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Youth work in Estonia has a history of more than 100 years, going back to the 19th century with the creation of forerunners of youth work. The first act regarding youth work was accepted in 1936 (Youth Organization Act). By today, youth work is defined by law: "Youth work is the creation of conditions to promote the diverse development of young persons, which enable them to be active outside their families, formal education and work, on the basis of their free will." See Chapter 10.1.

In Estonia, the youth sector is considered to encompass both youth work and youth policy, tightly connected to each other. According to the Local Government Organization Act, local governments have a key role in organizing youth work. Most of the financing comes from the budget and own income of local municipalities. See Chapter 10.2.

The main top-level policies and regulations on youth work are:

The quality of youth work is assessed diversely depending on the operational/funding mechanism, project, or programme. For example, an occupational standard of youth workers has been adopted (first version since 2016), also a quality assessment model for local municipalities exists and Estonia has also participated in an international project " Developing and Communicating the Impact of Youth Work in Europe", which aimed to identify the impact of open youth work in the UK (England), Finland, Estonian, Italy, and France. One of the recent additions for data informed policy making include a youth specific data tool called Noorteseire Juhtimislaud and minuomavalitsus.ee, a web-based systematised overview of the state of local governments' services, incl. services in youth sector. In 2016 Estonia adopted a concept of smart youth work, see Chapter 10.4.

Youth work as a professional area is not defined in the Youth Work Act, however it is defined in Youth Sector Development Plan 2021-2035 (Noortevaldkonna arengukava 2021-2035) (and before that in previous youth field strategies on national level). The competences and ethical principles of youth work are defined in Occupational standards of youth workers (on different qualifications levels), amended in 2017. Youth work can be studied in three academic institutions in Estonia, Tallinn University, Tartu University Narva College and Tartu University Viljandi Culture Academy, on different levels - higher applied sciences degree, bachelor's degree, master's degree. Youth work can be realised either as work on paid position or as volunteer commitments. Read more about youth workers, their training and study possibilities, and mobility, from Chapter 10.5.

Information regarding youth work, also youth information is disseminated by a wide range of partners involved in the youth sector, incl. youth organisations, open youth centres etc. Youth information provides young people information regarding different spheres of their lives, supports their independency, increases their knowledge of different opportunities and choices to organize their life better, and increases the meaningful participation in the society. Youth information in Estonia is targeted to young people aged 7-26 and is based on the needs and interests of young people. The key initiatives in this respect are the national youth information portal teeviit.ee (available in Estonian and Russian languages), the National Youth Work Week (held annually in the end of November) and International Youth Day (celebrated annually on 11th of August). Read more about national youth information and respective key initiatives from Chapter 10.7.

Regarding the coordination of youth sector on national level, since 01.08.2020 the Education and Youth Boardis responsible for that in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Research, Youth and Talent Department. The latter has been responsible for developing the national youth strategy in co-creation with wide range of partners and stakeholders at national level. The Youth Sector Development Plan 2021-2035 ( Noortevaldkonna arengukava 2021-2035) was adopted 12.08.2021.

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Youth work in Estonia has a history of more than 100 years, going back to the 19th century with the creation of forerunners of youth work. The first act regarding youth work was accepted in 1936 (Youth Organization Act).

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Context studyvisit: Strategic Cooperation on Education and Training (EAT SNAC) 

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Context studyvisit: Strategic Cooperation on Education and Training (EAT SNAC) 

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The cooperation project will pay particular attention to the core elements that would benefit from peer support and joint development activities to realise strategic cooperation at national and international levels for better synergies and impact in the future.

members of the steering group

Upcoming activities planned in the project: Past events:

Seminar on how to integrate European dimensions practically to education & training of youth workers | 7-20 October 2023 | Italy

Steering Group meeting | Jan 2024 | Ireland

Closing Conference | 4-8 November 2024 | Latvia

Involving the National Agencies for Erasmus+ and Eurpean Solidarity Corps of:

Online Meeting focusing on the national strategies of partners | 10 November 2022

Residential steering group meeting topics: Expert Group | 8-10 February 2023 | Belgium-Flanders

Inclusive youth work Study Visit | March 2023 | Ireland

Expert group meeting on accreditation and certification | 3-5 May 2023 | Estonia

Kick-Off Seminar on curricula in youth work education | 6-9 June 2023 | Germany

Coordinated by JUGEND für Europa and SALTO Training & Cooperation Resource Centre. Strong synergies will be made with the implementation of the European Training Strategy to avoid redundancies and open cooperation areas, where relevant.

