The Council of Europe Project "Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase III" in co-operation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, the All-Ukrainian Youth Centre is starting to map the educational practices of higher education institutions in Ukraine in the field of youth work based on Council of Europe approaches, educational resources and standards.

The purpose of the study is to create a collection of educational practices of higher education institutions of Ukraine "Recognition of Youth Work" based on the analysis of the state of formal education in the field of youth work and the determination of directions for the implementation of standards by the Council of Europe in the field of youth work in the content of educational and training programs.

Objectives of the study:

• To characterise the provision of training of youth workers in higher education institutions of Ukraine through the analysis of educational programmes, curricula (compulsory and/or elective disciplines), advanced training courses at higher education institutions, internship programmes, experience).
• To conduct a comparative analysis of the existing experience of formal education in the field of youth work and the professional standard "Youth Worker", as well as the standards of youth work of the Council of Europe.
• Identify achievements, obstacles, difficulties, needs and possible areas of support by the Project for the formal education system in the field of youth work.
• To prepare a collection of educational practices of higher education institutions of Ukraine in the field of youth work, based on the approaches, educational resources and standards of the Council of Europe.

The study includes desk review, online survey, content analysis of educational and training programmes, in-depth interviews, preparation for publication of a collection of educational practices of higher education institutions of Ukraine in the field of youth work, based on approaches, educational resources and standards of the Council of Europe.

 In order to take part in the survey, please follow the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScylrkRhT-EKUH1mRQTlaEkYSAdHy4UmpekJvY3amzJ2wWowQ/viewform

Project "Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase III" is carried out within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine 2023-2026 and is based on the results and experience of the Youth for Democracy in Ukraine projects in 2020-2022.  The project will expand the systematic impact by strengthening youth participation policies and strengthening youth work during the war and in the post-war context, taking into account the specific needs of young people.

A brief overview of the history of recognition of youth work in Ukraine in 2021-2023

2021

In 2021, the Council of Europe Project "Youth for Democracy in Ukraine" translated into Ukrainian the Guide to the Recommendation CM/Rec(2017)4 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to member states on youth work "Youth work in the spotlight", which can be downloaded here: https://rm.coe.int/ukr-youth-work-in-the-spotlight/1680a4bd04

2022

In 2022, the Council of Europe project "Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase II", in co-operation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and the working group, in particular:

•  conducted two stages of research as part of the development of the occupational standard "Youth Specialist (Youth Worker)";
• translated into Ukrainian the relevant professional standards of other countries: "Youth Work in England: Policy, Practice and National Occupational Standards", "Competence System for Youth Work (Austria)", "Occupational Standard. Social Work on the Street and Mobile Work with Youth (Germany), Professional Principles of Social Work on the Street with Adolescents and (Young) Adults Who Use Psychoactive Substances (Germany)";
• organised a focus group discussion of the participants of the four-month programme "Trauma-Informed Youth Work", who developed proposals for the list of competencies to the occupational standard "Youth Worker" and discussed the adaptation of the state programme "Youth Worker" based on the experience gained in the programme (August-November 2022). To the final text of the occupational standard for the competence "Ability to identify one's own needs" on improving the professional level and needs of persons involved in youth work" (D1.) included the following knowledge: Basic knowledge in the field of mental health, Personnel, organisational and informational opportunities to receive special assistance to oneself and others (professional burnout, stress, knowledge of the traumatic event, compassion fatigue), the ability to determine the need for special assistance to oneself and others (professional burnout, stress, knowledge of the traumatic event, compassion fatigue), use information about available personnel, organisational and information opportunities to receive special assistance.

The work of the working group on the development of a draft occupational standard for the profession "Youth Specialist (Youth Worker)" began on 2 February 2022, under the chairmanship of Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Maryna Popatenko. The development of a draft occupational standard for the profession "Youth Specialist (Youth Worker)" has become a new strategic direction in the development of the "Youth Worker" program and a tool for systematising skills and abilities (creating job descriptions); training of young specialists; and professional development and professional development.

"A youth worker is any person who works with young people and is a guide for a young person; who works with young people more individually (on an individual level) and contributes to the development of the young person according to their needs. The main function, accordingly, is to help, guide, a young person in the directions in which he or she wants to find themself; assistance in identifying these areas"  (quote from an in-depth interview with a study conducted by the Council of Europe project "Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase II").

The results of the second stage of the study in August-September 2022 are presented in the report and compared to the results of the study in February-March 2022. The report is available at the link.

On 31 January 2022, the Council of Europe Project "Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase III" took part in a meeting of the working group on the development of the professional standard "Youth Specialist (Youth Worker)", in particular to finalise and agree on the text of the professional standard.

The project proposed to include in the professional standard the competence "Ability to involve young people in the planning, implementation and evaluation of activities aimed at young people using participatory approaches" (B6.) and knowledge of the mechanisms, forms and tools of young people's participation in decision-making and activities related to them; models of co-operation to represent the interests of young people in decision-making and activities that affect them.

2023

In accordance with paragraphs 15, 16 of the Procedure for the development, implementation and revision of occupational standards, approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated 31.05.2017 No. 373 (as amended by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated 11.10.2021 No. 1063) by the working group in partnership with the USAID DOBRE Program, the project Council of Europe "Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase II", the United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine has prepared a draft professional standard. Public Public discussion lasted until January 27, 2023.

March 22, 2023 by the National Qualifications Agency approved the occupational standard for the profession of "Youth Specialist (Youth Worker)" and entered into the Register on 29 March 2023.

The occupational standard was developed by a working group under the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine in partnership with the USAID DOBRE Program,Council of Europe project "Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase II", United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine.

• You can get acquainted with the content of the occupational standard in the Ukrainian language in the Register of Professional Standards at the link - https://register.nqa.gov.ua/profstandarts?profession_id=377

An occupational standard is a document that embodies a modern approach to the development of a profession in the youth sphere, which contains requirements for the professional competencies of a specialist, requirements for education, qualifications and professional development.

Recognition of a new profession is the key to the development of the youth sphere of the state and the strengthening of youth work by competent specialists.

On 20 September 2023, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine together with the All-Ukrainian Youth Center in partnership with the USAID DOBRE Programme held a round table "Professionalisation of Youth Work and the System of Professional Training of Youth Workers". During the event, proposals and recommendations for the introduction of a new educational specialty in youth work, a model of professional training of youth workers, and the current practice of implementing relevant educational programs aimed at acquiring competencies specific to the profession defined by the occupational standard "Youth Specialist (Youth Worker)" were discussed.

Representatives of higher education institutions, central executive bodies, international partners, civil society organisations, and professional associations took part in the event.

The Council of Europe Project "Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase III" presented:

• a new approved model general short-term professional development program  "Youth Policy Based on Participatory Approaches" (September 18, 2023);
• programme and specialised training  "Trauma-Informed Youth Work" (2022-2023);
• study visits to youth centres with the Council of Europe Quality Label in Ireland and Finland, in particular for the study of outreach and detached youth work (October 2023);
• the beginning of mapping educational programmems in the field of youth work and the needs of higher education institutions in the introduction and implementation of such programes.