SALTO Participation and Information Resource Centre (SALTO PI) and SALTO Inclusion and Diversity Resource Centre (SALTO ID) are hosting an online panel on Digital Rights on 7 March 2023 at 13:00 CET.

With digital rights being a crucial topic, especially for young people who spend a significant amount of time online, this panel will discuss the latest academic research on the subject and the importance of digital transformation to ensure the rights of young people online.

Digital Rights: Ensuring Human Rights Online

Digital rights are essentially human rights, but in a digital space. Each individual should have access to fundamental human rights such as the right to freedom of expression, privacy, and protection from discrimination, even when interacting online. The panel will focus on these topics, and the importance of these rights in opening up online communities, education, and work opportunities.

Who Can Participate?

This panel is ideal for:

• youth workers;
• trainers;
• educators interested in digital transformation;
• everyone interested in this topic;

The panel discussion will be live on Facebook and YouTube, making it easily accessible for everyone. In conclusion, the online panel hosted by SALTO PI and SALTO ID on March 7, 2023, is a crucial forum for discussing digital transformation and its role in safeguarding the rights of young people online. Don’t miss this opportunity, join the event!

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EU Youth Strategy | Empowerment of Young People

Guidelines for Educators: Promoting Digital Literacy in the Classroom

L'articolo Join the Online Panel on Digital Rights proviene da Youth Networks.

The European Commission has launched a public consultation to review the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) for the period 2017-2022. The EQF is a standard reference framework for lifelong learning that acts as a translation tool to better comprehend and compare national qualifications.

The EQF for Lifelong Learning

The European Qualifications Framework is divided into eight levels, which are represented as learning outcomes with increasing degrees of competency. Countries connect their national qualification systems to the EQF levels, making it easier to comprehend what a qualification achieved in another country represents. 

This public consultation will help to evaluate the EQF by learning: 

• how the EQF has been utilised;
• what its advantages are;
• how it might be improved;

Workers, learners, employers, and stakeholders from education and training, employment, and civil society can participate in the public consultation. The Commission encourages everyone to give their thoughts and participate in the review, regardless of whether they had previously heard about the EQF or not.

The Commission requires everyone’s assistance in understanding how to promote qualification transparency in Europe. If you want to have your say, please complete the questionnaire by March 22, 2023. Your contributions will significantly assist to strengthen the EQF and promote qualification transparency across Europe.

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The European Year of Skills 2023: Empowering Youth with Soft Skills Development

European Commission Launches Public Consultation on Europass

L'articolo Public Consultation on European Qualifications Framework proviene da Youth Networks.

The green and digital transitions are offering new opportunities for people and the EU economy. Nowadays, skilled employees have better job opportunities and are more able to participate fully in society. Yet, many people are still unaware of the sector’s advancements and innovations.

To fill this gap, the European Commission has proposed 2023 as the European Year of Skills: this will be a chance to support lifelong learning, green and digital transitions. The project aims to assist companies and advance education, training, and upskilling opportunities.

The Importance of Skilled Workers

With the goal of meeting its 2030 social objectives, the European Union has launched a new initiative that will not only increase the participation of adults in training and work, but also support the achievement of the 2030 Digital Compass objectives. 

The European Year of Skills 2023 emphasises the value of soft skills in the workplace. Therefore, before discussing the EU initiatives for the European Year of Skills, it would be beneficial to familiarize oneself with the Glore Network, a platform that certifies volunteer’s soft skills.

What is Glore Network?

The GloRe platform recognizes foreign and local volunteers to be recognised for the soft skills they have gained by volunteering, through a certification, and it includes 26 e-learning courses to aid in assessing these skills. 

The GloRe Network, the platform’s parent organisation, strives to expand its reach globally and offer a flexible and reliable certification with worldwide recognition. The certification process, consisting of the Participation Certificate, GloRe Soft Skills Certificate, and Professional Statement, is available at no cost for volunteers in network organisations.

If you want to know more about the Glore Network, please visit the official website.

