Kalø Organic Agricultural College

The Only Organic Agricultural College in Denmark
Kalø Organic Agricultural College has about eighty to a hundred students and twenty employees; all of them passionate about organic farming. That makes us the largest organic agricultural school in Denmark.

As the only agricultural school in Denmark we have international classes and lessons in English. 

Kalø Organic Agriculture College is located in a rural setting on the edge of a forest and close to the sea, three kilometres from Rønde, a mid-size city with all the necessary facilities, and thirty kilometres from Aarhus, the second-largest city in Denmark.

The school emphasizes practical skills, and the school farm is an important part of the education and everyday life. The practical learning facilities include around fifty hectares of organically cultivated farmland for crops and vegetables, greenhouses, machinery equipment, facilities for raising our pigs, sheep, dairy cows and steers.

We offer full boarding for all students here at the school. Boarding includes three meals per day and complimentary morning and afternoon coffee and bread. We have an excellent kitchen that provides our students with organic food in addition to vegetarian and vegan options.

At Kalø Organic Agricultural College we offer you an organic and sustainable education based on the world we are facing right now and will be facing in the future.

In a time of climate change, focus on global food production, environmental considerations and a political agenda, it is important to have an education that takes care of just this.

You can get it here on Kalø - we are Denmark's only organic agricultural school and we take the responsibility seriously. You can feel it in the form of dedicated and competent teachers, a school farm in a class of its own and a nice and innovative school environment.

The foundation of the agricultural school
Djursland Højskole / Kalø Landboskole in Lyngby on Djursland was established in 1897, where the first few students arrived at the school at a time of great progress for the Danish folk high schools and agricultural schools.

The school was situated in Lyngby at that time, 10 km. northeast of its current location. The school would eventually develop into Kalø Landboskole & Sproghøjskolen on Kalø, then later to Kalø Landboskole/Kalø Agricultural School before reaching its final name Kalø Organic Agricultural College.

In this perspective, Kalø Organic Agricultural College has roots in the old, fine Danish traditions of public enlightenment and political liberation.

The organic agricultural school in Store Vildmose in Vendsyssel
On 15 September 1982, the first class of hopeful students started at the organic agricultural school Den Økologiske Jordbrugsskole, which at the time was located in Store Vildmose in Vendsyssel.

In the months prior, a group of organic pioneers had succeeded in establishing the organic agricultural school. They had strong, distinctive attitudes and a desire to develop an alternative to contemporary agriculture and cultivation in Denmark, with both greater respect for and in a much closer interaction with nature.

Kalø Organic Agricultural College on Kalø on Djursland
On 1 March 2003, Kalø Agricultural School merged with the Den Økologiske Jordbrugsskole, and Kalø Organic Agricultural College became a reality - a brand new school with new untested possibilities and great expectations.

In 2014, Kalø Organic Agricultural College merged with Viden Djurs, which is the most important educational player on Djursland. This has provided even more opportunities for the college, and Kalø Organic Agricultural College is today the only school in Europe offering an organic agricultural education in English.

For us, ’organic’ isn’t simply a form of production or a set of regulations, but rather a fundamental mindset and perspective of life, that sets the foundation of all the school’s activities. This means that we care about nature, climate, energy use, soil fertility, responsible food production, quality products, recirculation of nutrients and not the least animal welfare.

All of this is part of a holistic way of thinking. This means we don’t view these aspects as individual points, but rather as parts of a whole, where everything has to be developed and contribute to a more green and sustainable future.

More specifically, this means that:

• All of our farming related teaching is based on the organic principles of Health, Ecology, Fairness and Care (read more about the organic principles (ifoam.bio/why-organic/shaping-agriculture/four-principles-organic)
• We run our school farm organically and with a big focus on crop rotation, a broad variation of crops, biodiversity, old livestock breeds, etc.
• Our kitchen has the Gold standard in the Organic Cuisine Label (read more: https://www.oekologisk-spisemaerke.dk/horeca-en)
• We are an active participant in the general debate in society about organic agriculture and sustainability and we engage politically, partly through the effort of creating an organic specialization in the Danish farm education.
• We strive towards a high degree of self-sufficiency, both in regards to feed and nutrients in our farm, but also the food we cook, sell and eat in our cantina.

At Kalø Organic Agricultural College we see community as the strongest force for human growth. We believe that human relations are central for general well-being, both personally and collectively. We strive to create an environment at Kalø, where everybody feels at home, and no-one is left out. At the same time, we want an environment that promotes personal and professional development, and where we can lift each other up.

We do this by making the school an open place with good opportunities for forming strong relations – partly through communal living at our student housing, shared afternoon and evening events, our student driven café, and other social activities. Furthermore, we see group work and shared school projects as an important part of the education. Through this you learn to build and strengthen good values such as cooperation, responsibility, and trust.

