UCplus renews the contract for Danish language education in Copenhagen

4. February 2026

UCplus renews the contract for Danish language education in Copenhagen

For the next six years, we will continue the important work of providing high-quality Danish language education and creating opportunities through the language.

Contract signing for Danish language education in municipality of Copenhagen on February 4th with a signing ceremony at Copenhagen City Hall.

The Danish language education is about more than just language. It is about creating competent, engaged citizens who can actively contribute to the community. To carry this responsibility forward, the municipality of Copenhagen has once again chosen UCplus!

“We are very proud to once again have won the important task of offering Danish language education to adult foreigners in Copenhagen. It is a huge vote of confidence and recognition of our efforts over the past eight years. A trust that obligates and motivates us in our work to ensure participation, opportunities, and a lasting connection to Denmark,” says Simone Aagaard, CEO of UCplus.

Quality in teaching and relevant offerings

High quality in teaching and a strong focus on practical language use will continue to be our priority, so our students can use the language both in everyday life and in the workplace.

At the same time, we continuously develop our didactics and pedagogy and use digital solutions in our teaching so that learning remains modern, flexible, and closely connected to the student’s needs.

“Our skilled teachers, administration, and management have created fantastic results over the past eight years. We are very excited to continue the work of developing Danish language education in Copenhagen,” says Mette Lherbier, Head of Language Center Copenhagen.

Teaching will continue to be supplemented with social and professional events. We will keep inviting relevant partners and offering job- and education-oriented activities. This gives the students the opportunity to apply the language in practice, build networks, and strengthen their participation in society.

Simone Aagaard signs the contract at Copenhagen City Hall.

Value-creating partnerships

Danish language education helps ensure a qualified workforce and a lasting connection to Copenhagen and Denmark. Over the next six years, we will continue the strong collaboration with the municipality, businesses, and educational institutions.

Through flexible and targeted programs, the Danish language will be made accessible and relevant for our students, so they can actively and meaningfully become part of the Danish community and translate their knowledge into real value for themselves, society, and the labor market. Finally, we will continue celebrating, recognizing, and supporting our fantastic students who show engagement, courage, and the will to learn and develop!

The Danish language in elderly care

7. November 2025

The Danish language in elderly care

Sangita runs the brush through the fine white hair in long, gentle strokes. The elderly woman lights up, as if each stroke brings out another smile. While Sangita makes her look nice, stories about the granddaughter begin to surface.

“I love when the residents open their hearts,” Sangita says.

In the summer of 2025, she started working at a care home in Copenhagen without a formal Danish care qualification. It was an important first step into the job market, with Danish as her working language.

When she first walked into the care home, she had already studied Danish at UCplus for two years. But the language used in elderly care is something special, and it took time to get used to.

What she did know was how to care. And through that, conversations slowly opened up.

A dream of a life in Denmark

Sangita is 33 and a trained pharmacist from Nepal, where she spent six years working at a hospital. She arrived in Denmark in 2022 and started with regular Danish classes. Since early 2025, she has been attending FVU Health Danish.

Sangita plans to stay in Denmark for many years. Alongside her Danish studies and her job at the care home, she also works full-time in the restaurant industry.

“It’s important for me to learn the language and become part of society,” she says.

In FVU Health Danish, she and the other students learn the spoken and written language used in social and health care work and in healthcare education programs.

As part of the teaching, external guest speakers are invited. Most recently, three doctors from Sund Start visited and talked about the Danish healthcare system.

Study visit gave job and confidence

As part of the course, the Health Danish class visited a care home in Copenhagen. They spoke with the manager and were given a tour. Afterwards, two students decided to become volunteer visiting friends. Sangita was offered paid employment at the care home.

Being somewhere where people can’t simply switch to English has been challenging, but it has also developed her Danish:

“In the beginning, it was difficult to understand the elderly if they spoke quietly or mumbled. It made me insecure, and I didn’t like asking them to repeat themselves. But it’s much better now,” Sangita says.

From being “the new one,” standing behind the experienced staff, she has become a visible part of the care home:

“Now all the residents on the 3rd and 4th floors know me. They call me sweetheart and ask when I’m coming back to work. It means so much to me. I’m proud that I make a difference for them, and that they trust me,” she says.

