Erasmus+ Youth and the quality of youth work
A crucial space for youth work
Erasmus+ Youth is the European Union’s learning mobility programme for young people and youth work organisations, networks and institutions. The programme seeks to strengthen European identity and citizenship through intercultural dialogue and non-formal learning. One specific objective is to strengthen youth work. Our research shows that Erasmus+ Youth is successful in achieving this objective and contributes to “supporting the development of quality youth work” and “providing youth workers with needed education, training and learning”, as stipulated in the European Council’s 2024 Resolution on youth work policy.
34 Countries
The RAY Network is the open research network of National Agencies of the European youth programmes and their research partners.
- agree
- strongly agree
Percentages that are left-aligned show the percentage for one response type, for example “agree”. Percentages that are right-aligned show the cumulative percentages of all responses included in the charts, for example “agree” and “strongly agree”, so all affirmative responses. The third value is not shown to avoid cluttering the charts, but can of course be easily calculated.
Effects on youth work competences of project team members
The majority of the 3.845 responding project team members state that through their coordination of an Erasmus+ Youth project they have improved and extended their youth work skills and networks considerably:
I am better able to strengthen diversity in my youth work.
I have learned more about fostering non-formal learning in youth work.
I am better able to strengthen international dimensions in my youth work.
The project already had an impact on my youth work.
I have learned more about strengthening youth-led youth work.
My networks have extended meaningfully.
I am better able to deal with ambiguity and tensions in my youth work.
The project already had an impact on my network/organisation.
I have become aware which of my competences I want to develop further.
N = 3.845 project team members. Surveys conducted in the second half of 2023. All aspects part of parallel modules with varying n: 1891, 1913, 1910, 3805, 1910, 1921, 1888, 3837, 1913. Sequence in ranked order – from most frequent to least frequent response.
Effects on competences of participants of youth work activities
The 5.296 responding participants of youth work activities also state that through their participation in an Erasmus+ Youth education and training activity for youth workers, they have improved and extended their skills and networks:
I am better able to strengthen diversity in my youth work.
I have learned more about fostering non-formal learning in youth work.
I am better able to strengthen international dimensions in my youth work.
My participation in the activity already had an impact on my youth work.
I have learned more about strengthening youth-led youth work.
My networks have extended meaningfully.
I am better able to deal with ambiguity and tensions in my youth work.
My participation in the activity already had an impact on my network/organisation.
I have become aware which of my competences I want to develop further.
N = 5.296 youth work project participants. Surveys conducted during the same time. All aspects part of core modules with slightly varying n: 5236, 5235, 5240, 5250, 5236, 5260, 5222, 5281, 5246. Sequence is in same order as above for easier comparisons.