EU Initiatives to Support Skills Development

To improve skills development, the European Commission, in collaboration with several actors, will support:

• Increasing effective and inclusive investment in training and skill development;
• Ensure applicable skills for labour market demands through collaboration with social partners and businesses;
• Matching talents and goals with work possibilities, particularly for green and digital transitions and economic recovery;
• Attracting skills and talent from third-world nations via improving learning opportunities, mobility, and qualification recognition:

The European Year of Skills 2023 provides a chance for people all around Europe to focus on improving their technical and soft skills. Individuals can take advantage of this year’s resources and activities to invest in their futures and position themselves for success. 

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European Commission Launches Public Consultation on Europass

Forward-Looking Projects 2023: Innovative Approaches to Education and Training

L'articolo The European Year of Skills 2023: Empowering Youth with Soft Skills Development proviene da Youth Networks.

The European Commission has launched a 12-week public consultation to assess the effect and implementation of Europass, a framework that delivers online tools and information to individuals to help them with their lifelong learning and career management. 

The consultation will collect information regarding the impact of Europass on the European labour market and lifelong learning initiatives, as well as assist the Commission in improving its services.

Objective of the Public Consultation

The public feedback will help to inform the ongoing assessment of the Europass Decision between 2018 and 2022. Its major goal is to collect evidence regarding Europass’s influence on the European job market and lifelong learning policy. Participant’s feedback will assist the Commission in further improving Europass services.

Everyone can participate, including:

• Europass end-users such as learners, employees, job seekers, and volunteers;
• stakeholders such as education and training providers, employers, public employment agencies, non-governmental organisations, and policymakers;
• EU stakeholder groups and operational partners are also encouraged to contribute.

Simply fill out the online form on the Commission’s “Have your say” page to participate in the consultation. The questionnaire is available in every language spoken in the EU.

The public consultation will end on February 28, 2023.

This is a fantastic chance for anyone who have used Europass to share their experiences and offer the Commission with significative input. The consultation outcomes will help to shape Europass’s future and guarantee that it continues to suit the demands of its users. So, if you have something to say about Europass, now is your chance!

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Forward-Looking Projects 2023: Innovative Approaches to Education and Training

Publish Your Volunteering Projects For Free

L'articolo European Commission Launches Public Consultation on Europass proviene da Youth Networks.

On February 2, 2023, the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) and the European Commission will organise an online information day to discuss the Forward-Looking Projects 2023 program. The initiative’s goal is to explore, develop, test, and evaluate innovative (policy) ideas with the potential to become mainstream and enhance education and training systems.

The Forward-Looking Projects 2023 have been divided into three lots: 

• Digital education; 
• Vocational Education and Training;
• Adult learning;

Each lot has its own set of goals, and proposals must meet at least one of them. The entire budget allocated for the activity is €35,000,000.

Let’s take a closer look at these 3 areas!

Digital Education

EU’s Digital Education Action Plan aims to support high quality and inclusive digital education, focusing on three priorities: 

• education technology; 
• effective pedagogical approaches for primary and secondary education;
• teacher training to tackle disinformation and promote digital literacy.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) 

The VET plan aims to implement the principles and objectives of the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, the European Skills Agenda and Council Recommendation on vocational education and training for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience. Proposals under this lot should address two priorities: 

1. micro-credentials for employability;
2. partnerships and networks to improve the attractiveness of VET;

Adult Learning

The Adult Learning lot is responsible for putting into action the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, the European Skills Agenda, and the Council Recommendation on Upskilling Pathways: New Opportunities for Adults. Proposals submitted under this lot should seek to achieve one of two goals: 

• building national registers of quality-assured and relevant training options;
• supporting the Pact for Skills programme;

Conclusion

For further information on the 2023 Erasmus+ Forward-Looking Projects, please see the 2023 Erasmus+ Programme Guide, which is available in all official EU languages at the link given. More information is also available on the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal. 

Discover more about the 2023 Erasmus+ Forward-Looking Projects at an interactive online event organised by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) and the European Commission on February 2nd, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 5:45 PM CET.

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EWP Stats Portal: New Service to Assist Higher Education Institutions

L'articolo Forward-Looking Projects 2023: Innovative Approaches to Education and Training proviene da Youth Networks.

The European Youth Forum, an organisation that represents over 25 million young people in Europe, in 2022 developed the Charter on Youth and Democracy: a document that outlines the rights and responsibilities of young people in democratic societies. 

