The number of students enrolled in further education programs taught in English has shot up by 58 percent from 4,653 in 2009 to 7,376 in 2014. And last year some 30,000 foreign students received SU study grants. Dansk Folkeparti (DF) wants to put an end to this by stopping teaching in English at Danish educational institutions, Berlingske reports.

Jens Henrik Thulesen Dahl, DF’s education spokesperson, explained the party’s position. “The general rule should be that teaching takes place in Danish in Danish institutions,” he said.

“Of course foreign languages should be taught and there should be the possibility of English-speaking guest professors. But education programs that don’t have anything to do with language that take place in English don’t make sense.”

Shooting yourself in the foot
The proposal has been met with opposition – both from some of the institutions concerned and other opposition parties.

Niels Egelund, the chairman of the business academy organisation Danske Erhvervsakademier, claims that it wouldn’t pay to scrap the courses taught in English. “To the best of my judgement it would be shooting yourself in the foot,” he said.

“Firstly, we have had English-language educations since 1992 – and then it is something for many young Danes because it gives the possibility to study abroad.”