Information in English

About NordFo

NordFo, Nordic Forum for Research and Development in Educational Sloyd [swe. Slöjd], works for sloyd/craft and design-related co-operation between the Nordic countries.

NordFo works for various forms of cooperation between the Nordic countries' teacher training programs to initiate, stimulate and report research and development work in the field of Sloyd. Ever since the collaboration began (see "History" on this website), conferences, symposia and seminars have been organized in the Nordic countries. In addition, NordFo has initiated and implemented Nordic postgraduate courses in networking. NordFo works in national, Nordic and international research projects. NordFo has its own publication - Techne series.

In NordFo context, Slöjd/Sloyd, with its educational significance, is used as a common umbrella term for education, teaching and learning at all levels of the education system and its equivalents at the university and university level within the Nordic Sloyd/Slöjd area.

The Swedish term “Slöjd” [slöghþ, slögher] is already mentioned 1290 in the 13th century landscape law “Östgötalagen”, the concepts stand for canniness [sw. slughet], diligence [sw. flitighet], skillfulness [sw. skicklighet], cunning [sw. kunnighet], wisdom [sw. klokhet], the property to be handy [sw. händig], deft [sw. flink], dexterous craftmanship [sw. hantverksskicklig], skilled in designing [sw. konstfärdig], experienced skilful [sw. förfaren], ingenious [sw. fyndig] and creative [sw. påhittig].

Over time, and with political decisions, the names of the Nordic school subjects have been partially changed. Today, and earlier, there are names such as “Slöjd” [eng. Sloyd, Craft] ”Käsityö” (fi.), ”Textilslöjd” [textile handicraft], ”Trä- och metallslöjd” [wood and metalwork], ”Teknisk slöjd” [technical sloyd], ”Håndarbejde” (dk) [textile handicraft], ”Forming”, ”Formgivning”, ”Kunst og håndverk” (no) [art and craft], ”Hantverk og design” (dk) [craft and design], Smiði (is.) [craft], and Duodji (lapland) [Sami sloyd]. In NordFo and Nordic contexts, “Slöjd” and “Sloyd” is used as an umbrella concept for the subjects.