Training & the Youth-Partnership

Youth-Training: first focus of the Partnership

The co-operation between the European Commission and the Council of Europe in the context of the Youth-Partnership started in 1998 with a specific focus on training of youth workers and of youth leaders.

The initial aim of the Partnership, which was to produce added-value to the work of the two partner institutions regarding training offers and training materials, still remains valid today. 

Major emphasis on quality

One of the aims of the Council of Europe and of the European Union in the youth sector is the promotion of European Citizenship and of international co-operation between young people, youth workers/leaders and youth structures in Europe.

This aim is primarily pursued through the programme of the Directorate of Youth and Sport of the Council of Europe and the Youth in Action Programme (2007 to 2013) of the European Union.

A strong emphasis is put on the quality and content of the projects which are organised or supported within these programmes. Training all actors involved in the development, implementation and evaluation of European youth projects is crucial to secure the level of quality desired.

Towards a long-term training strategy in the youth field

The Youth-Partnership therefore set out a long-term training strategy in the youth field, which aims at achieving:

• more coherence in training approaches and activities;
• more continuity, a long-term strategy and a systematic approach in training trainers;
• quality standards for European level youth worker training;
• minimum standards for qualifications and competencies of trainers;
• assessment and recognition of the qualifications and competencies of trainers;
• ongoing monitoring and evaluation of training activities.

Priorities of the Partnership training activities

The co-operation between the two institutions covers a wide spectrum of training activities: the development and implementation of training concepts and innovative courses, the development of training materials, of a training magazine and of tools for further networking, etc.

The Partnership training activities currently focus on two main priority areas:

• European Citizenship
• Training for Trainers