Danish Institute for Non-Formal Education

The Danish Institute for Non-Formal Education (Danish: Videncenter for Folkeoplysning, Vifo) is a Danish knowledge centre that collects, analyses and shares knowledge in the area of non-formal education and democratic voluntary activity. It focuses primarily on non-formal adult education and on non-formal youth and children's leisure activities, such as the scout movement and political and religious youth organisations. Its stated tasks include establishing a general overview of and insight into the field of non-formal education, analysing the implications and perspectives of policy initiatives within that field, and initiating public debate on key issues regarding non-formal education. Vifo is part of the Danish Institute for Sports Studies, a self-governing institution that works to establish a general overview of and insight into the field of sports through data gathering, analyses and research. Besides Vifo, the Danish Institute for Sports Studies also includes Play the Game, an initiative working to promote democracy, transparency and freedom of expression in international sport. The Danish Institute for Sports Studies is funded through a basic annual grant from the Danish Ministry of Culture, regulated through the Danish Lottery Act, and also through commissioned research projects, external project grants and other commercial activities. The institute is directed by a board of six members appointed by the Danish Minister for Culture, with daily management led by director Søren Ørgaard. Vifo publishes news, articles and reports on Danish civil society, volunteering, associations and democratic participation, and maintains a database of figures on non-formal education in Danish municipalities. It also hosts events such as webinars and conferences. Its work is aimed at practitioners, policymakers, researchers and the public interested in the voluntary and non-formal education sector in Denmark.

The Danish Institute for Non-Formal Education (Vifo) operates as part of the Danish Institute for Sports Studies, a self-governing institution that works to establish a general overview of and insight into the field of sports through data gathering, analyses and research. The Danish Institute for Sports Studies is funded through a basic annual grant from the Danish Ministry of Culture, regulated through the Danish Lottery Act, and also through commissioned research projects, external project grants and other commercial activities. The institute is directed by a board of six members appointed by the Danish Minister for Culture, with daily management led by director Søren Ørgaard; the management group also includes Rasmus K. Storm. Within this structure, Vifo serves as the knowledge centre for the non-formal education field (folkeoplysning) and democratic voluntary activity. Its work covers non-formal adult education and non-formal youth and children's leisure activities such as the scout movement and political and religious youth organisations. Vifo's tasks include establishing a general overview of and insight into the field of non-formal education, analysing the implications and perspectives of policy initiatives within the field, and initiating public debate on key issues regarding non-formal education. Vifo publishes news, articles and reports on Danish civil society, volunteering, associations and democratic participation, and maintains a database of figures on non-formal education in Danish municipalities. It also hosts events such as webinars and conferences. The Danish Institute for Sports Studies also includes Play the Game, an initiative working to promote democracy, transparency and freedom of expression in international sport.

• Vifo operates as part of the Danish Institute for Sports Studies, funded by the Danish Ministry of Culture.

• Vifo maintains a database of figures on non-formal education in Danish municipalities.

• Vifo hosts webinars and conferences, such as the Webinar: Frivillighedsalliancen (23 October 2026) and the Conference: Space for leisure life in the cities of the future (26 November 2026).

A knowledge centre and public knowledge partner for the Danish non-formal education and voluntary sector.

• Vifo Database: figures on non-formal education in the municipalities

• Vifo publications

• News and articles

• Webinars and conferences

1. 1Videncenter for Folkeoplysningvifo.dk
2. 2About Vifovifo.dk
3. 3Danish Institute for Non-Formal Educationwikidata.org