The community at Kalø does not only include those who are at the school at a given moment. Once you have been a part of Kalø you are part of the Kalø-family. Then you are always more than welcome to visit us or contact us any other way. Likewise, we at Kalø strive to stay connected with students, who are out in the world.

See our staff here

Cosy Rooms
Most students choose to live at the school during their studies. It is a cheap way to live, and a way in which student can get the most out of the study and the social activities that are available on site.

We have cosy rooms in different sizes and all rooms are fully furnished with shared sanitary facilities down the hall. The halls have small tea kitchens and seating areas. It is possible to rent bedclothes, a duvet and a pillow.

We offer full boarding for all students here at the college during your studies. This means you will be able to stay at the college during your basic course, the first and second main course. During your internships, you will have to find your own accommodation. Farms often offer accommodation or help you to find something suitable locally.

During your stay at the college, you might be required to share a room with someone depending on vacancy. The halls are not gender separated. This means that male and female students share a hall and sanitary facilities.

Except during epidemics, it is possible as a student to host guests (family or friends). If your guest stays overnight it is free of charge in your own room, but it is possible to rent a room. Your guest may participate in meals but all charges for food and accommodation must be paid at the office before arrival. Read more on our page “General and practical info”.

Payment for rent of your room takes place after moving in.

Economy
The price for food and accommodation during basic course is DKK 587 Mon-Fri. If our room capacity allows it, you can apply for a single room, and then the price will be DKK 250 extra pr. week - that is DKK 837 in total.

You must be aware that if you choose a single room, you commit to this throughout the school period.

If you do not live at the school, the price for food is DKK 250 Mon-Fri. Payment for food is paid on the 1st of each month.

Contact
You are always welcome to call us if you are in doubt about something. Annette Esbjerg Jensen, Phone: +45 20 37 30 05

Take a Virtual Tour here

Kalø Organic Agricultural College is located in a scenic nature-area and has a campus with a long history rich in tradition as well as a good partnership with Kalø Højskole. The facilities are at your disposal through your entire education.

On the school itself there is, apart from our school farm; a dining hall, common living areas, a fitness room, “Folden”, with pool, table tennis, foosball, and board games, “Hegnet”, which is both open during weekdays as a study room and a cozy hang-out place, but also sometimes in the evenings and weekends, where a committee throws parties, concerts, quiz nights, etc. In addition to that, farming students have access to the Folk High School’s park, bonfire place, shelter, football field, beach volley court, gym hall, and fitness room. Many activities are driven by student, so there are plenty opportunities for influencing how the school’s facilities are being used.

Furthermore, the surroundings offer at great variety of experiences. The school is surrounded my Ringelmose Forest and Hestehave Forest, where there are very good routes for hikes, runs, or bike trips. The school is also adjacent to the sea, where there is a nice beach for swimming, Nappedam Marina, and Nappedam Winter Bathing Club, which is open between October and April and open for memberships from Kalø students. In walking distance from the school, you canr each Kalø Castle Ruin, a typical destination for students during their first week at Kalø. Every year there are several vintage car’s meetings here as well.

Finally, Kalø Oganic Agricultural College is located in Mols Bjerge National Park, which includes amazing places such as Trehøje, Karpenhøj, the Mols Laboratory, and many more.

Explore the facilities in our Virtual Tour

At Kalø Organic Agricultural College, we are very proud of our kitchen. We have a dedicated kitchen staff who make a healthy and varied diet from organic ingredients, where a large part is produced at the school. The kitchen offers both vegetarian and vegan dishes.

At our school farm we produce both vegetables on our fields, milk, cheese and honey as well as poultry, lamb, pork and beef, and as a student you will take part in our production as a part of the teaching.

We know our ingredients

At Kalø Organic Agricultural College, organic food is self-evident and our kitchen continually strives to increase the percentage of organic ingredients used to prepare meals for our students.

Our excellent kitchen staff are dedicated to preparing fresh, seasonal and organic meals for our students and staff. Both traditional Danish food is served as well as dishes inspired by other countries' traditions and of course according to the staff’s own creativity.

The kitchen has great knowledge of vegetarian and vegan food and nutrition. For special needs, e.g. allergies, certain diets, etc., contact the kitchen.

Boarding includes three meals as well as coffee/tea and bread in the afternoon.

If you do not live at the school, the price for a daily meal is 250 DKK/week. Read more about the pricing under the menu item School home if you will be living in the school home.

If you invite guests for dinner, contact the headmaster and the kitchen at least two days in advance for prices etc.

