The Symposium “Recognising Youth Volunteering: From Experience to Impact”

The Symposium is part of the strategic cooperation on volunteering between 18 National Agencies for Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps and SALTOs (SNAC Vol). Through this partnership, we work together to strengthen youth volunteering across Europe and support its ongoing development.

With this Symposium, we want to explore practical ways to strengthen the recognition of volunteering, improve how skills gained through volunteering are validated, and ensure that every young person’s contribution and learning experience is truly valued.

Key Objectives:  

• Build a shared understanding of recognition of volunteering and validation of skills and competences gained through volunteering. 
• Identify gaps, barriers, and enablers.
• Develop actionable recommendations.

Additional objectives

• Strengthen inclusivity and quality of volunteering
• Connect recognition and validation to societal challenges

During the Symposium, we will work together to explore how volunteering can be better recognised and how learning and skills gained through volunteering can be validated.

We will look at questions such as:

• How can volunteering be better recognised in society, by policy makers, employers, and communities?
• What support is needed for volunteers to recognise their own learning and value?
• How can skills gained through volunteering be made visible and useful for education and employment pathways?
• What works well in different countries, and what can we learn from each other?
• How can existing tools and frameworks be used more effectively?

We will also explore how volunteering connects to wider topics such as inclusion, different forms of volunteering, and pathways into working life.

The programme includes discussions, small group exchanges, and opportunities to share experiences and develop practical ideas together. 

Outcomes from discussions will feed into concrete, actionable recommendations developed after the Symposium.

Format of the conference: 

• 3rd of Nov: arrival | start of event with common dinner
• 4th of Nov: full day setting the scene in the morning + recognition | afternoon: recognition / late afternoon/evening: make the connection between recognition and validation
• 5th of Nov: 9 - 13.00: validation of learning | departure 

Participants profile

Please note that there are only limited spaces available (max 80 participants). 

We aim to bring together a diverse group of experts who are actively working on or connected to the recognition and validation of volunteering. The Symposium will combine different perspectives – from practice, research, policy, and lived experience.

• Practitioners working directly with volunteers, such as volunteer organisations, volunteer managers, and youth organisations (both within and beyond the European Solidarity Corps).
• Policy makers from local, national and European Level that are capable of shaping or influencing policies related to youth, volunteering, education, employment, or social inclusion.
• Experts including researchers and professionals from the volunteering, education, employment, and validation fields (e.g. universities, NQF bodies, guidance services, European networks).
• Young (former or current) volunteers with experience in volunteering, ability to reflect on their  learning and skills gained
• Representatives from National Agencies

All participants should:

• Have practical experience with recognition and/or validation of skills gained through volunteering
• Be willing to share concrete examples and good practices
• Be motivated and have the capacity to further develop and apply the topic after the Symposium
• Commit to preparation work and full participation in the 3-day event 

Selection & Participation

Selection will be based on relevant experience and diversity. We aim for a geographically balanced and diverse group, including representatives from different sectors and countries and a variety of volunteering experiences.

Applicants will be asked about their experience, views on current challenges, and how they plan to take the topic forward after the Symposium.

To apply, fill in the application form by 5pm (GMT) 29th May 2026.

Practicalities & Programme

The Symposium will take place in Dublin/Ireland.  

Participants are expected to arrive on the 3rd of November before 17.00 GMT. Departure is planned on 5th of November after lunch.

To fully use the time we have at the Symposium, we ask all participants to attend an online onboarding session on the topics of recognition of youth volunteering and validation of skills and competences gained through volunteering. You will get an invitation to the online event and preparatory documents prior to the event.