ROTFL. This is called "Volkshochschule" in Germany. Hochschule can be translated to University. One guy from former Yugoslavia took an accounting course there, got a certificate and had this translated (to Serbian, Croatian or whatever). The translater did indeed translate Volkshochschule to Peoples University and the guy managed to secure a Professor position with it at a University. Of cause later this caused a scandal...

Strange, they must have also "translated" the certificate to a PhD in that case :)

In Germany the PhD isn’t necessary to become a Professor. Not sure about the other country though.

> In Denmark and some neighboring countries there's this concept of a school you can go to just to learn stuff later in life, as an ongoing thing

We have those in the US; we don't have a general collective name for them, but there are both private for-profit ones with a variety of (mostly narrow) specialities, either standalone or as adjuncts to other related businesses (selling, e.g., products in the field that it teaches people to act in), plus community colleges, public libraries, public parks and rec departments, and museums tend to also have programs that serve this function, despite it not being their sole or primary function.

My whole life, I've heard of those places as either "FunEd" or "The Learning Annex" and I didn't realize until well into adulthood that those were proper nouns, not the generic name for "classes you take as a grownup just for interest."

We have community colleges in America that serve the exact same function. My parents love taking the astronomy courses because they come with an observatory. They have also some some criminal justice classes and a lot of art classes like pottery. They are very old. You also don’t get a degree for taking these courses but they are much cheaper than the classes are for degree track students.

I have a bachelors in computer engineering but I've taken drawing and painting classes at my local community college. It was a fun and we met once a week at night for 3 months. I think it was $120 for the entire 3 months but we did have to buy our own supplies.

I have a programmer friend that took welding and car repair classes at the community college. He just wanted to learn.

Many if not most universities in the USA have extension schools that serve this purpose.

I'd like to point out that Extension schools also allow minors to take full credit college courses. I basically had my math bachelor's degree complete by the time I was officially accepted to my university.

If you are a parent, let your children know about these extension college courses if they are interested!

Do you get an academic degree?

Generally no

Is that recognized socially ? As in opening a business after passes these classes.

You don't need a degree to open a business. And mostly it's for learning things for your own satisfaction, which I sense is what you mean?

Depends on the trade, you can't make electrical work without some form of recognition I believe. And beyond that I mostly asked regarding customers, you want something to back your claims and prices.

Those are called “trade schools” in the US, and most community colleges have programs for trades. For example, a lot of community colleges have programs in auto repair and heating/cooling.

It gets more complicated in the US because of unions. In many places, you can’t become a plumber or electrician without an apprenticeship, which is controlled by the trade unions. Therefore, community colleges might offer classes on plumbing or electrical, but there’s no equivalent to a certification program, because it’s not possible to become a professional just by going to school.

Interesting I never linked the name 'trade school' with adult learning. I thought it was some parallel track for teenagers to jump into a field.

Depends. If it's in a medical field, you might need a degree.

You don't need a degree to open a medical business. You need a degree to practice medicine.

This certainly depends on local rules. For example, in the UK I believe dental businesses can only be opened by a qualified dentist. I was surprised when I learnt this earlier this year.

This source [0] says “non-dentists cannot set up or buy dental practices as an individual or partnership but they are permitted to be shareholders of a limited company which owns the practice” and “the majority of directors of that limited company cannot be non-dentists”.

[0]: https://www.plutopartners.co.uk/post/who-can-own-a-dental-bu...

I believe this is the case with law firms, and probably some other professional firms, in the US as well. AFAIK a law firm is a partnership of lawyers.

That said, this isn't what most people are talking about when they are talking about starting a business.

My impression, knowing very few who has attended højskole, is that people do it for their own personal fulfillment and enjoyment.

Socially, I’d say that it is respected and regarded as a sign of dedication to ones interests.

which is pretty cool, I think it's a vital need for humans to keep learning new stuff if you don't have enough stimulation

> As in opening a business after passes these classes.

Where do you need a degree to open a business?

Lots of professions and trades require a qualification or license to practice.

So getting these qualifications are required for reskilling.

Right so the employees providing the actual services may need qualifications. The person opening the business doesn't. I've never seen anywhere where opening a business needs a degree or qualification.

Dentist, vet clinic, lawyer are three.

Daycare center, hairstyling and financial advisor are others that require qualifications / lic

> Dentist, vet clinic, lawyer are three.

People aren't learning these professions at folk high school are they?

That's the point. Most people want adult education so they have comfortable lives. Learning about history is a luxury pursuit really for people who are already comfortable and have spare time.

So you really need education that leads to recognised qualifications.

Yes, because tons of people have the capital to open business and hire employees.

Reality is most people wanting to retrain are going to do it as a single person business as a plumber, hair dresser or similar.

Going and getting a degree isn't a good way of raising capital.

I never said it was. It's potentially good way of getting a well paid job though.