For more than 150 years, Åsa folk high school has helped tens of thousands of people grow and develop. Through war and crisis, progress and adversity, the school has remained true to its driving purpose: to give people the opportunity to shape their own lives, contribute to society, and strengthen our democracy.

Åsa is one of Sweden’s oldest folk high schools. Since the late nineteenth century, it has played a vital role in adult education and popular learning.

From its beginnings as a school for farmers’ sons to its current role as a modern meeting place for learning and culture, the school has evolved alongside the rapid, and at times dramatic, changes of society.

Part of a new movement
The Swedish folk high school movement emerged during the second half of the nineteenth century, inspired by Danish ideas about education, democracy and lifelong learning.

Its educational philosophy developed as a response to the traditional academic model of learning. At folk high schools, students, later referred to as course participants, were encouraged to take ownership of their own education and lives, while actively contributing to the development of society.

The founding of Åsa can be traced back to a public meeting held in Katrineholm in the summer of 1871. It was there that the idea of establishing a local folk high school was first raised. Following the meeting, the initiative’s supporters worked tirelessly to secure financial backing and create the conditions necessary for launching the school.

The school was initially named Södermanlands folk high school. When it opened in 1872 in the small spa village of Bie, it became Sweden’s fifth folk high school.

From Bie to Sköldinge
Despite financial challenges and a limited number of students in its early years, the founders successfully opened the school with 36 students. Teaching was conducted for many years in the former spa hospital at Bie.

During the school’s first two decades, operations expanded steadily. In 1891, an agricultural college was linked to the folk high school, strengthening its role as an educational institution for rural communities.

Over time, the facilities in Bie became increasingly inadequate and expensive to maintain. After considering various alternatives, it was decided to relocate the school to Sköldinge. There, the owner of the Åsa farm donated land for the project, and when the move took place in 1892, the school adopted its current name, Åsa folk high school.

A new school building, Apeln, and a principal’s residence, Kastanjen, were constructed on the site where the school remains today. These buildings are the oldest on campus and form an important part of Åsa’s cultural heritage.

Education for a new society
The early Swedish folk high schools primarily catered to young farmers’ sons. The purpose was to strengthen the participants’ knowledge so they could contribute to the growing democratic society, while at the same time developing professional skills in agriculture. Courses were held during the winter months when farm work was less demanding.

In 1894, women were able to study at the school for the first time. Initially, this took place during summer courses that combined academic subjects with physical exercise and domestic skills. It was not until 1931 that the first woman was admitted to a winter course, reflecting society’s gradually changing views on education and gender equality.

An important milestone came in 1927 when the Södermanland county council assumed ownership of the school. This provided a stable organisational foundation and strengthened opportunities for future development. Today, the school remains under public ownership through Region Sörmland.

A modern meeting place
Throughout the twentieth century, the school’s range of courses gradually expanded. Today, Åsa is a modern educational institution where the traditions of popular education meet contemporary culture and civic engagement. The school offers general courses, distance learning programmes, commissioned education, boarding facilities, summer courses and conferences.

Åsa has also developed highly regarded profile courses in music, creative writing and street dance. The dance programmes Five Styles and One Style attract participants and guest tutors from across the world.

The school’s commitment to street dance has given Åsa a unique role as a meeting place for education, artistic development and urban dance culture, unrivalled among Sweden’s folk high schools.

The school’s commitment to civic issues is also reflected in the democracy festival Åsadalen. Held annually since 2025, the festival aims to strengthen democratic dialogue. Through lectures, debates, workshops and cultural events, the school seeks to promote knowledge, participation and understanding of democratic values at a time when these values face increasing challenges.