From Health Danish to SOSU

Sangita is currently on level two of four, and she is determined to finish Health Danish for a very special reason: she wants to train as a social and health care helper.

On 7 October, the Health Danish class visited the Open House event at SOSU H to hear about their options.

At the event, Sangita learned that she can receive credit for several subjects. She will start when she has completed her Danish course, which is a requirement for enrolling in the programme.

It won’t be long before all those hours of Danish are tested in a new classroom, where everything takes place in Danish.

Sangita feels more ready than ever, largely because she has used the language and the technical terms in practice:

“There are many assistive devices in elderly care, so vocabulary is important. Now I can remember words like magnifying glass and wheelchair much better, because I’ve used them at the care home – not just seen them in a textbook,” Sangita concludes.

Want to work in healthcare, but need Danish?

In FVU Health Danish, you learn professional vocabulary, spoken communication and written Danish used in social and health care work, at care homes and in healthcare education.

The course is free and aimed at adults who work – or would like to work – in the healthcare sector.

Read more and sign up here: https://ucplusdansk.dk/fvu-sundhedsdansk/

Danish classes at the office gives international employees more opportunities at Danske Bank

10. September 2025

Danish classes at the office gives international employees more opportunities at Danske Bank

An increasing number of Danske Bank’s 6,000 employees at the Copenhagen headquarters are international. Offering lessons in Danish language and culture at the workplace has therefore become an important element in both recruitment and retention.

The initiative has received great support with over 100 participants divided into seven different groups. “Employees requested Danish classes on site, and it quickly turned out to be a win-win situation,” says Henriette Romme, Senior HR Specialist in HR Legal. “We only had to provide classrooms, and since the lessons are free of charge for the first five years for newcomers under certain conditions, we decided together with the union Finansforbundet to collaborate with UCplus.”

More flexibility

“Now it’s possible to attend lessons right after work for most of us,” says Christelle Launay, Audit manager for LC&I Group Internal Audit. Originally from France, she is learning Danish at intermediate level in a UCplus class at Danske Bank. “Because classes take place here at the office, I save a lot of time. I also attend more often. We can even join online if we’re not in Copenhagen. Our colleagues also help keep us motivated – we go to class together, share news, help each other with homework and reach out easily.”

Stronger connections to colleagues

“We want to create a great workplace for all employees,” says Lars Aabling-Thomsen, board member of Finansforbundet at Danske Bank. Together with the Danske Bank Internationals Community Network, the bank and the union launched the language class initiative, alongside activities such as International Lunch Roulette. Lars Aabling-Thomsen has seen a clear increase in interest since the international network began promoting it. “It helps create connections – both across departments, where colleagues become classmates, and with Danes they work with daily.”

For Christelle Launay, the Danish lessons are also about building both professional and social networks. After living abroad for many years including a long-term stay in Hong Kong, she chose to settle in one of her favorite European cities, Copenhagen. “When I learn Danish, my colleagues can see I really mean it. If you invest in yourself and show long-term commitment to living here, your relationships respond the same way. That’s when deeper connections can grow,” she says.

Pride and responsibility for employees

At Danske Bank, logistics are handled by volunteer employees who act as Class Leads. They coordinate lessons, welcome the teacher, manage logistics and gather feedback. As a Class Lead, Christelle Launay says she feels more engaged: “When I welcome the teacher, I’m proud to show our beautiful building, and I want them to feel at home here.”

According to Henriette Romme, the Class Lead role also develops useful skills: “We see people grow with the responsibility, and they gain competencies that they can use in other parts of the company.”

Danish by the coffee machine

“At the coffee machine and at lunch, conversations are often in Danish, and it can be difficult to join in without everyone switching to English – so that’s often where we start,” says UCplus teacher Daniel Tandberg. “On beginner levels, we focus on small talk, weekend plans and everyday expressions. At higher levels, we work with current news and cultural topics.”

Christelle Launay confirms: “I use Danish mostly during small talk at lunch and coffee, and when I travel outside Copenhagen. I also read Danish newspapers at the office, like Børsen.”

“The teacher becomes a real partner at the workplace. We share the same experiences, practice through role plays and then discuss how it worked in real life the following week,” says Daniel Tandberg.

“Language and culture are important to learn because they help reduce misunderstandings at work,” adds Henriette Romme. “Many internationals bring their families, and the better prepared they are for life in Denmark, the more possibilities and motivation they have to stay.”