Kalø Organic Agricultural College has been rewarded with:

At Kalø Organic Agricultural College we are collaborating with the following partners:

• Økologisk Landsforening
• Økologisektionen – Landbrug & Fødevarer 
• Innovationscenter for Økologisk Landbrug 
• Danske Landbrugsskoler 
• Kalø Højskole
• Agricultural School of Manresa 
• Warmonderhof 
• Aidt Slagtehus 
• Karpenhøj Naturcenter 
• Kvægdyrlægerne
• Gammel Estrup & Det Grønne Museum 
• Karensminde 
• Andersen Winery 
• Pure Dansk 
• Mols Kafferisteri
• Verdens Ende 

At Kalø Organic Agricultural School there are two permanent school councils.

• a student council, which handles and manages the funds for events and activities
• a café committee, responsible for the weekly café and the monthly parties in "The Fence”

Students are welcome to join the Student Council and help share fellow students' ideas, interests and concerns with teachers. It is a leisure activity and provides a great opportunity to be part of the school's development.

The Local Education Committee must advise the school on issues relating to the programs covered by the committee and to promote cooperation between the local business community and the school. In addition, the local education committee advises the school on new training needs at local and regional level and on the need for renewal and revision of existing continuing education.

The overall framework for the content of the teaching and the completion of the basic course examination is approved by the local educational committee. The local education committee is:

Go to VID Online Select the item "Log ind som gæst" (LOGIN AS A GUEST).

Scroll down for material in english.

All vocational schools draw up local curricula for both basic and main courses.

Local curricula and descriptions for vocational educations under Viden Djurs can be accessed on VIDOnline (the school’s virtual learning platform).

Go to VID Online. Select the item "Log ind som gæst" (LOGIN AS A GUEST).

Here you can read about the teaching practice on your education. The local teaching plans have been prepared by the school’s teachers in collaboration with, among others, the local education committee.

Kalø Organic Agricultural College has its own school farm called Brogården. The school's agriculture runs approx. 65 hectares of agricultural land, in addition to Brogården's stable system where we have pigs, milking herds, sheep and poultry.

The aim of Brogården is first and foremost to function as a demonstration farm for the school's students. In addition, agriculture supplies food for the school's own kitchen and a large part of what is eaten in our canteen is our own production. In addition, vegetables and meat are produced for the school's farm shop.

Purpose of Brogården:

• Be an asset in the teaching context.
• Demonstration of experience, knowledge, learning and research.
• Market and brand the school in the local area.
• Self-sufficiency.
• Connects the connection between livestock and plant breeding as well as theory and practice.
• Production platform and product development for the retail market.

Within livestock farming, we concentrate on:

• Old Danish livestock breeds
• Diversity
• Unique stable conditions
• Animal welfare

In plant breeding, we concentrate on:

• Large vegetable production
• Many and versatile varieties
• Experiment with different cultivation methods
• Student projects that are integrated into the teaching

Our machine park

We have a large fleet of machines so that our students are able to, and gain familiarity with, operating a wide portfolio of machines and tools.

We collaborate with the surrounding farms to achieve as much versatility in our production as possible, both within animal husbandry and plant breeding.

Take a look around on our Virtual Tour

You will need to bring a computer/laptop; this is a prerequisite for your education.

E-learning and written assignments are an essential part of our teaching and you will be working with your computer on a daily basis. 

Relevant links:

Studie+
On Studie+ you can see your schedule and send and receive messages from your teachers. It is also here you must report a cause of absence, i.e. disease, if you cannot participate in class. You can download an app for your phone, where some of the features are available. It is recommended to activate notifications, so you don’t miss out on important information.

VID Online
VID Online is an education platform, where you can find all the material related to your classes. It is here you can see you lesson plan for each subject – including homework.
You can also see the education plan, where the learning goals of each subject is described, as well as which parts of the agricultural education's executive order that is covered in the various subject.

Office 365
During the education you will be using Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc. You are given the Microsoft Office-package for free, when you arrive at the school. You can download the package through the link above.

Studiz
On Studiz you can acces you student card online. It is also available as an app.

Agricultural assistant

Agricultural training programme - Livestock

Agricultural training programme - Plants

Hear our student counsellor Annette tell about the different courses at Kalø Organic Agricultural College.

Apprenticeships are an essential part of the education to acquire practical farming skills, to deepen your agricultural knowledge and put theory into perspective. Your time working on a farm will be an important experience in the process of becoming an organic farmer.

In collaboration with Kalø Organic Agricultural College, the apprenticeship company will play an important role for the individual student in education.

The company completes the apprenticeship so that it, together with the school teaching, leads to the student being able to achieve the goals of the education.

The company collaborates with the school to determine the student's personal education plan according to the rules. The apprenticeship company plans the apprenticeship in the company, taking into account the company's type and production.

Get started early
Finding the right apprenticeship may take some time. Farmers are busy and not always easy to get in contact with. We recommend to start looking for an apprenticeship when you start your basic course.

How do I find an apprenticeship?
The students are responsible for finding an apprenticeship but the study advisor will assist you in this process. We have many contacts but it is an important part of your learning process to find the right farm for you. Keep in mind that the farm you choose does not have to be organic to be approved.

