Principles of non formal education
It also became evident that many issues addressed are not only valid for Europeanlevel training in the youth field 1, but also for non-formal education and youth training at national, regional and local levels as well as for youth work as socio-pedagogic sector and for non-formal education in general. Only then it would be possible to address the issue of the respective trainers competences which are necessary to meet these quality standards. When starting to work on this study, it became evident to the authors that they first needed to address a number of other issues which determine in some way these trainers competences: youth work in a European context and, subsequently, the situation and needs of those who should be trained youth workers and youth leaders approaches, principles and methodologies of non-formal education, in particular in the youth field and in a European context the understanding and concepts of quality in education and, in particular, quality standards for non-formal education in the youth field. Further information on the meeting, planned initiatives and the references used in this text can be found here: Objectives, scope and structure of the study The original objective for this study was to define the competences required for European-level training in the youth field, which then would serve as a basis for respective European-level training courses for trainers.
Nevertheless this study is still intended to be further discussed so that it may be used as a widely supported consensual reference document for the training of trainers in the future. Whenever considered to be appropriate, these comments have been taken into consideration in this revised version. During a first consultation round with different actors in spring 2008 we got some feedback to the initial draft document. One of the first tangible results of the Budapest meeting is this study on quality of non-formal education and training in the youth field and on a competence profile for those having educational responsibility, in particular for trainers.
#PRINCIPLES OF NON FORMAL EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL#
1 Quality in non-formal education and training in the field of European youth work Helmut Fennes and Hendrik Otten September 2008Ģ This study is supported by The opinions expressed in this work are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the Council of Europe or the European Commission Helmut Fennes and Hendrik Otten 2ģ Table of contents Introduction.4 Objectives, scope and structure of the study.4 Background and rationale.6 Youth work in a European context.8 Non-formal education and learning in the youth field.9 Quality in non-formal education and training in the youth field Pedagogic approaches and principles in youth worker training Principles for training in the youth field Relationship between trainers and learners Pedagogic approach and methodology Working in teams Quality in European non-formal education and training Quality in education Quality criteria and standards for non-formal education and training Competence profile for trainers in the field of European youth work Context European youth work as a profession Definition of competence and interpretation of the key competences for lifelong learning Dimensions of a professional competence profile Intercultural orientation and ability of intercultural discourse New approach to intercultural learning Conclusions Annex A Quality in Education School Education Vocational Education and Training (VET) Higher Education Adult Education and Continuing (Vocational) Education and Training Annex B Quality criteria and standards for non-formal education and training Bibliography Helmut Fennes and Hendrik Otten 3Ĥ Introduction The Partnership Programme of the European Commission and the Council of Europe and the SALTO Training and Co-operation Resource Centre issued an invitation to thirty actors with different functions but with expertise in training and further education of European level trainers to attend a meeting in Budapest in June Goals of the meeting included the exchange of best practices and initiation of steps to motivate actors in this field to reinforce co-operation, develop common standards and a joint strategy on training and further education of trainers.