Danish classes for companies

UCplus offers flexible corporate Danish solutions, either on-site, at the nearest language center or online. UCplus handles all coordination and provides teachers at the right level. It is also possible to apply for compensation if lessons are held during working hours – something UCplus supports as well.

Danish lessons help international employees at Landal Holiday Park

30. June 2025

Danish lessons help international employees at Landal Holiday Park

At Landal Holiday Park in Søhøjlandet, the management has introduced Danish lessons for the cleaning team, aiming to strengthen daily communication and build a genuine sense of community among the staff. The goal has been to create a solid foundation for teamwork, wellbeing, and staff retention, with language as the key.

The international staff in the cleaning team at Landal Holiday Park are learning Danish at work to improve their communication the sense of community.

Language improves team spirit and efficiency

When Kirstine Bruun took over as head of the cleaning team three years ago, she quickly recognised the need to bring the team closer together. Having previously worked with international employees in agriculture, she knew how crucial language is to creating a well-functioning team. So, she arranged for Danish lessons during working hours—and everyone agreed to take part.

“I wanted to create a ‘third culture’—a shared workplace culture where we could truly understand one another through language,” Kirstine explains.

It has proved to be a worthwhile investment. The Danish lessons have enabled staff to become more independent, take on greater responsibility, and engage more confidently in their work.

Kirstine herself plays an active role in supporting staff language development. In her office, she keeps a basket filled with useful Danish words relevant to the team’s work.

When new employees join, they each pick out two new words every day—words like ‘gulvmoppe’ (floor mop) or ‘køkkenbord’ (kitchen table).

“This helps them build their vocabulary day by day. It also shows we value them by investing in their development, and it boosts their confidence in speaking Danish,” Kirstine adds.

Lessons focused on Danish Society and workplace culture

The Danish course at Landal is part of an FVU Start programme, taught by UCplus language consultant Sussi Brøndum Riise. Lessons are built around the participants’ daily lives and experiences, both at work and as residents in Denmark. For example, they discuss Danish public holidays like Constitution Day and explore what it means to live in a democracy.

Grammar is practised to help participants speak clearly and accurately, while conversation exercises ensure they can put the language into use in practical situations. They discuss how to communicate effectively in a Danish workplace, the importance of greeting colleagues each day, and who to approach when in doubt.

These lessons provide a safe environment for employees to grow in confidence while gaining insight into how Danish workplace culture operates—making everyday life easier and more secure.

Building confidence and community

Polina from Bulgaria, who has lived in Denmark for over seven years, says the Danish lessons have made a real difference: “Each week I feel a little more confident because I understand more and more. It’s important for me to speak Danish because I live and work here—and I need to be able to talk with teachers and childminders.”

Anastasiia from Ukraine adds: “Learning the language helps me communicate better with my colleagues, and that makes life easier. I understand more than I can say, but I keep trying, and my colleagues help me.”

Staff—new and experienced alike—now share lunch together, chatting in Danish and supporting each other in their learning. Danish has become a shared project and a tool for both professional and social development.

Help your international employees learn Danish

UCplus offers a range of flexible solutions for company Danish. Lessons can take place at the workplace, at the nearest language center, or through online instruction.

UCplus handles all coordination and provides skilled instructors who conduct Danish lessons at the employees’ level.

It is possible to apply for lost earnings if the lessons are held during working hours. UCplus also helps with the application process.

Danish Lessons at work boost integration and staff retention at the Danish Meteorological Institute

25. June 2025

Danish Lessons at work boost integration and staff retention at the Danish Meteorological Institute

At the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI), around 15% of employees come from outside Denmark – many of them researchers. To help them settle in both professionally and socially, DMI offers Danish lessons during working hours in collaboration with UCplus. The initiative is already proving valuable for individuals and the organisation alike.

Danish lessons at DMI provide staff with practical language tools, improving both the precision of workplace communication and the sense of community.

An investment in belonging and retention

DMI sees the language training as part of a broader commitment to being an inclusive and attractive place to work.

“Our main goal is to be a great workplace where people thrive,” says Karin Bonanno, Head of HR at DMI. “It’s very much about creating a sense of belonging. Knowing Danish makes it easier to settle in – socially and professionally – and it also opens up more opportunities for career development.”