Here you will find an overview of approved apprenticeships in Denmark:

• www.lærepladsen.dk

If you get a Danish apprenticeship, the farmer will pay you a Union-based salary during your apprenticeship and during your school course. While you are attending school, the farmer will be reimbursed for approximately 95% of your salary by AUB as well as the expenses for your food and housing and you daily travel expenses to and from school in the weekends.

The salary in Denmark is following the agreement between GLS-A and 3F . The farmer must comply with the agreement to be approved to take on students. If you are over 25 when you make the agreement, it is possible to receive adult student salary. It is of utmost importance that you check whether you are entitled to subsidies for adult salary at the job center in the municipality, where you have you address.

Regarding salary when you have your apprenticeship abroad, there are no union-based salary agreement abroad. However, it still must be a paid apprenticeship, you cannot work as a volunteer. The salary must be at least 470 euro per month, which is the equivalent of receiving food and housing. The salary abroad is negotiated between the student and the farmer.

Although many smaller or alternative farms may catch your interest, there are certain requirements. Keep in mind that you are training to become a farmer who after your education should be able to professionally run an organic food production and have an understanding of how to produce, market and sell your products whether it is small-, mid- or large scale production. It is crucial that you obtain practical experience on a farm that makes their living of their production.

Apprenticeships needs to be approved
Your apprenticeship has the purpose for you to obtain practical skills and knowledge. Nevertheless, there are requirements to your education during an pprenticeship.

You may find a smaller farm that meets the requirement that the owner lives of his food production and working there sounds intriguing.

But will you have the opportunity to work with various machines of smaller and larger scale, learn about up-to-date plant production or be able to take care of livestock in a modern context?

Therefore, your apprenticeship needs to be approved by our business  in terms of educational and production requirements.

In Denmark
Lærepladsen.dk is an updated list of approved apprenticeships in Denmark.

• www.laerepladsen.dk

Jobstafet.dk – Agriculture’s largest job portal

• www.jobstafet.dk

Abroad
Read more about subsidies for apprenticeships abroad HERE.

Become approved as apprenticeship

• www.jordbrugetsuddannelser.dk

Education agreement

• www.uvm.dk

AUB (The Employer's Reimbursement Fund)

• Here you can read about AUB, which pays subsidies to public and private employers who have paid salaries to students during school stays and education.
• www.virk.dk

Contact our Business Consultant if you have any questions regarding apprenticeship

• KLAUS ANKJÆR
  Telephone: +45 20 19 50 62
  E-mail: kas@videndjurs.dk

Meet Klaus and Annette, who are ready to support you in your search for an apprenticeship. You must be aware that it is a requirement that you are an apprenticeship applicant when you are on the basic course.

The rules of order contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the courses, as well as to a good teaching environment. As a student, you must follow these rules.

The rules of order also cover your behavior outside the school, to the extent that it has a direct influence on the teaching environment, order and social life at the school.

Active participation in teaching

You have a duty to participate actively in teaching at school.

This involves:

• You must attend and participate in the classes that require attendance at the school
• You must hand in your assignments on time, and they must follow the requirements that have been set. You must also have produced them yourself.
•  You must participate in exams, term tests, annual tests and similar.
• You must participate in study tours, excursions etc. This also applies to trips with participant payment.
• You must participate in other specified classes. This also applies to independent work and virtual teaching.
• You must participate in guidance.

Attendance/absence is recorded in each lesson.

If you are not actively studying, you will be summoned to an intended warning. In repeated cases where you are not actively studying, this may ultimately result in withdrawal from the education.

General order and behavior at school

At school, and in connection with school-related activities, general rules for good behavior apply. This includes, among other things:

• that you show up on time, clean up after yourself, don't talk on your mobile phone during class.
• that you show respect and speak properly to the other students at the school and to the school's
  staff, both orally and in writing.
• that you show respect for the physical environment at school.
• that you comply with instructions from school staff without hesitation or discussion
• that you follow the current IT policy at the school.
• that you write in Studie+ if you are ill.
• that you take care of the materials you borrow. E.g. books, computers, etc.
• The general rules and norms for good behavior apply throughout the school, and you are expected to treat your fellow students, the staff and surroundings with respect. The school does not accept bullying or any other form of discrimination, including encouraging or influencing students towards extreme or fundamentalist attitudes and behavior.

Obligation to attend

The rules for compulsory attendance and absence apply to the educations in both Grenaa and Rønde (including Kalø Agricultural College)

As a student at VID Vocational Training, you have a duty to attend school. When you are here and follow the teaching, we can teach you what you need to know in order to complete the education. If you are not in school, we can’t teach you the necessary professional knowledge.

