop, you will hear the results of the survey on what active citizenship means in the folk high school context in Finland and Norway, what opportunities and challenges exist, and which areas might become future priorities. The survey results revealed many good practices that may inspire others to integrate sustainability more deeply into the everyday life of all folk high schools.
   
   The seminar is hosted by: CEO Rilli Lappalainen, Bridge 47, development manager Anni Henricson, Suomen Kansanopistoyhdistys – Finlands Folkhögskolförening and international advisor Brita Phuthi, Folkehøgskolerådet.
   
   
5. Reconciliation and trust to strengthen democracy after war (In English)
   
   Sarajevo hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics. Ten years later while it was held in Lillehammer 1994, Sarajevo was besieged during the Bosnian War. The Nansen School in Lillehammer took an active role in the city of Lillehammer's involvement for 30 years, 1995–2025 for reconciliation after the Balkan wars. A job where the folk high school was a contributing success factor. How can these experiences contribute to reconciliation, strengthening of civil society and democratic development in Ukraine?
   
   Those who come to my seminar will leave with a more optimistic understanding of what we can accomplish in a folk high school. I know many are uncertain...."is that too ambitious?" or "is that too naive?"... I hope they will leave with the feeling, "no, it is possible".
   
   The seminar is hosted by: Steinar Bryn, former teacher and leader at the Nansen School. He has devoted large parts of his life to peace work, with special emphasis on interethnic reconciliation and conflict resolution. His work with the Nansen Dialogue has helped to give hope and opportunities to people affected by war and conflict.

11.00–11.30   Current Norwegian research on young people's engagement
The research project ENGAGE (Engagement, Growth and General Education in Norwegian folk high schools), will investigate community engagement and participation among young people in Norway, and the importance of taking a year at folk high school. The project goes on for 5 years. Martin Skagseth from NORCE will present some early results.

11.30–12.00   Conclusion and summing up the role for the Nordic folk high school movement to make a difference in the world that we will face – final of the conference.

12.00–13.00    Lunch och avslutning

Pris

2 700 SEK del i dubbelrum, helpension lunch till lunch.
3 000 SEK i enkelrum, helpension lunch till lunch.
1 800 SEK om du ordnar eget boende på annat håll, helpension lunch till lunch.

Språk

Engelska i plenum, engelska och nordiska i samtalsgrupper.

Kontakt

Annika Hiltunen, annika.hiltunen@sverigesfolkhogskolor.se. 

Arrangör

Nordisk folkehøjskoleråd, The Nordic Folk High School Council

 *************

Nordic Summit 2026:
Folk High School, the Beacon of Democracy

Democracy must be won every day — but that is something we already know. The question is how we take on this task, and how we ensure that the folk high school remains the natural arena for civic engagement and a protector of democracy.

This conference is aimed at school leaders and educators at folk high schools across the Nordic region who want to strengthen their work on democracy, gain new insights, exchange ideas, and explore tried‑and‑tested educational models. Over the course of two days, we will alternate inspiring seminars and workshops with time to socialise and network with colleagues from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.

Keynote speaker

Margot Wallström, former Minister for Culture, Minister for Social Affairs and Minister for Foreign Affairs, as well as EU Commissioner and the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Content

We are living in turbulent times. Several Nordic countries report anti-democratic tendencies within society, and international conflicts have escalated to levels that would have been unthinkable ten years ago. It is more important than ever that we work together to strengthen democratic engagement and equip participants at Nordic folk high schools with the knowledge and the power to influence society.

During this conference, you will engage with research, proven models for pedagogical work in the classroom, and contribute your own ideas aimed at harnessing the energy that exists within today’s Nordic folk high schools — and the desire to get involved.  

Monday 13

11:30–12:30 Registration and selection of seminars

12:00–13:00 Lunch

13:00–13:10 Welcome by Anna Ekström, Chair of the Nordic Folk High School Council

13:10–14:00 Margot Wallström, former Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Culture, and Minister of Social Affairs. She has also served as EU Commissioner and as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict.

14:00–14:30 Hope for Democracy
The Nordic Folk High School Council, in collaboration with six folk high schools from Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, has created the project Hope for Democracy. The project has carried out an extensive survey and conducted several interviews with students from these schools about their views on democracy and their civic engagement.

We begin the afternoon with a presentation of the results, followed by workshop groups where we will discuss opportunities, challenges, and generate ideas to help more folk high schools support a growing grassroots movement among young people across the Nordic region.

14:30–17:30 Call for Action – Activating a Movement of Folk High School Participants in the Nordic Region
The survey conducted within Hope for Democracy shows a clear desire among students to get involved. Although only 119 out of 1,084 participants have been engaged in a political party, nearly half (434) have been involved in a specific issue, such as climate action or migration policy.  

