Danish Evaluation Institute Review

DIS is recognized by the Ministry of Higher Education & Science which appoints one member to the DIS Board to ensure oversight and good governance.

The Danish Evaluation Institute (EVA) is an independent institution that operates under the Danish Ministry of Education and evaluates educational programs and courses. The evaluation concept is based on internationally approved methodological elements recommended by the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA).

In 2023, DIS received a positive Declaration of Recommendation from the EVA, concluding that the DIS program has sufficient overall quality and meets defined standards. This recommendation serves as a prerequisite for applications of student visas for students planning to be enrolled in the program. The EVA Declaration of Recommendation is valid until March 2027.

School of Record Review

The DIS School of Record Oversight Committee includes representatives from the University of Minnesota as the DIS School of Record and members of the DIS Strategic Curriculum Development Committee.

The University of Minnesota works closely with DIS regarding academic policy and curriculum quality through representation on the DIS School of Record Oversight Committee and through onsite program reviews that occur every fourth year.

We are pleased to share the following feedback from the committee:

Curriculum development

It is our greatest priority that our courses meet accepted academic standards and partner institution requirements for credit transfer. Curriculum development is an ongoing activity at DIS. Each September we announce the offering for the following academic year, including updated syllabi, to ensure sufficient time for review.

Curriculum feedback
Each spring, the DIS Academic Director and DIS Program Directors work with faculty to thoroughly review the full offerings across DIS curriculum from elective courses to Study Tour destinations and to solidify ideas for new programs and courses. As part of this process, we reach out to our adviser and faculty contacts at our partner institutions for feedback on new course and program ideas, as well as to receive feedback on potential changes to our curriculum.

DIS faculty training and professional development

DIS faculty are experts in their fields, teaching either full time or part time while maintaining successful careers in medicine, business, architecture, research, media, politics, and other professions.

Our faculty, administrators, staff, and students engage in a constant feedback loop through which student feedback, successes, and concerns are communicated to DIS Program Directors and faculty through evaluations and focus groups each semester. New faculty attend additional training workshops and departmental training throughout the year, including a bi-annual faculty weekend retreat, and a bi-annual DIS Educators Workshop for DIS faculty with our partner universities in Minnesota.

DIS Educators Workshop (DEW)
Every two years, a group of 30 faculty go to the US for a week of pedagogy workshops and academic conversations. The DIS Educators Workshop (DEW) takes place at our partner universities (often University of Minnesota, Carlton, Macalester and St. Olaf), and DIS faculty visit classes, run collaborative workshops with faculty from partner institutions on e.g. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Universal Design for Learning.

Love of Learning
For six weeks in fall 2020, more than 200 faculty and staff in Stockholm and Copenhagen participated in the biggest academic collaboration initiative in DIS history.

The Love of Learning initiative has been an innovative way for DIS to engage in academic development and progress across departments and locations as the study abroad field continues to evolve.