Future thinking by Domagoj Morić

What are the issues and how can we can/should respond to in the current programme period (2024-2027)?

domagoj_moric — 2023-10-17 07:36:42 UTC

What are the issues that we need to take into account and what are possible responses in the future Programmes (2028-2034)?

domagoj_moric — 2023-10-17 07:44:48 UTC

High relevance

sabrina_apitz — 2023-10-17 08:42:38 UTC

Democracy is declining
Misinformation
Populist Power

Mental health
Well-Being

Labour Skills changing

Moderate relevance

sabrina_apitz — 2023-10-17 08:42:46 UTC

Low relevance

sabrina_apitz — 2023-10-17 08:42:53 UTC

Non-human rights = animal rights

2.- Missing

sabrina_apitz — 2023-10-17 08:51:14 UTC

Increasing Inequality in society

High relevance

2023-10-17 09:05:41 UTC

Declining democracy
Populist parties gaining power
Polarised atmosphere
Civic engagement more common

Increasing mental health problems
Broadening concept of well-being

Climate heating up
Increase in extreme weather events

4.- General Reflections on the process

2023-10-17 09:09:33 UTC

Really complicated to fix priorities.
There is not a single youth. Priorities change regarding your needs.
Priorities can change quickly.
Challenge: to keep in mind a comprehensive approach.
There is not an easy answer to those complex threats.

Reflection on declining democracy:

2023-10-17 09:12:14 UTC

Give young people (e.g. those that have participated in a project / returning from a mobility) concrete tools at hand to spread European values / democracy / to stand their ground against anti-democratic tendencies in their towns / regions / countries of origin.

Three most relevant

debonomarvic — 2023-10-17 09:19:37 UTC

1. Merging of The concept of well-being is broadening and Mental Health Problems are increasing to one - SOCIAL WELL BEING. This because we want to sensitize about the importance of general well-being to support the inclusion of individuals among which those who face mental health.

2. A stronger understanding of intrinsic value of nature - because this would lead to other issues like climate change and because our programme highlights the educational role.

3. Rapid and direct civic engagement is becoming more common - because the programme can enable new forms of participation

Democracy continues to decline

2023-10-17 09:19:42 UTC

This encompasses several topics - rise of populist parties, indifference of people towards topics, broadening the divide between people and parties, hate speech etc.

Reflection on democracy is declining + new technology

sabrina_apitz — 2023-10-17 09:19:44 UTC

- Be the programme that are bringing people together physically
- Continue the participation projects, solidarity projects
- continue community building
- reflect more on alternative engagement (e.g. digital engagement etc.)
- design of the programmes should take the digital trends into consideration
- support professionals working with young people to be up to date

Climate heating up

2023-10-17 09:20:13 UTC

we basically dont want to burn alive...

1.Rapid and direct Civic engagement Is becoming more common

2023-10-17 09:20:41 UTC

2. The concept of wellbeing Is broadening
3. The circular economy Is becoming imperative

Well-being

2023-10-17 09:20:56 UTC

It is crucially important to work on well being and mental health

Reflection: Declining Democracy

2023-10-17 09:22:29 UTC

Lower entrance barrier for projects
Crucial role of Youth Workers

Reflection: Migration & Democracy

2023-10-17 09:29:26 UTC

Increase and simplify opportunities of exchange with the world outside EU (e.g. countries where migration starts); thereby contribute to mututal understanding, but also appreciation of the situations in third countries.

AI powered changes

2023-10-17 09:30:25 UTC

These are be incredibly important and the programmes need to adress it - both in topic and in form. E.g. the NAs using the artificial intelligence tools in their work

High relevance (formulated in a positive way)

koen_lambert — 2023-10-17 09:30:52 UTC

Young people's (and those who work with them) understanding of and commitment to Europe and common values

Young people's (and those who work with them) resilience and ability to participate in a more fragile world.

