Type of organisation (legal status, main areas and type of activity)
The Nordic Folk Academy is Adult or continuing education provider (EDU.5) and
Non-profit association (international) (ASS.2).
Size of organisation, in terms of the total number of personnel (use full-time
equivalents)
14,4 full-time employed staff members at NFA
Evidence of experience of the organisation of the women’s employment issues and
experience in international co-operation
The Nordic Folk Academy (NFA) is a meeting place for adult educators
and functions as a course and development centre for Nordic and international popular and
adult education. The aim of the NFA is to foster and develop co-operation among adult
educators in the Nordic countries as well as between the Nordic countries and the adjacent
areas (Baltic countries and Northwest Russia), and also between the Nordic and other
European countries. Courses and conferences organised by NFA deal with the newest
developments in adult pedagogy, offer continuing education to teachers and leaders from
all the spheres of adult education, and work for increasing the access and democratic
provision of education possibilities to all groups of the society. The Nordic Folk Academy
fosters the exchange of opinion and good practices in the shift from education to lifelong
learning, from the provision of education to active participation and own responsibility
for learning.
Lecturers, course leaders and project leaders come from Norway,
Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Latvia. All NFA courses are open to those who are
interested, besides NFA makes also tailor-made education taking into account the wishes
and needs of special target groups.
International projects
TERMINTEA - Adult Education Terminology
The NFA is involved as a partner in this project, the purpose of which is to establish a
data base of terms used in formal and non-formal adult education. It contains translations
between the Nordic languages and several European languages. So far the data base exists
on a CD-ROM that can be ordered from the NFA. The data base is also planned to be working
on the Internet. See: http://hem1.passagen.se/hhoven/
Nordic studies in adult pedagogy
This education is organised as a pilot project and is supported by the Nordic Council of
Ministers. The students meet for five one-week modules, one in each of the Nordic
countries, in the course of 18 months. The resulting diploma equals 20 weeks of full-time
studies.
Projects relating to the adjacent areas
- Adjacent areas scholarships
The task is to organise tailor-made study visits in the Nordic countries for 15
Baltic/Russian participants.
- New methods in adult education
A two-week course will be organised in the Baltic countries for 30 adult educators from
the Baltic countries and Russia.
- NGO leader education
The education combines a two-week course in the Baltic countries with a one-week practice
placement in NGOs in the Nordic countries.
- Baltic-Nordic network
The task is to organise two network meetings for 30 Nordic and Baltic leaders of umbrella
organisations.
NFA contact: Antra Carlsen
LECO - Learning through European Cooperation on ODL
The project makes a survey of the successful research and development work that has been
done in the field of open and distance learning. NFA contact: Anna
Vallgårda
IMITATE - Innovative Methods in Teaching Adults Today in Europe
This project, co-ordinated by the NFA, offers studies in adult education methods,
organised as seven modules that are presented by seven different adult education
institutions throughout Europe. NFA contact: Jan S¸rlie
Public and Library
The project looks at possibilities of transforming libraries into lifelong learning arenas
that can both supply information and contribute job-related service. See: http://x-stream.fortunecity.com/melrose/81/index.html.htm.
NFA contact: Kerstin Dahlén
Training of Trainers
The NFA is a partner in this project, which will involve participants from the Baltic
countries, Russia and the Western Nordic areas.