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Strategic Cooperation on Education and Training (EAT SNAC)

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The Strategic Cooperation between National Agencies on Education and Training of Youth Workers (EaT SNAC) is aiming to reach a systemic impact on education & training through the recognition of competences and learning processes as a thematic context.

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Offering young people the opportunity to join learning mobility projects across Europe require certain competences from those working with and for young people. But which specific competences are really needed to support quality development of such European learning mobility activities for youth workers and for young people - and how can such competence models embedded in measures designed to train youth workers?

To answer these questions, experienced actors in charge of developing and implementing training strategies and training courses for youth workers are brought together at an expert seminar, 18-21 April 2016 | Vienna, Austria. This seminar aims at introducing the new ETS Competence Model for Youth Workers to Work Internationally and to reflect on applying competence models in non-formal training strategies or formal curricula to train youth workers. Participants are invited to reflect on the first version of the ETS Competence Model for Youth Workers to Work Internationally, drafted by (SALTO T&C RC) and Gisele Evrard-Markovic (freelance trainer).

The Competence Model for Youth Workers to Work Internationally has been further explored during a LABORATORY (5-6 February 2018) that elaborated guidelines for the implementation of the Model and the communication and support around it. These guidelines include a draft concept for a series of pilot courses that should lead to a final modular training offer for youth workers using the Model.

The first residential pilot course - YOCOMO on the competence-based approach - took place on 4-10 June 2018 in Rome, Italy.The team of trainers for this first pilot course was Salvi Greco and Snežana Bačlija Knoch. The report is available here.

Second pilot course - YOCOMO on the trigger for attitudes and behaviours - took place in Germany on 7-11 May 2019. The team of trainers for this first pilot course was Salvi Greco, Snežana Bačlija Knoch, and Monika Kezaite-Jakniuniene.

The next edition of YOCOMO on the trigger for attitudes and behaviours will take place in Königswinter, Germany 4-10 May 2020 with the same team.

YOCOMO on the systemic approch to comepetence development will take place in Latvia on 2-8 March 2020. The team of trainers consists of Snežana Bačlija Knoch, Darko Markovic and Natasha Gudakovska.

Parallel to the residential courses, an online environment will also be developed throughtout 2020, with a focus on developing a [self]assessment tool and a series of e-learning courses.

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ETS Competence Model for Youth Workers to Work Internationally

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To succesfully network and cooperate on an international level and to support young people in learning mobility projects, certain competences are required from youth workers. One objective of the European Training Strategy in the Field of Youth is therefore to develop a competence model for youth workers to support these tasks.

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Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS), compiled by Shanghai Ranking Consultancy, confirms that the field of educational sciences at Tallinn University is internationally distinguished. The ranking places Tallinn University's educational sciences...

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Tallinna Ülikool - plaan A neile, kes tahavad elada targalt.

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Tallinna Ülikool (lühend TLÜ) on targa eluviisi eestvedaja. Meie siht on kujundada teadmistepõhist elukorraldust, kaalutletud otsustamist, ühiskonna ja riigi avatud arendamist.

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Organiseer je een animator-, hoofdanimator- of instructeurstraject? Dan moet je aan deze competenties werken met je deelnemers.

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🟰 Welke gelijkenissen zie je met onze praktijk/manier van werken?

🔀 Welke verschillen merkte je op met onze praktijk/manier van werken?

⁉️ Welke vraag heb je nog? Wat wil je/moeten we zeker meenemen naar Vlaande

ren?

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https://maps.app.goo.gl/d4BSMnRaBzDu7pYd9?g_st=ac

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Setting the scene: 'Empowering young people'

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Setting the scene: 'Empowering young people'

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Estonia

young republic (since 1991)

1,36 mln inhabitants

decreasing population

1/3 russian speaking

55% forests

99% public services available online 24/7

high trust in government

80% of the 7-19 year olds participate in hobby schools

youth = 7 tot 26y - very low numbers 21-26y

What we stand for: ....

participation: youth council = enshrined in law but low participation of youngsters

quality assessment model on a local level

local municipality is responsible for local youth policy

YW: 281 open youth centres, youth camps, working camps, youth associations (very centralised idea on YW)

Youth data: mostly statistics but very limited focused on qualitative material

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connected with Erasmus+ project

North Macedonia, Ireland, Australia, Croatia

focus on education programs for youth workers

5 focus fields: youth work is under 'education'

YW 3 yrs applied HE

YW management 2 yrs MA

program 180ects & 120ect (see ppt)

Alumni 66 MA since 2017 358 BA since 2013

since 1992 vocational training of YW'ers

based on occupational standards

research on career in YW:

education leads to recognition

education facilitates the career

lecturers 'modelling' the profile of YW'ers

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introduction by Edgar Schlummer and Eilika Mäatas

