From Training to Recognition: Advancing the Competences of Youth Workers and Trainers

Achievements So Far: A Collective Effort

Key discussions with partners: enhancing reach and impact

• Broadening our reach: How can we more effectively engage those working in youth organisations and delivering training activities? We aim to explore strategies to connect with an even broader audience and ensure diverse participation.
• Balancing participant profiles: How can we better balance the profiles of participants? Ensuring a mix of experience levels and backgrounds will enrich the learning environment.
• Supporting non-selected participants: How can we offer valuable opportunities to those not selected for the courses? We are considering alternative pathways to engage and support their professional growth.

Needs assessment and programme design: tailoring training to real needs

• Assessing needs: We start by gathering input from our partners on their priorities for training competencies, aligning these with the ETS Competence Models. Participants are then asked to identify their personal and professional development goals, which helps us tailor the course content.
• Customising content: Before the training begins, participants complete a self-assessment using the ETS Competence Areas available on platforms like Youth Work Pathways or Trainers Appraisal. This allows them to pinpoint areas for growth and helps our training teams design sessions that directly address these needs.
• Adaptive learning: Daily reflections and feedback sessions enable participants to voice their evolving needs throughout the training. Our trainers are committed to adapting the programme in real time, ensuring the learning experience remains relevant and impactful.

Assessing and Recognising Competences: Building Recognition Literacies

• Structured self-assessment: Participants engage in self-assessment before and after training, using tools like the ETS Competence Models and 360-degree assessments. This reflective practice is key to personal and professional growth.
• Peer support and recognition: At the end of each day, participants gather in peer groups to reflect on their learning experiences. They can also claim digital Open Badges and those who meet the criteria will receive badge-based certificates. Each participant also receives a Youthpass certificate, enriched with individual reflections on their learning outcomes.

• Enhancing motivation: How can we increase participants’ commitment to self-assessment and recognition? We aim to identify strategies to support and motivate participants to fully engage in these processes.
• Exploring external validation: Should we pursue external validation for the training outcomes? We will discuss how to secure the necessary resources for external assessment and explore partnerships with formal education institutions for issuing micro-credentials.

Advancing Recognition and Certification: A Holistic Approach

• Understanding recognition realities: We are investigating the recognition landscapes at both national and European levels, translating ETS Competence Models and open educational resources to make them more accessible to those working locally.
• Engaging stakeholders: We actively collaborate with European-level stakeholders, such as the SALTO Training and Cooperation Resource Centre and the EU-CoE Youth Partnership, as well as national entities like Youth Departments and Erasmus+ National Agencies. We aim to contribute to recognising and certifying youth workers and trainers, ensuring their competencies are acknowledged and valued.

• Translating international learning to local impact: How can we support the transfer of learning outcomes from international training courses into local and national systems? We will explore ways to bridge the gap between international and local recognition.
• Maximising resources for recognition: With a limited budget, how can we allocate more resources to recognition efforts? We will brainstorm solutions to enhance our work's impact within the constraints of the Accreditation budget.

Looking ahead: building a stronger future together

• Competence validation and follow-up: Partners are working to develop standardized validation processes aligned with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). This includes e-portfolios and expert evaluations to ensure participants can effectively showcase their competencies.
• Digital tools and resources: To address privacy concerns and digital literacy gaps, trainers introduced user-friendly guides and testimonials demonstrating the benefits of engaging with online platforms.
• Sustained engagement: The project strengthened its follow-up mechanisms, including periodic assessments, success story collection, and ongoing communication with participants to measure the long-term impact of the training.