The Charter on Youth and Democracy is a detailed document that addresses various topics related to young people’s involvement in democracy, such as:

• the right to vote;
• the freedom of speech and assembly;
• the access to information:

The Charter highlights the necessity of young engagement in decision-making and encourages the development of structures and procedures to facilitate youth participation.

Let’s take a closer look at this document!

The Importance of Youth Participation

Youth participation makes a significant impact on the functioning of a healthy democracy. Through that, young people can have a say in the decisions that affect their lives; moreover, it ensures that the needs and perspective of young people are taken into consideration.

In this scenario, representatives from youth organisations and young elected from around the EU co-created the Charter in a bottom-up approach. It has 49 recommendations organised into four categories:

1 Education, collaboration, and information;

2 Empowerment, leadership, and democratic involvement of youth;

3 The Impact of New Technologies and Digitalization;

4 Youth policy inclusion and political representation;

But how can this document lead to a concrete outcome? Keep reading to find out!

The Role of Governments and Civil Society in Youth Participation

The importance of this document lies in its ability to require governments to take specific actions to support and encourage youth participation. To make youth participation a concrete outcome, governments can move in two directions. 

On one hand, providing young people with the necessary information, resources, and support to enable them to participate in the democratic process. Alternatively, governments can also create opportunities for young people to get involved in decision-making processes at the local, national, and international levels.

Governments are not the only ones having a key-role in this context: civil society organizations, like youth organizations and NGOs, also have an important role to play in promoting youth participation in democracy. These organisations provide young people with the necessary skills, knowledge, and support to become active citizens. 

Conclusion

The Charter on Youth and Democracy is an important document that recognizes the vital role that young people play in democratic societies. It promotes the empowerment of young people to engage in democracy and make choices that affect their lives.

For more information, you can read the charter on Youth and Democracy here.

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Dialogue with Young People on Energy, Inflation, and Conflict

European Solidarity Corps Proposals 2023 with €142 Million in Funding

L'articolo The Charter on Youth and Democracy proviene da Youth Networks.

• sky-high energy costs; 
• inflation; 
• Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine. 

As the next generation, it is essential that young people have a say in shaping the policies that will impact their future. In order to build a fair, more inclusive, and sustainable future for all, it is necessary to listen to the voices and ideas of young people. 

That is why the European Commission has defined the European Year of Youth 2022 as an opportunity to celebrate the contribution of young people to society and encourage their active participation in the economic and political life of the EU.

Let’s take a closer look at what the challenges and the event will be like!

Current Challenges

One of the major challenges we face today is the sky-high cost of energy, which can have serious impacts on individuals, families, and communities.

The price of energy in the EU has reached record levels in 2022 due to a combination of factors, to name a few:

• the increase in global wholesale energy prices;
• the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international demand;
• the Russian invasion of Ukraine;
• adverse climate conditions;

In 2022, the price of gas in EU has increased also as a consequence of Russia’s Suspension of gas deliveries.

Inflation is another ongoing concern, as it can erode the value of people’s savings and make it difficult for them to afford the goods and services they need. 

Finally, we cannot forget the ongoing aggression of Russia against Ukraine, which has resulted in a devastating conflict with far-reaching consequences. 

The Role of Young People in Addressing These Challenges

As young people, it is crucial that we have a say in shaping the policies that will impact our future. During the dialogue with Commissioner Dombrovskis, this questions will be discussing:

• How can we support EU citizens in coping with the immediate effects of the energy crisis and inflation? 
• How can we build a fair, more inclusive, and sustainable future for the next generation?
• How can we defend our fundamental values while strengthening cooperation with like-minded countries?

The dialogue will be live-streamed from 14:30 to 16:30 on January 10th. All young people can join and participate in this important conversation. 

It is only by coming together and sharing our ideas that we can hope to address these challenges and build a better future for all.

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YOUCAN | Second Transnational Partner Meeting in Italy

L'articolo Dialogue with Young People on Energy, Inflation, and Conflict proviene da Youth Networks.

The Transnational seminar entitled Embrace inclusion and diversity in your Erasmus+ projects was held in Zagreb, Croatia, from 15th to 17th of November 2022.