Of course, you can be prevented from coming to school. It can e.g. be due to illness, doctor's appointments etc. We know that, but it is important that your absence is as low as possible.

If you are not in school for a day, the rest of your class will still be taught and learn something that day. It is therefore your own responsibility to catch up on what your class has learned while you were absent.

If you know in advance that you will be absent for a day, ask a classmate to help you catch up what you are missing.

Protocol

A log is kept every hour. If you are not there when the protocol is taken, you may risk being absent for the entire class. So always be on time.

If you are not present in class, you will be noted as absent, regardless of the reason behind your absence.

If you are absent, you must ALWAYS write a message in Studie+ about why you are absent. Your teacher can see your message and can therefore see if you are absent for a good reason, e.g. admission, session or death in your family.

Absence rules

20 lesson absences = Intended warning

The contact teacher/study advisor calls the student in for an interview about the reason for the absence. An action plan is drawn up for how the student improves his attendance obligation going forward. The contact teacher is responsible for calling in the student and writing a short summary in Studie+ that the student, the rest of the class' teachers and the Head of Education can see. In addition, a decision is made as to whether the intended warning becomes an actual warning. The decision is uploaded in Studie+ and the student is notified.

50 lesson absences = Intended warning

The contact teacher/study advisor calls the student in for an interview and prepares a resume based on the conversation. The contact teacher follows up on the agreement that was previously made and talks to the student about the reason for the absence. Furthermore, it will be evaluated what the student and the school can do to ensure that the student improves attendance. In addition, a decision is made as to whether the intended warning becomes an actual warning. The decision is uploaded in Studie+ and the student is notified.

80 lesson absences = Intended warning

The head of education calls the student in for an interview. The head of education follows up on the agreements previously made and talks to the student about the reason for the absence. A decision is made as to whether the intended warning becomes an actual warning. The decision is uploaded in Studie+ and the student is notified. An action plan is made together with the student to avoid the student's absence amounting to 100 lessons. The student is risk-marked in Studie+ in relation to the risk of dropping out of the education and the student will be contacted by UU. The decision on the intended warning is sent in E-boks to the student. If the student is under 18, guardians are informed via E-boks.

Absence of 100 lessons = intended withdrawal

The head of education calls the student in for an interview with respect to intended withdrawal from the education. If the student is under 18, guardians are informed via E-boks and invited to the interview. A decision is made based on the interview and the decision is forwarded in E-boks to the student and if the student is under 18, the decision is forwarded to guardians in E-boks.

Use of AI (including e.g. Chat GPT)

Use of tools based on artificial intelligence (AI) such as Chat GPT are not permitted aids and may not be used in connection with problem solving, during tests and during any preparation.

This is because the assignment or test answer must be the examinee's own and independent answer. Therefore, AI-based tools are not legal aids. This applies both during the test itself and during any preparation.

Viden Djurs uses the program Examcookie, and it is a requirement in order to be set for the exam that the program is installed and active in connection with tests/exams.

Use of illegal help in connection with the exam/test will be exam cheating and will result in expulsion from the test. In connection with tasks in the subjects during the course, it is up to the teacher in question to assess whether you have used AI for your task response. If, on the basis of your assignment answer, it is assessed that you have used AI, then you will be sanctioned with a warning for the first time and receive a grade of -3 for your assignment answer. If you use AI for problem solving once again, you will get a 2nd warning and the grade -3. The third time you use AI to answer the assignment, you will be withdrawn from the education.

Visible profile at www.lærepladsen.dk

The students must have an updated and visible profile on www.lærepladsen.dk. The profile must be created on the first day of basic course 2 and be visible throughout the course at the school. Likewise, the student must be an active applicant from and including the start of basic course 2 and during the remaining part of the education at the school, (referring to the executive order). If you don't have a visible profile at www.lærepladsen.dk or if you are not an active applicant, this may result in withdrawal from the education.

Being an active applicant means that you must at least be able to document that you have applied for one apprenticeship per 14 days. To document this, the applications must be uploaded on www.lærepladsen.dk. If you do not upload the applications, the sanction may be that you are withdrawn from the education.

Approved absence

If you take part in an activity that takes place in the name of Viden Djurs, and which prevents you from participating in the teaching, we can give you an "approved absence".

It can, for example, be an internship in a company or student council work. If you can get an approved absence, it is always after a specific agreement with a teacher or study advisor.

If you participate in a course at the drug center, you will also have an approved absence.

Guidelines for virtual education

With all virtual teaching, you must, just like with regular teaching, follow the teacher's instructions and the school's general rules of order. In addition, the following rules apply to virtual teaching.