1. The programmes should respond with appropriate financial opportunities.

2023-10-17 09:31:27 UTC

2. Young people wellbeing should be in the centre not only as answer to mental health problems but as Need to be able to live in a democratic society.
3. Simplex format of activities.
stabile IT systems.
4. Empowering the Role of youth work as crucial agens of change.

High relevance

2023-10-17 09:31:50 UTC

1. Technology changing the way we do things.
2. Geopolitics and democracy decreasing.
3. Climate
4.Well being

There are topics that the programme is more restricted on what it can actually do and other that it can affect much more

Well being - being young

2023-10-17 09:35:41 UTC

Future 2024-2035

#BeingYoung.BeFuture.BeEurope

A broad approach so including finding your place in society, have fun, being able to dream, make mistakes, cultural , outreach, safety, physical activities, mental health, social network, confidence building, etc.

Meet people in real life as well as in a digital world.

Youth work should be at the centre of this.

Inclusion-Sustainability-Digital

2023-10-17 09:39:47 UTC

Future 2028-2034
These are 3 underlying principles for the future programme that should be explicit.

Peace Building and Reconciliation

cmartin522 — 2023-10-17 09:40:02 UTC

Future 2028-2034
This supports the overarching objective of Democracy, Participation and Solidarity
To meet the current and anticipated challenges
Russia after War
Ukraine after War
Palestine etc etc
To provide Youth Workers with peace building/ conflict resolution skills to support future work with young people to enhance cultural understanding, acceptance, stable societies based on evidence informed research and practice

Democracy, Participation, Solidarity

cmartin522 — 2023-10-17 09:44:17 UTC

Future 2028-2034
Democracy Participation and Solidarity
are the key objectives of the Youth Chapter and the Solidarity Corps
To identify new ways for young people to engage and participate
To support civil society political participation and advocacy

What are the insights that you take from the inputs from the political level, European Youth Forum and Spanish youth council?

domagoj_moric — 2023-10-17 10:28:45 UTC

Raise of Populism + decline of democracy

sabrina_apitz — 2023-10-17 11:25:06 UTC

- Youngsters are not very interested in these topics
- but we need to put these topics as priorities

Awareness of existing possibilities at European and national level needs to be enhanced

2023-10-17 11:27:50 UTC

The current programmes already offer ie. inclusion support and green expensive travel where needed. More awareness, information
capacity building of organisations and umbrella's, NYCs is needed. NYCs are invited to even more take up the offer of NAs on information and trainings on the programmes. Some NAs can also reach out more to NYCs and there members organisations.
It would be good for NYCs to reach out to NAs when writing proposal on the programma's to fact check them.

EYS and programmes need to be aligned

2023-10-17 11:30:33 UTC

Policy first, programmes as a tool

Reflection after input from the political level, EYF and Spanish Youth Council

debonomarvic — 2023-10-17 11:30:44 UTC

In ESC - lowering the age to 13 yrs in solidarity projects (in line with youth exchanges)

It is noted that recommendations by young people are already being addressed like for example the lump sum flexibility, and funding adjustments

Accessibility of the programmes

sabrina_apitz — 2023-10-17 11:31:41 UTC

increasing the funds for:
- more accessibility
- more promotion
Examples: EuroPeers + youth boards as participation + promotion
youngsters to support to translate in simpler language
On the other: they also need to understand the contract
Possibility: Change the language, make videos

2023-10-17 11:33:05 UTC

awarness of the different EU Programmes should be raised to the Member States

What do we take ?

koen_lambert — 2023-10-17 11:34:28 UTC

Confirmation of thematic options (European values and active participation)

Stronger definitions for inclusion target groups is not wanted. Keep the description of "barriers" as in the current I&D strategy.

Keep the programmes open for all types of groups and organisations. Define better the desired impact, instead of defining organisations.

ESC should be part of the youth field, linked with youth work, supporting active citizenship. "Youth work ethics" are important in implementing ESC.

Solidarity Projects : lowering age for 16 years is fine in a national projects and in teams.