The programme was developed in close dialogue with staff, many of whom had already shown a strong interest in learning Danish and helped shape the content of the course.

“Our international colleagues were really keen to learn,” explains Karin. “In fact, they played a key role in choosing UCplus because the lessons take place at work – and because they have the option to take official Danish language module tests.”

These module tests are part of Denmark’s formal Danish education system and, for some, could also count towards future applications for permanent residency or citizenship.

That’s why DMI sees language training as an important element in both attracting and retaining international talent.

“We want to recruit the best international candidates – especially researchers. Being able to offer Danish lessons is a key part of making DMI a workplace where they feel they belong,” says Karin.

Language in practice

The lessons are held once a week during working hours in small groups, with an emphasis on speaking, everyday topics, and linguistic accuracy. Participants discuss things like types of housing, eating habits, and typical conversations with colleagues over lunch. The intermediate group includes employees from countries such as Germany, France, Latvia, Pakistan, and China.

One of them is Leonie, who moved to Denmark three years ago to study climate physics at the University of Copenhagen. She is now a PhD fellow working on Antarctic ice dynamics in a joint research project between the university and DMI.

“I really appreciate the opportunity to learn Danish at work,” she says. “It’s important to me that my mistakes are corrected – it helps me improve. I’m also trying to bring more Danish into my daily life outside of work. For example, I play the clarinet in the Copenhagen Post Orchestra, where everything’s in Danish.”

Help your international employees learn Danish

UCplus offers a range of flexible solutions for company Danish. Lessons can take place at the workplace, at the nearest language center, or through online instruction.

UCplus handles all coordination and provides skilled instructors who conduct Danish lessons at the employees’ level.

It is possible to apply for lost earnings if the lessons are held during working hours. UCplus also helps with the application process.

“Healthcare Danish” helps students build language skills for care work and vocational training

12. May 2025

“Healthcare Danish” helps students build language skills for care work and vocational training

At UCplus in Copenhagen, students in the Healthcare Danish course practise everyday language and job-specific vocabulary they can use directly in the workplace. Through engaging activities and conversation-based learning, they strengthen their grammar and communication skills – giving them a strong foundation for working in the healthcare sector and preparing for SOSU (social and healthcare) training.

Working in small groups helps students practice professional language in a supportive and practical way.

Language learning starts with conversation

Today’s class begins with a round of sharing – each student talks about their Easter holiday. Other weeks, they bring in news articles to discuss, helping them build reading skills, social awareness, and a sense of citizenship. Today’s conversation is supported by a short grammar session, where the teacher, Mai, reviews how to use present, past, and present perfect tense. This kind of structured conversation ensures that everyone gets to speak Danish while developing a deeper awareness of the language – and learning how to use it more precisely in work settings.

On the course students learn about workplace culture, and the specific vocabulary and terminology used in healthcare.

Rotating learning stations with real-life SOSU topics

The main activity of the day is station work – a practical format where students rotate between different tasks, each focused on a specific language skill. Before they begin, Mai checks in: “What have you used station work for in the past?” One student replies, “To review and practice topics in different ways – reading, vocabulary, and grammar.”

At one station, students place food items into a food pyramid and talk about how the choices match the recommendations from the Danish Health Authority. Another station focuses on vocabulary related to the body and the senses. Here, students learn how to use verbs like smell, taste, and feel correctly in professional dialogue – such as: “The food smells good today” or “Do you feel dizzy?”

Students discuss food and nutrition and discuss the Danish Health Authority’s food pyramid.

Learning professional Danish that connects directly to SOSU training

“It’s essential for students to understand and use the language they’ll encounter during SOSU training and in care jobs,” says their teacher, Mai. “We focus on helping them practice professional and precise communication – both spoken and written. It helps them in their daily lives and in their future careers.”

The Healthcare Danish course is hands-on, relevant, and motivating. Students gain the confidence and language tools they need to take part in real workplace situations – and move one step closer to their goal of working in Danish healthcare.

Interested in joining Healthcare Danish?

The course is designed for those who already work – or want to work – in the Danish healthcare sector. The course is free, and classes are held twice a week, in the morning or evening at UCplus Language Centre Copenhagen.

The classes are in Danish, and you can read more about the course on the Danish website right here