• Your camera must be on during class if the teacher asks for it.
• Your microphone must be turned off when the lesson starts.
• It is not permitted to record, take screenshots or similar in connection with virtual teaching.
• It is not permitted to exclude or mute other students from the Teams lessons, or to grant access to unauthorized participants
• You must be prepared for teaching and participate actively during the entire virtual teaching. This means that you must be present throughout the module. You can be listed as absent if your teacher assesses that you are not present. If you arrive late for the online lesson, you must inform the teacher that you have arrived.

The individual teacher has the option of deviating from the above rules if it is necessary in order to carry out the virtual teaching.
Violation of the above guidelines and all other misuse of the virtual aids may lead to sanctions.

Rules of order on study tours

At VID educations, we take care of ourselves and each other when we travel. Therefore, all students must sign and comply with these rules.

• All recommendations and messages from the teachers must be complied with.
• The school's general study and order rules also apply on the trip.
• You may only consume alcohol in limited quantities if permission has been granted by the head of education or his deputy. Other drugs may not be consumed (see alcohol and drug policy)
• No student is allowed to travel alone - EVERYONE is responsible for ensuring that everyone is followed at least two by two at all times. No one must walk alone or let others walk alone.
• Events or agreements where attendance is mandatory must be observed. Also applies to fixed return home times to the hotel or similar.
• You must display general good behavior in all situations and in all places.
• If you suffer from an illness or take medication, you must inform the instructors before the trip.
• You yourself are responsible for ensuring that you can travel under normal insurance conditions.
  
  Violation of the rules will always result in a sanction.

Rules of order at Friday cafes and parties

The school's general study and order rules also apply at parties and Friday cafes.

• Smoking and consumption of alcohol must be done in accordance with the school's smoking policy and alcohol and drug policy.
• Alcohol must be consumed responsibly.
• You may not drink anywhere else than the areas set up for the purpose.
• You must not move the school´s furniture.
• The Friday cafe is a closed event. You may therefore not bring guests from outside. At parties, everyone who has bought a ticket is admitted.
• Everyone must leave the school when the Friday cafe/party closes.
• During the entire Friday café/party, 2 - 3 teachers must be present.
• At both Friday cafes and parties, all recommendations from the school staff and/or possibly duty personnel are immediately complied with.
• The party committee is responsible for clean-up and cleaning after Friday cafes and parties.

Alcohol and drug policy

It is not permitted to drink alcohol or show up drunk during school hours.

• All events at VID educations are basically alcohol-free
• Alcoholic drinks are permitted at the school on special occasions, but only if there is an agreement with the school's Head of Education or his deputy.
• At parties, Friday cafes and similar, you can buy beer, wine, Cult Shaker, Sommersby, cider and similar drinks in addition to non-alcoholic drinks. Strong spirits are not sold. It is not permitted to bring your own drinks. On special occasions such as class events, the school's management can grant a dispensation for this.
• Under no circumstances may euphoric substances be consumed, stored or distributed on the school grounds. It is forbidden to show up at school under the influence of drugs. This also applies to excursions, study tours, introductory tours, etc. The school reserves the right to test you if there is a reasonable suspicion that you are under the influence of euphoric drugs. If you are under 18, your parents/guardians are always involved.
• Viden Djurs reserves the right to, in case of suspicion of use or distribution of euphoric substances, request the police to bring a drug dog.

Smoke-free school
At VID educations there are smoke-free school hours. This applies from the time you arrive until your last teaching module ends. This means that you are not allowed to smoke, vape or sniff during school hours, either on the school grounds or outside the school grounds.

The rules on smoke-free school hours apply to all tobacco-related products. This means all products with tobacco and nicotine that are not approved as medicinal products – including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snuff, tobacco-free snuff, heated tobacco and similar. This also applies to related products such as e.g. e-cigarettes without nicotine, as there is a negative effect for all these products.

These rules apply to both students, trainees, guests and employees. In connection with certain events related to the education, special rules apply.

• For study trips, field trips and conferences, smoke-free school hours apply during the scheduled teaching hours.
• At Friday cafes, it is permitted to use tobacco outside the school premises after the last teaching module.
• For apprentice tests and finals, it is permitted to use tobacco outside the school premises after the last teaching module.
• At student parties and other special events, permission can be given to use tobacco outside the school register.
• Smoking is permitted in designated areas after school hours at boarding house/campus

Dissemination of sound and images

It is only permitted to make audio and video recordings of events on the school premises - or during school activities outside the school premises - for internal use at the school. Sound and image recordings must always take place with the consent of those involved, referring to the procedure regarding declaration of consent. Dissemination of the recordings on the internet or elsewhere can only be done with permission from the school's management.

It is not permitted to distribute/share sound and image recordings that may offend students or staff at Viden Djurs. It can be recordings that deal with private matters or other circumstances that the person in question does not want to share. This applies not least to recordings with content that may violate the modesty or personal integrity of others.

Principles for screen use

Students should be trained to be offline, so they develop practical habits of not being available all the time.

