Symposium on Youth Policy Cooperation in South East-Europe: focus on recognition of youth work & non-formal learning

The training activity took place

in Tirana, Albania

organised by EC and CoE Partnership in the field of youth, SALTO TC RC, SALTO SEE RC, Albanian Youth Ministry

1-3 October 2012

Aims & objectives

Aim of the Symposium:
- To encourage peer learning and reflection, and inspire participants to discuss follow-ups and take action in their own environments following the conference.

Objectives of the event:
- To strengthen the youth policy sector as an independent sector next to education;
- To raise awareness and understanding of what non-formal learning in youth work means, what it can achieve, and what recognition can mean;
- To increase recognition of non-formal learning in youth work in the countries of SEE and give a boost to measures in the field taken by public policies and NGOs at different levels;
- To inform about developments in the field taking place at European level: 2012 EU Youth Report, preparation of a new EU policy initiative on validation of non-formal and informal learning, links to outcomes of the Symposium on Recognition of Youth Work and Non-Formal Learning organised jointly by the EU-CoE youth partnership, SALTO T&C RC and the German National Agency of the Youth in Action programme in November 2011 as well as on recent developments in this field;
- To encourage peer–learning and inspire participants to take initiatives after the conference.

Target group & international/intercultural composition of the group & team

There were over 80 participants from 21 countries (including EU, SEE and EECA countries). The participants were from local youth organisations, freelance youth workers, local and national Governments, international youth organizations, as well as representatives of European Union, Council of Europe and United Nations.
The international preparatory team gathered representatives from each organizing body and the two facilitators.

Training methods used & main activities

Pleary inputs, thematic working groups, panel discussions, presentations of good practice examples in the field taken by different actors, interactive sharing of experiences and national/regional action planning groups.

Outcomes of the activity

Report from the Symposium drafted by Nik Paddison collecting all main ideas exchanged as well as commitments for further actions towards the recognition in the countries involved. The report will be available for free download at the Partnership website.

Your tasks and responsibilities within the team

Co-facilitator responsible for planning, designing, delivering and evaluating the programme of the Symposium.