Seminar on curricula for the education and training of youth workers, integrating the European dimension

AIM

The seminar is organised in the framework of the Strategic National Agencies Cooperation on the Education and Training of Youth Workers. 

The seminar aims to explore ways to integrate European themes and topics into existing curricula and training of youth workers (e.g. European youth work and its educational and value basis, the role of European mobility in youth work, the European Youth Strategy and the European Youth Work Agenda). 

The seminar also aims to create a platform to discuss these topics by fostering cooperation with practitioners and academics. It also aims to identify when and where it is relevant to integrate the European dimension in the curricula and the multiplicity of the existing curricula about youth work. The seminar will provide space to share and reflect on the needs and realities of stakeholders involved in the education and training of youth workers regarding the integration of the European dimension. 

The seminar will explore the following questions:

• How is the European dimension integrated within the formal education (both vocational and higher education) of youth workers as well as in the non-formal training for youth workers by the youth field?
• How "political" is youth workers practice - and therefore their education? 
• How do youth workers reflect about their (political, social, personal) position toward certain topics, issues and target groups? 
• How do youth workers learn about European policies and civic education? 
• How can international mobility programmes be integrated/interlinked with curricula in education & training? 

OTHER INTENTIONS

To create links with complementary processes connected to the training and recognition of youth workers as a profession, such as those initiated in the context of the European Training Strategy and the European Youth Work Agenda.

To bring together and enhance cooperation with relevant stakeholders from formal and non-formal educational sectors involved in designing and implementing curricula for the education and training of youth workers including the European dimension;

To gather different curricula of education and training of youth workers building on the existing literature from both academia and resources developed by the NFE sector.

FORMAT & WORKING STYLE

The seminar aims to broaden its scope by bringing together a diverse group. It serves as a platform for participants to reflect on various curricula with a focus on integrating European youth work in both sectors. The seminar features presentations, discussions, interactive sessions, and workshops to identify existing pathways for youth workers, bridge the gap between theory and practice, and enhance cooperation with practitioners. Through these activities, participants will develop strategies for integrating European Youth Work-related approaches into curricula and propose ways forward for building the sector's capacity.  By the end of the seminar, participants are inspired to integrate the European dimension more in their curriculum and training programs.

TARGET GROUP

The seminar is open to representatives from Higher Education, vocational education, associations and the youth work sector actively involved in developing and implementing curricula for youth workers. In particular, we are looking for participants who have been already experiencing, experimenting or practising to integrate  European dimensions in their context and want further support/inspiration.

This seminar is connected with a Laboratory on formal and non-formal methodologies in youth worker’s education and curriculum taking place in Italy between 17-20 October 2023. The call will be published soon.