• Each lesson begins screen-free. This means that digital devises are initially closed, and the mobile phone is in the bag on airplane mode or turned off when the lesson starts.
• The mobile phone is generally in the bag during lessons, on airplane mode or turned off.
• It is the teacher who decides when and how digital devises are used in the classroom, including mobile phones.

Consequences and sanctions

It is up to the school management to assess which consequence/sanction is appropriate in the specific situation. In particularly serious cases or in repeated cases, the school does not need to issue a warning before resorting to more extensive sanctions. In special cases, the school's management may decide that you may not be present at the school while your case is investigated further.

Overview of possible consequences/sanctions:

• One or more conversations
• Warnings. If the student is under 18, guardians must keep informed via Studie+. With the 3rd warning, guardians will be sent the warning via E-boks.
• Exclusion from specific events or activities.
• Temporary exclusion from teaching for up to 10 days in a school year (registered as absence).
• Deny a student promotion to the next grade level.
• Expulsion (Withdrawal from school).
• Involvement of parents/guardian, internship company, municipality, police and/or other public bodies.
• Forfeiture of the right to be accepted for a test in one or more subjects that ends in the relevant school year. An exam in the subject(s) in question must be taken the following year if the school decides that, despite one or more missing exams, the student can be promoted to the next grade level.
• In case of cheating in written submissions and/or in internal tests, the school's management decides which sanction is to be given. In repeated cases, the exam cannot be nominated.
• Referral to take an exam in one or more subjects that can be concluded with an exam at the relevant grade level.
• In the case of cheating in the exam, the student is expelled from the exam, and the test can only be taken at the next exam term.
• In the event of prolonged illness, the school may require you to document your absence with a medical certificate, which you must pay for yourself.
• Claims for compensation in connection with property or personal injury (possibly via insurance company).
• Claims for compensation in case of non-delivery of school materials, books, computers, etc. The new price is always charged.
• Return home at own expense (e.g. from study tours and other events), cf. rules of order for study tours.
• Requirement for a course of treatment (e.g. Municipal Drug Centres), referring to the alcohol and drug policy.

Complaints about sanctions, warnings or expulsion

Appeals against a school's decision must be received at the school no later than four weeks after the decision has been announced.

If, in its processing of the complaint, the school reaches the conclusion that the school's decision must be upheld, the school must, at the same time as the notification that the decision is upheld, give the complainant 1 week to make any comments in writing. The school then sends the complaint to the Ministry of Children and Education together with all documents in the case.

The Ministry can take a decision on a complaint if the complaint is about admission to school, measures due to negligence and disciplinary offences, or recognition of formal competence apart from practical competences.

The rules are laid down in section 147, in The main executive order on vocational training (retsinformation.dk).

13-08-2024

• Is there a deadline for applying to the school courses?

You can apply to the courses until the day the course begins. However, if the course is filled up before that, you will be signed up for a waiting list instead.

• Can I be sure to get a room at the school home?

Yes. If you chose to live at the school home when filling out the application form, you will automatically be assigned a room. You will get access to your assigned room on the day of arrival. If you need to arrive on the day before, please contact student counsellor Annette aeje@videndjurs.dk.

• When does the school day start and finish?

The typical schedule is from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm. On Mondays, you start at 9.30 am.

• Can I apply for the state educational grant while on basic course ?

Yes. While on basic course, you can apply for the state educational grant (SU). Since it is a vocational education, you can still apply even if you used all your grants during university. If you are a non-Danish citizen, you will have to work a minimum of 10 hours per week in order to apply. For more information, please contact Bente Lund at su@videndjurs.dk.

• How is the education structured?

You can read about the structure of the education here: https://videndjurs.dk/en/kaloe-organic-agricultural-college/skilled-farmer-global-organic-farmer.

State Educational Grant and Loan Scheme

Every Dane aged 18 and above is entitled to public support for his or her education. Students are given grants by the Danish State to cover living costs so that students can fully concentrate on their studies.

Normally you must be a citizen of Denmark to be entitled to SU. If you are a foreign citizen, however, you have the possibility of applying for equal status with Danish citizens and thus being approved to receive SU.

If you are not a Danish citizen, you must fulfill certain conditions to be placed on an equal status with Danish citizens and receive state education grant (SU) for education in Denmark. For instance, you must work a minimum of 10 hours per week. 

For further information, please visit: www.su.dk/english/

If you do not have an education agreement with a farmer, you can get SU during your school stay on basic course, if you are at least 18 years of age.

If you have an education agreement with a farmer, you will receive a trainee salary during your school stays.

You only get SU during basic course. During the apprenticeship, and in the subsequent school periods, you will receive a trainee salary.

As the education is classified as a youth education, you do not spend any of your monthly portion of your SU grant (SU-clips).

You can apply for SU when you have been notified that you have been admitted to an education at the earliest - and at the earliest one month before you start your basic course.

