New report: Youth Work and Non-formal Learning in Europe's Education Landscape

Date: 7th April 2016
Category: General principles

This new publication 'Youth work and non-formal learning in Europe's education landscape' marks a quarter of a century of EU youth programmes accompanied by EU youth policy, and future challenges.

The publication gives a broad perspective on learning, and points to the current shift in education: formal education is becoming increasingly informalised through its changing pedagogies, its focus on learners and life-skills, and its recognition of prior learning. At the same time, non-formal education is becoming more formalised in relation to the recognition and demonstration of the skills it helps develop.

Schools and youth workers are more and more often pairing up to deal with the changing societies in which pupils live. One head teacher cited in the publication makes a point for such cooperation with local communities: "When you look at the future, it seems to be the case that schools can no longer be isolated islands. And in that phase, one of the most natural partners is youth work".

The report includes contributions from a wide range of researchers and practitioners in the field. It outlines the European dimension of youth work, its role in dealing with social inclusion, active citizenship, social media, intercultural dialogue, with some reflection on the path that led to current EU youth policy.

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