About the Danish Centre of Educational Environment

The Danish Centre of Educational Environment (Dansk Center for Undervisningsmiljø – hereinafter referred to as DCUM) is an independent national centre, working to secure a good environment for children in day-care facilities and for education at schools and institutes of education. The centre supports an user-involving and systemic effort in the work with evaluations of the environment for children and education.

Established by Statute
DCUM was established in April 2002 after the Danish Folketing adopted the act on the educational environment of pupils and students. The Act requires that all schools and educational institutions work systematically and continuously with the educational environment of the students and that all pupils and students are active co-players in this work.

Objective
The objective of DCUM is to contribute to ensuring and developing a good educational environment in Denmark. We do this by offering advice and counselling to pupils, students, parents, teachers, places of education, authorities, etc. in matters relating to the educational environment.

Projects
DCUM is a forum for dialogues about and development of a good educational environment and we initiate and realise our own projects which we consider relevant for the overall strategy of the Centre. We also participate in projects involving other parties. The projects may be financed by our ordinary budget grant or by special project means.

Network
DCUM forms part of special networks whenever it is considered relevant and useful for the knowledge gathering and distribution. We take the initiative to set up and maintain networks. Moreover, we participate in networks initiated by others.

Board
The superior management of the Centre is carried out by the Board of DCUM. The Board also establishes the activities of the Centre. The Board consists of 15 members who represent all players within the school and educational sphere in Denmark. 

Staff
At present, DCUM has ten permanent staff members. Furthermore, DCUM has a number of employees who solve project-oriented tasks and persons who are in job training processes and internships. The selection of staff members is based on the users’ need for competent and relevant knowledge about the many facets of the educational environment.