For more information, contact our SU-secretary at su@videndjurs.dk

The school home

The price for food and accommodation is 631,-* DKK per week (Monday-Friday), during the basic course.

If our room capacity allows it, you can apply for a single room and it would cost 250 DDK extra per week. We work with the principle; first come first served. Please note that if you have been provided with a single room you keep that room for the whole school period.

For your information the rooms are only distributed right up to the start when we know how many students are coming.

If you do not live at the school, the price for a daily meal for lunch and coffee in the afternoon is 250 DKK/week.

*Subject to price changes

Grants

You also have the opportunity to apply for grants that support students in education. Some are free to use, others you have to pay for specific services. You can e.g. apply for financial support for stays abroad, study trips and leisure activities. Examples of websites where you can search: 

https://www.legatbogen.dk/

https://www.fundraising.how/

If you would like to hear more about the education at Kalø Organic Agricultural College, please visit us at one of our Open Days. Here you can see our facilities, talk to students and teachers and feel the environment at the school.

• Saturday January 25th, 2025, 10:00-14:00

If you have family or friends visit you should no later than 2 days in advance go to the office and register and pay for board and logde. You will inform the kitchen. You are allowed guests 2-4 days , not for longer periods.

Guest prices:

Paid in advance to mobilepay 54789.

As a large part of the education involves working with machines and tractors, it is necessary to have a driver’s license. If you don’t have a driver’s license when you start your education, a tractor driver’s license will be a compulsory part of your teaching.

If you have a driver’s license B it is also valid for driving tractor on public roads.

On basic course, you will have training in driving with tractor even though you have a driver’s license for a car.

If you have a driver’s license which isn´t an EU driver’s license please contact www.borger.dk to have the driver’s license exchanged to an EU driver´s license.

You need to bring a valid passport with at least 6 months left before expiration. This is important in order to obtain your residency in Denmark.

Contact the student counsellor for more information. 

There is a bus stop right by the school and there are buses going to Aarhus (55 min) and Ebeltoft (20 min) on an hourly basis. Bus no. 123 to Aarhus stops in Rønde where there are supermarkets, a pharmacy and shops for everyday needs.

Use Rejseplanen.dk to plan your trip or download the app.

We strongly recommend getting a Danish personal accident insurance and a home content insurance for the duration of your stay at the school. There are Danish websites that specialise in finding the cheapest insurance for you.

Students are covered by the school’s injury insurance in certain circumstances. It covers you if an injury occurs in connection with “teaching under workplace conditions”. That is, when you work / receive teaching at one of the school’s workshops or laboratories. If damage arises due to inappropriate behaviour or by unregulated use of machines or tools, the school’s insurance does not cover. In such cases, your own insurance should cover.

On study trips abroad, the school provides a travel insurance for all participants.

In all other teaching, transport, excursion and break situations, in case of theft, etc. you are not covered by the school’s insurance, but by your own insurance. The school encourages you to have a valid home, travel, liability and accident insurance.

Remember to bring the following to Kalø:

• Working clothes
• Safety wellington boots and/or safety shoes
• 2 photos passport size if you are not from Denmark
• Your driver’s license
• Your CV
• European health insurance (blue card). It will cover you until your registration in the Danish system
• Sleeping bag and sleeping mat
• Duvet & pillow, towels and linen (you can rent some at the school, so if you need it, send an email to Rikke at rikr@videndjurs.dk) 
• Writing materials
• Computer/Laptop

If situations occur Monday –  Friday after 16.00 and on weekends, which demands that a staff member steps in, the following persons can be contacted:

Teacher Louise Øe Madsen: +45 25 21 42 41

Farm manager Gabriella Olah: +45 52 92 37 42

Headmaster Nikolaj Houkjær: +45 30 32 85 45

Emergency medical service: 7011 3131

Lægerne Solsortevej: 8637 1255
Solsortevej 10, 8410 Rønde
Phone consultation 8.00-9.00.
Medicine-ordering and appointment-booking 9.00-12.00.
Consultation only if you made an appointment.

Læge Marianne Bjerager: 8636 7922
Hovedgaden 11, 1., 8410 Rønde
Phone consultation 8.00-9.00.
Consultation only if you made an appointment.
Medicine-ordering and appointment-booking 09.00-12.00

Lægerne Ulrik & Stork: 8637 2888
Birkevej 37, 8410 Rønde
Phone consultation 8.00-9.00.
Consultation only if you made an appointment.
Medicine-ordering and appointment-booking 9.00-14.00.

Linda & Ole Torkov: 8637 1101
Gartnervangen 1, 8410 Rønde
Consultation kl. 8.15 – 17.00.

Tandlægehuset  Rønde: 7011 0110
Birkevej 9, 8410 Rønde
Consultation kl. 8.00 – 17.00