Youth Work Education and Training (YWET)

Youth Work Education and Training (YWET) is a priority programme area in the Commonwealth Youth Programme. In August 2011 the Commonwealth Youth Programme sought to review its work in this area and outline coherent strategy for the medium term. The Commonwealth Secretariat also conducted an organizational review of the Commonwealth Youth Programme that sought to reinvigorate the administrative processes and programmes.

Summary Strategic Focus

The CYP will contribute to establishing a credible body of knowledge in youth development/empowerment and will work with partners to ensure a competent cadre of professionals in the field in the Commonwealth member countries. In the medium term there will be a shift in focus from the delivery and implementation of the Commonwealth Youth Development Diploma to greater advocacy and support for the other critical aspects in the development of a competent body of professionals in the field. For 2012 – 2016, the CYP will work to facilitate a professionalised youth development culture.  CYP will facilitate the introduction of intensive specialised blended (online and face to face) short courses in priority areas; CYP will also facilitate appropriate research and publication and facilitate knowledge development, learning and sharing.

The medium term strategy will have three components:

1. Support for the development of professional youth worker associations

2. Support for continuing education and training in youth work

3. Support to building a body of knowledge in the field Development of Professional Associations

CYP will support and advocate foring the development of professional associations at the local and Pan-Commonwealth levels. This is essential to the long term sustainability of the professionalization process.

Continuing Education and training CYP will work to expand access to education and training in youth work, create new opportunities for training, build capacity where possible and advocate greater focus on education and training in the discipline were critical for the continued growth and development of the discipline in Commonwealth member countries.

The following specific strategies were outlined in order to support the continuing education and training:

1. CYP will create a new business model for expanding education and training that is driven by partnerships/collaboration with other Commonwealth institutions to promote and advocate for education and training for youth work. Better placed Commonwealth partners in education are to  be engaged in the implementation of the core business of education and training.

2. CYP will work to develop  Private Public Partnerships as a key component of this aspect of the strategy. CYP to establish formal partnerships with Training providers – develop MOUs (Institutional and Private) that will lead continuing education and training componentof the strategy.

3. CYP will review existing training materials and develop new courses in partnership with training providers at all levels from certificates to post graduate.

4. Assure Quality: CYP will work with existing Commonwealth institutions and associations who are better placed to set the guidelines for Quality Assurance. CYP to work in association with Institutional Partners, Commonwealth of Learning, and the Virtual University etc.

5. Mode of delivery: CYP to work with others to focus on better use of technology to support wider access to knowledge and training resources; CYP to work with and through other institutions to encourage exchanges, visits, residential  training etc. to enhance knowledge sharing

Building the Body of Knowledge

Investing in the creation of new knowledge base in the Youth Developmentwork is essential  in supporting member countries as they establish better outcomes for youth. The core element in this area is a focus on research and publishing that research. The specific strategies agreed are:

1. CYP will invest in leading a discourse/debate on the appropriate academic/professional space for youth work education and training through global/regional conferences/workshops.

2. Conducting research- Investing in research work from stakeholders but especially by youth at the

grass root level; giving space in the academic world to youth led research; sharing the research via social media.

3. Re-visiting and reinvesting the Youth Development Journal; increasing access, scopeand reach on the product.

4. Contributing to an On-line Portal that allows for the sharing practiceand case studies and articles in the field.

5. Creating appropriate spaces for practitioners to engage in reflective.