Improving current programmes

2023-10-17 11:34:30 UTC

Be more risk-friendly in order not to discourage small organisations / attract project factories:
- rather award smaller grants
- be more open to risks within smaller projects, thereby reducing risks for NAs of losing focus on relevance / quality, and reducing damage if huge project projects fail
- simplify procedures, forms, criteria, focus on the essence
- enable applications via videos done by real people representing the applicant

What insights do we take

2023-10-17 11:35:10 UTC

- Stronger collaboration with national Youth boards, as members of an advisory board

- Centralized Solidarity Projects
- More accessibility for youth membership organizations
- Visa for the status of European volunteers
_ Volunteering more important in the future, cause people will want to work less and offer more. It is associated though to national migration laws. Rights of volunteers should be clearer.
- Daily rates should be increased to be more comparable to other sectors like VET, SCH or ADU. Inflation and more specifically inflation in transport, accommodation and food should be considered.

Is the direct involvement of young people in the NA work possibile?

2023-10-17 11:35:39 UTC

We shared reflextions.

koen_lambert — 2023-10-17 11:36:43 UTC

Strengthen involvement of young people in governance and decision making of programmes

What are the insights that you take from the RAY results for your reflections?

domagoj_moric — 2023-10-17 13:39:31 UTC

What are your key conclusions of the day for the future of the youth programes: 1) for the current programme period (2024-2027); 2) for the future Programmes (2028-2034)?

domagoj_moric — 2023-10-17 13:40:31 UTC

Conclusions

sabrina_apitz — 2023-10-17 14:30:18 UTC

More money for youth = more money for European integration

RAY data

sabrina_apitz — 2023-10-17 14:31:02 UTC

We can rediscover the story with this data.

Would be nice to compare for example the priority inclusion with E&T.

We need to clarity the priority "Digitalisation". What is the objectives behind?
Fast moving topic just looking at 2016-2023 (in 2016 nobody was talking about it).

Quick feedback of data is very important - data speaks.

3% of TCA/NET budget is spent on research.

Question by COM: Who is deciding when you are doing your work?

RAY in 2008 NA initiative but supported by the COM, now 35 agencies (34 countries), research is transnationally better
fluctuated relation to the COM, sometimes close, sometimes less
the network principally decides what research is needed when
some the COM pushed for (like the quality development for youth workers)

VET 8 NAs (DE BiBB is managing it) are also starting.

We need to make a collective case for more budget, there is a gap, is there a way to bring things together, more on a political perspectives:
We need a narrative like: "More budget for youth, more European integration."

COM: Very tight organisation, very few people, we never get more, our teams are more and more squeezed, how can we more strategically use all the resources, like this data.

DG Meeting in Belgium is the next step.

Organisation contracted by the COM - how is that connected or not?
RAY:
- This time we sit in the steering group of the ESC
- we are not in the steering group of Erasmus + this time

COM: COM needs to discover good practices in the different bubbles, that could inspire others (examples: Inclusion strategy, SALTOs, transnational research approaches, ...)

RAY: When we started with 8 NAs and Austria took the lead. Shared operational budget, German, Czech, ...
Currently the Finnish NA takes the lead.

COM: There should be a similar thing for E&T.

COM: Youth is always less visible when we go to higher level.
youth remains quite close, it needs to be more open and visible.

RAY:
Transnational research team: 5 people.
every NA has a research partner for their research.

Potential improvements in the current period

2023-10-17 14:43:54 UTC

How to make policy dimension more accessible:
Check all formulations of strategies / calls / objectives of the programme -> can they be written in a more understandable way? Using simple, clear messages easily understandable for all target groups - both young people and youth workers. Avoid creating a bubble where only adepts / specialists can contribute

Current programme:

2023-10-17 14:45:52 UTC

1. Emphatizing the multiplayer effect of ambassadors- Friends experiences
2. Need to clarify the digital priority and ita effects in E+ mobility opportunity
3. Valorizing the positive effects of International mobility despite Crisis and pandemic

2024-2027

2023-10-17 14:45:56 UTC

recognition that project time is not someting extra but also part of regular youth work taken place at a different location

support organisation in developing strategies on embedding international youth work cooperation in their youth work plans

explore possibility to have campaigning as part of the participation projects

Conclusions

sabrina_apitz — 2023-10-17 14:48:14 UTC

We need resources for permanent staff for support persons (secretariat, communication) for the continuation of our work of the network.
To take discussions further.
Financed from operational budget: management budget.

