The Danish Approach to Well-being: Growing a Positive Mindset, Balancing Body and Mind

Description

Denmark is known for being a calm and innovative country, with a cherished concept of hygge, a sense of coziness and community that fosters well-being.

These values are deeply integrated into Danish society and the education system, which offers inspiration to educators worldwide.

In 2025, Copenhagen was ranked the world’s most sustainable, happiest, and most liveable city. It is a living example of balance and reflects a positive mindset.

This course provides participants with an inside look at Danish values and how they can transform classrooms into spaces of well-being, creativity, and strong communities.

During the course, participants can look forward to a rich blend of practical strategies, student insights, and an in-depth exploration of Danish values, making it an inspiring and transformative experience.

Through mindfulness techniques, self-leadership, recognition, and positive thinking, participants will gain a unique perspective and be able to implement the tools and strategies directly in their school communities.

Participants will also gain insight from a newly graduated learner who will share experiences from the Danish education system, and they will be introduced to the importance of sustainability and how it is put into practice.

By the end of the course, participants will have gained the knowledge and tools they need to develop more balanced, innovative, and inclusive learning environments in their school communities.

Concept by Mette Junker, Peter Junker

Learning outcomes

The course will help participants to:

• Use practical tools to apply Danish values like hygge, calmness, and innovation in the classrooms;
• Integrate emotional intelligence skills to balance the curriculum;
• Strengthen both teacher and student well-being through mindfulness practices;
• Strengthen self-leadership as a model for student autonomy;
• Foster motivation and engagement through recognition and positive communication;
• Gain insights from a student’s perspective on sustainability that appeals to young people.

Tentative schedule

Day 1 – Introduction to the course and the Danish way of education

• Welcome and introduction to the course;
• Icebreaker activity: building connections;
• Introduction to magic moments and the monkey mind;
• The foundation of well-being and the importance of a positive mindset.

Day 2 – Strengthening the teacher’s core

• Mindfulness practices for teacher resilience and classroom balance;
• Exercises for mental and physical well-being;
• Reflection on how personal balance affects teaching effectiveness;
• School presentations.

Day 3 – Positive psychology and a student’s perspective

• Introduction to Positive Psykology and the 24 character strengths;
• Explore the perspective of a newly graduated student from the Danish educational system.;
• Group discussion: using these strategies in your own teaching context.

Day 4 – Leadership, recognition, and sustainability

• How to integrate recognition to make the classroom engaging and motivating;
• Introduction to why sustainability is a core value in the Danish way of living;
• Design your own program aiming at including best practices during the week and exchanging with peers.

Day 5 – Bringing Danish values to your curriculum

• Practical activities to promote creativity and teamwork;
• Concluding thoughts and reflections, and a celebration of growth.

Day 6 – Course closure and cultural activities

• Round-up of acquired competencies, feedback, and discussion;
• Awarding of the course Certificate of Attendance;
• Excursion and other external cultural activities.

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