Qasim Shaikh has been part of Studieskolen since 2002, where he has played a key role in developing administrative systems that have both streamlined administrative processes and improved the student experience. Since 2008, he has worked in management, including business development, product and concept development, as well as participation in public tenders. He has also led acquisitions and mergers and has served as Deputy Director since 2018. This experience gives him in-depth knowledge of Studieskolen’s operations and organisation from his very first day as Director.
"My ambition is for our students to receive the very best teaching. It is a great advantage that I have worked with both the development and day-to-day operations of Studieskolen for so many years, and that I have been close to the challenges we face," says Qasim Shaikh.
Quality, dynamism and growth
Studieskolen has for many years been synonymous with high-quality teaching, and this is a tradition Qasim Shaikh wishes to continue. "One of the most important things for me is to ensure quality across all our teaching, whether it is Danish Education for adult international residents, foreign language courses, tailored training for businesses, or FVU and language support. All types of courses and all languages are equally important to me,” he says.
With the school’s current growth, maintaining this high level of quality is a challenge, but Qasim Shaikh looks forward to taking it on. "I take the quality of our teaching very seriously. We must both maintain and further develop it. We need to be dynamic and open to new methods, while preserving our core. I am confident that we can do it. Studieskolen is a dynamic organisation, used to change, and we are good at adapting to the demands of the market."
Does maintaining quality during a period of growth require anything in particular?
"Yes, it requires ensuring that all our teachers share the same foundation and focus. During a period of growth, when many new teachers join, standardisation and quality assurance become more demanding," says Qasim Shaikh. "I look forward to working more in this area."
Focus on students and the importance of language
Studieskolen has long been a key provider of language education for private learners, businesses and public institutions. It is no secret that the school aims to increase its market share in both Danish and foreign languages. But how large is the market in reality?
"We want to be the best at delivering language education. But that only makes sense if there is a need for it," says Qasim Shaikh. "Our task is to promote the understanding that language matters, both professionally and personally. Language is the key to connecting as people. Many of our students are preparing to travel, have come to Denmark from other countries, or need language skills for their work or studies. We must ensure that people understand how much further they can go with language and cultural competencies,” he says.
Do you have any thoughts on how to maintain or increase interest in languages?
"Unlike many other organisations, Studieskolen has not experienced a decline in interest in languages – quite the opposite," says Qasim Shaikh. "But we cannot teach in the same way as we did 20 years ago. Learners expect more. We need to make language learning engaging and reinvent our teaching methods. Technology plays a major role here, and it is one of the areas I will focus on,” the new Director concludes.
A good place to work
Another key focus for Qasim Shaikh is staff wellbeing. "If our staff do not thrive, they cannot deliver the quality we aim for. I will work to ensure that the organisation functions well as a whole. We are a large organisation with many departments and programmes, and it is important that our staff are satisfied. Studieskolen must continue to be a good place to work, where people look forward to coming in every day,” he says.