In E&T one person is summarising meetings.

We are putting our forces together.

Future programmes

2023-10-17 14:52:49 UTC

1. Limiting the policy aspects within the activities of the programmes
2. Increasing the value of competence development, Active participation and sense of belonging ti a "community" Need not as individuale scope but ad collective need

Reduce complexity of formats in E+

2023-10-17 14:53:49 UTC

e.g.
-Reduce the number of format and increase flexibility within the formats
-Strengthen the role of accreditation, in the mid-term make standard format for mobilities
-Orient the format of participation projects more towards solidarity projects (budget structure, less complex application foms, erase redundant questions)

Increasing numbers of applications

sabrina_apitz — 2023-10-17 14:58:17 UTC

Spain: 40% more application in E+ Youth + ESC then in previous (2023 to 2022)

Czech: 60% more

Possible to see on dashboard: has first the right number compared to PMM

2028-2034

2023-10-17 15:05:19 UTC

drop the age to 16 in the ESC esp. for solidarity projects and in some cases also for volunteering

host country can decide on the rates/unit costs

lump sum funding for participation projects

solidarity projects are a step up into the programmes

exploring micro grants for the new programmes

proportionality in administrative burden in all aspects from registration of organisations, applications, reporting, contracts, etc.

keep the ring fenced budget for the Youth chapter in Erasmus+

Digitalisation as a priority in the new cycle of E+ and ESC

2023-10-17 15:08:17 UTC

Do we need digitalisation as a priority in the new cycle of programmes? What are the virtual learning activities? How are we going to support them (are we going?)?

More concrete

koen_lambert — 2023-10-17 15:09:22 UTC

The more intentional formats are, the more they realize their ambitions. The most simple formats (e.g. sol projects) are the most successful.

Ownership is crucial. Combine this with the objectives of the programmes.

Reorientate budget to a bigger number of smaller projects, rather than a small number of big projects.

Include the process of "building the project" into the grant. Allow for "failure".

KA2 projects should be based on the same values and principles as other formats, with a clear "message" (e.g. solidarity projects)

Formats should have building blocks that are wide enough to be used in different situations. With a "message" related to the programme values and that can be adapted over time.

ESC to integrate E+ Y

sabrina_apitz — 2023-10-17 15:09:34 UTC

COM: It is interesting for us.

Advantages:
- you can move budget.
- capacity building opportunities in one programme (Gerhards presentation)

Disadvantages:
- dispute regarding management fees when you have one NA

ESC
- more young people are directly reached with the ESC

Conclusions from the day

2023-10-17 15:10:51 UTC

1. Expand possibilities for Volunteering (younger ages, partner countries, online volunteering, intergenerational volunteering)
Invest on the human factor as a response to AI. Invest for example on emotional intelligence and other skills that cannot be substituted by AI.
2. Digitalisation is a hard to grasp priority, cause people mean totally different things with this term (going paperless or use of social media to promote important issues or gaming ...). Needs to discussed if this should be a priority. It could be a method to do youth work.
3. Recruit new ambassadors. Community building of former participants (alumni) and manage their network, include them in the NAs communication plans
4. Accessibility to programme: other ways to access the programme especially for solidarity projects. Pilot projects
5. Focus on participation, engagement and democracy
6. More surveys on how volunteering can contribute to future job opportunities

4.

Contracts

2023-10-17 15:11:51 UTC

Network could offer to make an alternative contract proposal for a format such as Solidarity Projects, focussing on key issues, containing a calculated (financial) risk, but would lower the threshold / accessibility for grassroot orgs considerably.
be a possbility to re-instate a certainbalance between administrative workload and output / results.