Älvdalen is 40 kms (25 miles) north of Mora in the beautiful province of Dalarna. Älvdalen’s Education Centre is situated on the outskirts of central Älvdalen in a spot of great natural beauty near a sports centre for indoor and outdoor activities such as cross country skiing, and it is not far from a swimming-hall in the same building as a skating rink. It is also close to shops, restaurants and a cinema.
Älvdalen’s Education Centre has developed from being merely a forestry college to becoming a dynamic educational centre offering education for both young and adult students.
On an upper secondary school level many different programmes are available, such as education for nature guides, within wilderness tourism, forestry, game fishing, hunting, truck driving/logistics, restaurant, industry (welding and industrial techniques) and social science (also combined with fitness and health). We also offer higher education in nature tourism and forestry techniques, so called YH education, where YH stands for Higher Vocational Education. We also arrange courses on demand such as industrial techniques, forestry environmental consideration, log building and chain-saw courses.
For part of the education for forestry and hunting student simulators are used. On a national standard ÄEC is one of the most equipped schools in the country. At present there are a total of 14 simulators used for timber harvesting, crane driving, heavy vehicle driving and hunting. At Älvdalen’s Education Centre internationalisation is emphasised. Accordingly, students are encouraged to do their internship abroad. Obtaining foreign experience is extremely developing for the students and improves their self-confidence. It provides them with useful contacts in their trade and also gives them a greater understanding of the way people in other countries think and live. Their language knowledge comes to a test and develops at the same time as they acquire a more global mode of thinking. Countries where students have practised abroad are New Zealand, Russia (the Kola Peninsula), Norway (e.g. Svalbard), Ireland, Portugal, Austria, Japan, Slovenia Iceland and Switzerland. We also cooperate with schools abroad, e.g. Tanzania, France, the United Kingdom, Hungary and New Zealand.
We offer boarding for more than 100 students. Other students rent private rooms or share apartments. Our students have the possibility of buying their meals, i.e. breakfast, lunch and dinner, in the school canteen. The school atmosphere is relaxed and cosy and the students and staff get along very well together, the school being not too big with its nearly 400 students.
There are two people employed to see to it that the students have an active and a meaningful leisure time after school time. Study circles are arranged in the evenings according to students’ wishes, e.g. hunting exam, simulator training, drivers licence theory and ice hockey. Sports tournaments are held, e.g. floor ball, volley-ball, indoor football and badminton. Many students join clubs such as the local fishing club. The school has its own climbing wall and there are TV rooms, internet computers and an evening café where you can play table- tennis, darts and billiards.
Contact information:
For more information about our education centre and our courses you are welcome to contact our officer in charge of international matters,
Ms Ing-Marie Bergman
E-Mail: ing-marie.bergman@alvdalen.com
Telephone: +46 (0)251-597010
Cell phone: +46 (0)70-2311332