400 members

all over Estonia

YW as occupation or as volunteer youth work

strategic plan focussed on professionalisation of YW, creating a learning community, developing youth policy

ENK is

occupational community

profesional learning community

representation organisation

youth work related information

occupational standard

success story

self-assessment tool

evidence of competence

quality assurance and security

YW'er career path

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introduction by Kadi Laaneots

developing youth work through supporting youth workers

see ppt

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Harno -  supporting the professional development of youth workers in Estonia

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Harno -  supporting the professional development of youth workers in Estonia

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introduction by Reet Kost

see ppt

professional development based on

national youth sectro development plan (NAK)

National Q framework

European training strategy (cfr ETS competence model)

key strenghts of Estonia's youth worker development

strong CoP and cooperation with umbrella org

flexibility to respond quickly to the needs

accredited higher institutions supporting youth worker mobility

ability to adress gaps in youth field and municipal youth services

legal basis (youth work act+) and Q framework

funding possibilities

key challenges

lack of national youth workers registry an qualification requirements (what about these 10000 yw'ers)

unstable funding, makin glong-term planning difficult

fragmentation of sub-fields

need for stronger international integration

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introducation by Piret, Piret and Li

formal education of YW in E

first level higher education (BA)

3y YW (Tallinn University

3y YW (University of Tartu)

4y comunicaty and youth education (university of Tartu)

second level (MA)

2y community development and social well being (University of Tallinn)

2y youth work management (Tallinn University)

part of faculty of social sciences but with links to faculty of sciences

our objectives

most hands on adn up to date cultural education in E

highest level of heritage studies in E

influential regional presence

most of our students live in rural areas

focus: community and youth education

general objectives:

to create the conditions for students to acquire the basic professional knowledge and skills necessary to work as a youth worker, hobby leader, drama and experience pedagogue and activity supervisor

to develop a readiness for lifelong professional development and study at master's level

learning outcomes

see pic

technical framework

see ppt

curricula

see ppt

students: diverse group of students (19 up to 40+), mostly female

lots of group work

admission criteria:

motivation to become a youth worker (WHY)

readiness to be in group work

youth work is

organised in youth centers

starting from interests and talents of young people

often projectbased

youth education

non-formal education programs

defined by adults

programs

lead by professionals who consider themselves as 'teachers'

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Intro: Youth work Education and training (E&T) in Estonia - concept, curricula and practice of the E & T programs, connections to the ETS?  

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Intro: Youth work Education and training (E&T) in Estonia - concept, curricula and practice of the E & T programs, connections to the ETS?  

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Reet Kost - Harno (Education & Youth Board)/National Agency of E+ & ESC program

Eilika Mätas & Edgar Shlümmer - ENK (Estonian Association of Youth Workers)  -

Kadi Laaneots - EANK (Estonian Association of Open Youth Centers)

Ilona- Evelyn Rannala - TLÜ (Tallinn University, Youth Work Management MA program) + Kristi

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Learning outcomes of Viljandi Culture Academy

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Learning outcomes of Viljandi Culture Academy

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career path Ege Enok

board member of AENK

member of the council of the curricula

working in one of the more than 300 youthcentres in E

broken path

after 9y in the job back to the university

why we are doing this

to better understand my job

to develop myself as a professional

i try to convince my new colleagues to go for a study at the university

it's quite common that youth workers work halftime and study

project: 'the change starts with me'

Youth center of the year 2024

regional, national and international cooperation

mentor of the municipal youth council

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In Vlaanderen is er vandaag de dag al een groot aanbod aan thematische opleidingen en vormingen.

Er kan werk gemaakt worden van jeugdwerkers ondersteunen in hen ontwikkelen van hun professioneel handelen en professionele identiteit.

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Artikel over waarde en erkenning van jeugdwerk 

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Artikel over waarde en erkenning van jeugdwerk 

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https://www.jint.be/verhalen/conference-recognition-value-youth-work

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Liis Särg

activities see ppt

network established in 2020

real achievements in 5y

but limited capacity

budget of €3000 / year

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https://www.viaexperientia.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Role-of-experiential-learning-trainer-_ViaEx.pdf

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"you have the becoming but alsof the belonging"

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Youth worker vocational standard_level 5

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Youth worker vocational standard level 6 pdf

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Als we over onze eigen professionele ID niet kunnen praten en kunnen uitleggen wat het is om jeugdwerker te zijn, dan kunnen we onze omgeving en de samenleving ook niet sensibiliseren en "leren" wat jeugdwerk is.

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Youth worker vocational standard level 7

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Zouden we geen cross the line kunnen organiseren voor jeugdwerkers?