The contents and structure of vocational education and training are laid down by the Ministry of Education in close, institutionalized co-operation with the social partners. The co-operation follows the principle of consensus generally characterizing Danish industrial relations. A number of councils and committees take part in the decision-making process with either decisive or recommending influence.
The Ministry of Education lays down general rules through legislation or departmental orders on education and training. In addition, new or changed educational programmes and courses must be authorized by the Ministry, whose decisions are taken on the recommendation of the Council of Vocational Education.

The task of the Council of Vocational Education is, first and foremost, to consider and discuss general issues common to all vocational education and training programmes (e.g. the goals and structure of the courses, admission conditions, required teacher qualifications, transitional schemes or approval and certification of new vocational colleges). The council has 25 members, of whom the two central organizations of the labour market each appoint eight, while the remaining part represents county councils, local councils, college principals and teachers, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Industry. For each individual vocational programme a special trade committee is set up, which equally represents the national organizations of employers as well as of employees of the trade in question. The trade committees lay down provisions on the contents, structure, duration and evaluation requirements of the individual programme or course. The provisions are recorded in curriculum regulations which must be approved by the Ministry of Education. The committees, moreover, must acknowledge the practical training enterprises and are responsible for the evaluation and assessment of final examinations and the issuing of certificates of education.

Local educational committees are set up by the individual vocational college on the recommendation of local labour market organizations and trade committees. Employers and employees should be equally represented. The committee has an advisory and supervisory authority regarding the educational programmes of the individual college.



How a New Education and Training Programme is Created
New education and training programmes are created by the Ministry of Education, the organizations of the labour market and the individual colleges in concert. First, the general guidelines are laid down for the programme. This means that the objectives, scope, duration an so on of the education and training programme are defined. This takes place in a centralized forum. Then, the guidelines are converted into concrete plans for the education and training. This part of the process takes place in alocal, decentralized forum.