The Recommendation (CM Rec 2017/2) on youth work by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe provides an opportunity to enhance the advocacy of ECYC member organisations (national or regional-level youth work associations) in their work to act as agents for change and raising standards of youth work across Europe.

As an international commitment, this Recommendation requires policy change to drive change in practice at the domestic (national) level. We strongly believe that the role of European and national level civil society organisations in the implementation of this Recommendation is absolutely essential, as well as the active participation of young people, to ensure that this document moves from paper towards national policy changes and ultimately into a stronger, more impactful youth work sector. Supporting the implementation and dissemination of the Recommendation is also recognised as a priority of the European Youth Foundation for 2018 - 2019.

Background

The Committee of Ministers Recommendation on Youth work of the Council of Europe is probably one of the most important pieces of policy for the youth work sector in the past 20 years. One year after their adoption, this Recommendation is still not enough known by those working in the sector. As an ECYC internal survey showed, only 26% of the international affairs representatives of ECYC member organisations were aware about the existence of the Recommendation in June 2018. This is also the case with CEOs and top management representatives of youth work federations in ECYC. We are aware that the Youth Department of the Council of Europe is implementing a plan to disseminate and operationalise the Recommendation and we want to contribute with our effort in the implementation of this plan.

The MOOC

The aim of the MOOC is to provide a solid online information base, which can serve as refence for youth workers and offer tools, with regard to the Youth Work Recommendations.

The main objectives of this MOOC are:

-          Create a participatory and learner-centred environment based on voluntary participation and open-access;

-          Provide an online platform to engage in meaningful, intercultural experience online;

-          Access video lectures by expert practitioners in the field, linking individual and social learning;

-          Explore topical themes about youth work at European level;

-          Improve English language and communication skills;

-          Build 21st-century skills that improve employability, including the ability to work in a virtual and intercultural environment;

-          Have an opportunity to gain a scholarship to participate at the Brussels Policy Advocacy Training Course in October 2019.

Last but not least, through this course we will look at practitioners' perspective and try to develop our own projects. As a participant you will be able to explore the content at your own pace through following live and recorded lectures, visiting European project web pages or reading tailored content, watching short movies and working individually or in groups.

The MOOC will run online for a period of 8 weeks and will be online here: https://europeanyouthwork.com/

Course structure

Week 1

Introduction to the MOOC: Course Summary and Practical Information

Week 2

An Introduction to the Recommendation on youth work: Drafting process, Council of Europe and ECYC.

Week 3

Why youth work: the social value of youth work

Week 4

Exploring recommendations (Part 1): Frameworks for Quality Youth Work & Education and Training of Youth Workers

Week 5

Exploring recommendations (Part 2): Principles and measures

Week 6

Exploring recommendations (Part 3): Council of Europe; Research; Evaluation and Quality Label for youth centres.

Week 7

What next?: Advocacy on the Recommendation

Week 8

Closing Session: Scholarship for Brussels Policy Advocacy Training Course.

Participants:
The course is open for participants from Council of Europe countries, as well as Programme and Partner countries of the Erasmus+ programme. There is no age limit for applicants.  

Time:
You will need between 6 to 8 hours (1-2 hours/week) to complete the course, depending on your study pace. You can choose your own study period within the general course period proposed: 03rd of April – 22nd of May 2019.

Price:
This course is free of charge for participants, thanks to the funding of the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe and the efforts made by the team of the project.

Certificate
When you have fulfilled the basic requirements, you will get a course attendance certificate.

Languages:
The course will be available in English.

Levels:
Basic - Intermediate

Scholarship:

Based on positive participation in the MOOC, ECYC will offer full travel and boarding to 7 young participants to attend the Policy Advocacy Training Course held in Brussels in October 2019. 

Further information about this Training Course will be available on the ECYC Facebook page.

To sign up for the course, please follow this link.

For any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at ecyc@fcjmp.be