RAY NPC » Explorative research project on the impact and potential of cooperation projects with neighbouring partner countries in the EU youth programmes
Aims & Objectives
This research project aims to explore key aspects of collaboration with neighbouring partner
countries in the context of the European youth programmes.
The key objectives of this research project are to explore
- effects of projects funded through the European youth programmes on the actors involved,
in particular on project teams and project participants, but also their organisations
and communities; - access to the European youth programmes in general and neighbourhood cooperation
projects specifically, at the level of young people as well as organisations, networks and
groups; - profiles of project participants and project teams and, to the extent possible, of organisations,
networks and groups involved in cooperation projects with neighbouring partner
countries; - needs of project teams and their organisations, networks and groups in relation to working
with the European youth programmes generally and in projects with neighbouring
partner countries specifically; - differences, if any, between projects involving organisations, networks and groups in EU
Member States and third countries associated to the programmes, on the one hand, and
neighbouring partner countries, on the other hand.
Research Questions
The core research questions of the project are:
- What are the effects of cooperation projects with neighbouring partner countries funded
through the European youth programmes on project participants, project teams, and
their organisations, networks and groups? - What is the environment created for cooperation projects with neighbouring partner
countries, with respect to access to the programmes as well as funding and support
provided? - What are the needs of project teams and their organisations, networks and groups in
relation to working in projects with neighbouring partner countries? How can the environment
for these projects be improved? How can their effects be strengthened?
Further Information
The underpinning research questions are:
- What differences, if any, exist between effects of cooperation projects with neighbouring
partner countries on project participants and project teams in programme countries
and partner countries? - What differences, if any, exist between effects of cooperation projects with neighbouring
partner countries on involved groups, networks and organisations in programme
countries and partner countries? - What differences, if any, exist between the environment created for cooperation projects
with neighbouring partner countries, with respect to access to the programmes as
well as funding and support provided for beneficiaries in programme countries and beneficiaries
in partner countries? - What differences, if any, exist between the needs of project teams and their organisations,
networks and groups In programme countries and in partner countries in relation
to projects with neighbouring partner countries?
Module 1: Analysis of monitoring datasets
In the initial module of this research project, the existing datasets of RAY MON (for Erasmus+
Youth) and RAY SOC (for the European Solidarity Corps) will be analysed in relation to the core
research questions of the project, analysing which differences—if any—between general projects
and neighbourhood projects exists, and which neighbourhood-specific insights may exist.
The analysis will initially focus on the previous programme generation, for which datasets already
exist, and will expand to the new programme generation, for which datasets will become
available in autumn 2023.
For the initial analysis of the 2020 dataset, which covers the last survey wave of programme
participants and project teams in the previous programme generation, conducted in 2019 and
2020, new regional variables will be defined. In the absence of an attribute identifying projects
involving partner countries, this analysis will focus on project participants and project teams
received by partner countries and use their survey responses as proxy.
For the subsequent analysis of the 2021–2023 dataset, which covers one survey wave of programme
participants and project teams in 2023, an attribute has been introduced that clearly identifies projects involving partner countries. This analysis will include and compare responses from all project participants and team members involved in these projects, irrespective of their origin or destination country.
Module 2: Survey of organisations
In the second module of this research project, an English-language survey of organisations in
programme countries will be conducted, exploring their perspective on cooperation projects
with neighbouring partner countries. The survey will be informed by the analysis conducted in
the initial module, but will likely focus on motivations and needs as well as effects and impacts.
Module 3: Focus groups with organisations
In the third module of this research project, focus groups will be conducted to further deepen
the analysis of key findings from the first two modules. The key discussion points of the focus
groups will be informed by the analysis conducted in the initial module and the findings of the
survey conducted in the second module.
Module 4: Thematic module for monitoring surveys
In the fourth module of this research project, a multilingual thematic module for the RAY monitoring
surveys will be developed, exploring key aspects of neighbourhood cooperation. The
modules will be used in rotation with other thematic modules, and will be addressed to project
participants and project teams of neighbourhood cooperation projects.