For decades, Scandinavian culture effectively prohibited the development of special provisions for talented students in higher education. However, in recent years, a cultural shift has gradually made more room for excellence and talent development in the national discourses. This paper analyzes the climate for talent development in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Following a first inventory of honors programs in Scandinavian higher education in which the only programs were found in Denmark, 10 experts were interviewed to analyze their national situation and reflect on the leading role of Denmark. In this country, external incentives, focus on quality, pioneers, and an open atmosphere were found to produce a culture more appreciative of excellence over the last decade. Starting from the Danish experience, the situation in Norway and Sweden is analyzed, showing that the combination of factors leading to change in Denmark is not yet present here. Lessons for other countries are highlighted, notably the importance of sharing information and exchanging knowledge at an international level.
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Since 2016, the European Honors Council stimulates talent development programs at European Higher Education Institutions, which help talented young people to reach their full potential, so they can positively contribute to the solving of societal problems. This is a challenging process, but we are convinced that international collaboration and exchange is essential for talent development in a globalized society. The EHC has grown to a membership of over 200.We present two examples of international activities in which the EHC is involved: 1. Publishing the Journal of the European Honors Council. This journal (in open access) publishes notes on good practices and papers on research, all meant to exchange experiences and insights internationally. Working with an editorial board involving five countries, at the time of writing the Journal is in the process of publishing its third issue.2. Taking part in the CoTalent project, in which nine institutions from six European countries work together to develop tools that help teachers to stimulate talented students in higher education. Based on experiences from these two examples, we open the floor for a discussion with participants aiming to find innovative ways to foster international collaboration and exchange. All EHC Board members and Journal of the EHC Editorial Board members present at the conference will participate in this session.
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