How can we harness this engagement among participants at nearly 400 folk high schools in the Nordic region? How can the classroom be used as a catalyst for a movement of civic involvement among young people? And how can we—as teachers and school leaders—inspire one another to create an action plan that all folk high schools can use when shaping their own approaches?

We will work in smaller workshop groups led by teachers and school leaders from six folk high schools in four Nordic countries who have been collaborating for 1.5 years within the Hope for Democracy project.

Coffee and refreshments will be served during the workshop.

Two groups will work in English, the remaining groups in Scandinavian languages.

17:30–18:00 Check‑in, rooms

18:00 Dinner with entertainment

Tuesday

07:00–08:30 Breakfast

08:30–09:00 “Folk High Schools Are Strengthening Civil Society in Ukraine”
Presentation and challenge from the Strategic Coordinating Group for Folk High Schools in Ukraine.

09:15–10:45 Parallel seminars:

1. You’re Wrong! How Constructive Disagreement Saves Democracy (In English)
   How do we prevent folk high schools from becoming echo chambers where everyone thinks the same? This requires practicing constructive disagreement. Even though conflict can be difficult, disagreement is essential for freedom and democracy. That’s why we must listen to and acknowledge opinions and values that differ from our own – even when they are provocative or hard to understand.
   
   In this workshop, we will be introduced to a model for disagreement, including concrete steps you can practice with students to become better at disagreeing without shutting down the conversation.
   
   Hosted by: Vanessa Pröschold, journalist and teacher at Grundtvigs Højskole in Denmark.
   
   
2. When the Whole Folk High School Counts – Five Starting Points for Democratic Development Work (In Scandinavian)
   How can the entire folk high school work with democracy in ways that strengthen courage and willingness to participate? In this workshop, we will explore five foundational principles for democracy and development work, with a focus on the whole institution.
   Demokratistegen is used as a source of inspiration for reflection and dialogue.
   Demokratistegen is a model for how folk high schools can work systematically with democracy and human rights issues based on the needs of their institution.
   
   Hosted by: Marcel Rådström and Cecilia Ferngren, educators at the Forum for Living History.
   
   
3. Jag–vi–världen: A Method That Creates Engagement and Change (In Scandinavian)
   Jag–vi–världen is an engagement journey divided into three parts. It begins with personal storytelling and finding one’s own motivation, moves through the global goals, and ends in the participants’ own change projects. During the workshop, you will try some of the methods developed in Jag–vi–världen.
   
   The method was developed by participants and educators at six folk high schools as part of the project My Story – Our Agenda.
   
   Hosted by: Marie Höglund, teacher at Löftadalen Folk High School.
   
   
4. Sustainable Bridges (In English)
   The project collected information on how sustainability skills, human rights, gender equality, global citizenship, and cultural diversity are integrated into folk high schools in Finland and Norway.
   
   In the workshop, you will learn about the survey results on what active citizenship means in the folk high school context in Finland and Norway, what opportunities and challenges exist, and which areas may become future priorities. The findings highlight many best practices that may inspire others to integrate sustainability more deeply into everyday life at folk high schools.
   
   Hosted by: CEO Rilli Lappalainen, Bridge 47,Development Manager Anni Henricson, Suomen Kansanopistoyhdistys – Finlands Folkhögskolförening, International Advisor Brita Phuthi, Folkehøgskolerådet
   
   
5. Reconciliation and Trust to Strengthen Democracy After War (In English)
   Sarajevo hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics. Ten years later, when the Games were held in Lillehammer in 1994, Sarajevo was under siege during the Bosnian War. The Nansen School in Lillehammer played an active role in the city’s 30-year involvement (1995–2025) in reconciliation efforts after the Balkan wars—an effort where the folk high school was a key contributor. How can these experiences support reconciliation, strengthen civil society, and contribute to democratic development in Ukraine?
   
   “Those who attend my seminar will leave with a more optimistic understanding of what we can accomplish in a folk high school. I know many are unsure… ‘is that too ambitious?’ or ‘is that too naïve?’… I hope they leave feeling, ‘no, it is possible.’”
   
   Hosted by: Steinar Bryn, former teacher and leader at the Nansen School.
   He has dedicated much of his life to peace work, with special focus on interethnic reconciliation and conflict resolution. His work with the Nansen Dialogue has offered hope and opportunities to people affected by war and conflict.

11:00–11:30 Current Norwegian research on young people's engagement
The research project ENGAGE (Engagement, Growth and General Education in Norwegian folk high schools), will investigate community engagement and participation among young people in Norway, and the importance of taking a year at folk high school. The project goes on for 5 years. Martin Skagseth from NORCE will present some early results.

11:30–12:00 Conclusion – Summing Up the Role of the Nordic Folk High School Movement in Shaping the World Ahead. Final session of the conference.

12:00–13:00 Lunch

Kontakt

Annika Hiltunen, annika.hiltunen@sverigesfolkhogskolor.se. 

Arrangör

Nordisk folkehøjskoleråd, The Nordic Folk High School Council