Background

Discussions at European (and global) level about youth work, including the European Strategy for Youth Work and the related Bonn Process, have highlighted the need to pay even more attention to developing quality youth work, by also supporting the professionalism of youth workers. Essential herewith is to create flexible and diverse learning opportunities for practitioners, both in terms of formal and continuing education as well through non-formal learning. The Forum will continue the discussions of the 3rd European Convention on Youth Work on the development of the quality of youth work and the recognition of the field, with a broader focus on youth work education and learning. The activity has been implemented within the framework of a strategic partnerships "Education and Training of Youth Workers". 

A two day forum  brings together practitioners, policy makers and researchers from the field of education and training of youth workers across Europe to discuss what is and could be the position of education and training in ensuring youth work quality.

The intention of the Forum is:

• to create space for discussing the position of education and training in supporting  youth workers in their role and professional development in times of changes, addressing the existing and emerging challenges of the young people;

• to explore the interconnections within broader youth worker education and training systems across Europe

• to map qualification systems in the field of youth work, their connections with education and training and social recognition of the field, including the impact on the identity, professionalism and  sustainability of the youth work

• to identify gaps and formulate recommendations on how to improve and strengthen the field of education and training of youth workers in national as well as international level

PARTICIPANTS 

Representatives of universities providing  youth work education, researchers who have studied youth work education, youth policy influencers (policy makers, etc.), trainers, youth work organizers (representatives of local governments, youth and umbrella organizations, including those providing training), youth workers.  A total of 100 participants, divided proportionally between different stakeholders.

Forum might be for you if:

• you are involved in youth worker education and/or training, both in policy or implementing level; 
• you are interested in contributing to the further development of quality youth work through strengthening the field of education and training of youth workers;
• you are able to work in (international) English.

APPROACH AND FOCUS

The forum is based on the idea of unconference, providing an interactive and dynamic forum for raising important issues and for critical reflection.

The forum's discussions will focus on three main issues:

What is the role of the youth worker in today's society, does it have new dimensions, how can this role be fulfilled and what preparation do practitioners need to do so?

• Topics relevant to young people: participation, inclusion, digitalisation, environmental/ sustainability issues - if they are part of youth work, what training does a youth worker need so that these issues will be part of his or her daily work?
• Does the youth worker have a fixed and agreed role and what it’s based on? Can one  choose a narrow or specialized role? Is it possible and how to prepare (or offer preparation) for a broader role of a youth worker?
• What could be a “future fit” youth worker, what are the competencies needed in crisis management, human rights-based practice, etc.?

Who is a professional youth worker - through which we describe, guarantee and value professionalism?

• What ensures the professionalism and quality of a youth worker - education system, professional qualifications, competence frameworks, evidence-based practice, etc.?
• How we assess or control quality - professional requirement or competencies, their measurability and recognition
• Supporting the youth worker as a self-directed learner and a reflexive practitioner - meaningful self-development and personal learning journey and learning within the community of practice;

Youth worker training - what are the possible bridges between youth work education and training?

• What is the basis (incl. theories, value base, competence models, etc.) in the training of a youth worker and how does it take into account the changing trends in the world and of young people? How to bring knowledge and know-how to the youth workers and how to put it into a practice?
• How do we teach youth work as a practice, “do we walk the talk” - is it a process centered, dialogue and evidence-based, how do we support a youth worker as a practitioner-researcher or reflective practitioner, etc.
• What should be the systems of education and training for youth workers, so these would meet changing needs and be complementary? What is the role of academic knowledge and research and how does it relate to practice?

PRACTICALITIES

A forum will take place in central Tallinn on 19-20. October. Participants are kindly asked to arrive on the late afternoon or evening of 18th of October and departing on the 21st of October.