The three-day event included a series of lectures and panel discussions on the topic of Inclusion and Diversity, as well as sectoral working groups that allowed participants to share ideas and proposals.

To understand what led to this event, we need to take a step back.

The Strategy for Inclusion and Diversity

The European Commission, last October, launched a cross-sectoral strategy for inclusion and diversity, which led to this event.

The new strategy is based on the Erasmus+ Implementation Guidelines and the European Solidarity Corps’ Inclusion and Diversity Strategy. Each national agency developed its own strategy adapted to its national realities.

The agencies were invited to use both the TCAs– in order for the Erasmus+ National Agencies (NAs) to improve the quality and impact of the Erasmus+ programme- and the LTA– a partnership in which several NAs work together to develop a series of activities related to a policy area.

The Romanian National Agency for Erasmus+ has proposed an LTA on Inclusion and Diversity for newcomers in the E&T sectors (science, education and training).

The LTA proposal aimed at helping interested organizations in developing quality short-term (KA1) and small-scale (KA2) projects, both targeting newcomers and less experienced organizations.

The goals of the LTA are as follows:

• to promote Erasmus+ as a tool for inclusion;
• increase the quality of small organizations’ projects;
• provide space and context for networking among participants;

Let’s see now how they structured the event!

Embrace Inclusion and Diversity In Your Erasmus+

Representatives of organizations operating in the VET field did participate in the event, including:

• “Alfredo Panzini” Institute of Higher Education
• TIA TRAINING
• ISIS Brignoli Einaudi Marconi
• “Romolo Zerboni” Institute of Higher Education
• Volontaromagna

In addition, the project SIGNS FOR WORK INCLUSION received a special mention. This project, coordinated by the Italian Social Federation for Disabilities in partnership with CEIPES, has developed an application in sign language, containing dictionaries and short videos for each of the technical terms of the furniture, cooking and tourism sectors.

To read more about the SIGNS FOR WORK INCLUSION, click here

Finally, the event gave the great opportunity to listen to successful experiences and meet expert beneficiaries with whom organisations could interact and exchange doubts, beliefs and strategies.

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L'articolo Erasmus+ LTA On Inclusion & Diversity proviene da Youth Networks.

European Student Card Initiative

The European Student Card Initiative (the ESCI) is composed of three building blocks

• European Student Card – transforming current student cards into a European Student Card so students can benefit from  on- and off- campus services during their mobility
• Erasmus+ App – a single app to help Erasmus students with all their practical administration – before, during and after their mobility programme
• Erasmus Without Paper – a digital solution connecting systems in use at higher education institutions allowing to manage their Erasmus+ mobilities online

The Initiative is a step forward in the transition towards a digital European society and a true European Education Area, in which spending time abroad to study and learn is the norm, and educational excellence is a reality for all.

European Student Card

When a card is active, both students and Higher Education Institutions can explore all benefits of the ESC, including easy access to student services during a mobility experience without needing a new card.

The goal for 2025 is that most European students benefit from an active ESC either in their pocket or digitally, on their phone.

Towards this goal to issue active ESCs, 512 institutions across 26 out of the 33 countries of the Erasmus+ Programme have already registered to the ESC-Router by completing the registration process – getting one step closer to issuing active cards. In addition, hologram requests have increased by 40% since last year, adding up to a total of 3.5 million.

How can your institution join the ESC?

See how the ESC works and how to join.

Stay tuned to know more about what we are doing!

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Digital Transformation | A Series of Panels by SALTO Youth

L'articolo European Student Card Is Improving proviene da Youth Networks.

EU Sports Awards

If your organisation runs projects promoting inclusion through sport with the purpose of giving sport the recognition of being a powerful tool for breaking down social barriers, bringing people together and building a more inclusive world, be ready to be nominated!

To be nominated for the #BeInclusive prizes your project should involve:

• disadvantaged, marginalised or underprivileged groups such as individuals with difficult social, economic or educational backgrounds;
• people with a disability and/or health challenges;
• people from a different cultural background such as migrants, refugees, ethnic minorities or people living with geographical barriers and more.

The awards should also support gender equality and contribute to peace through the integration of migrants and refugees.

The Prizes

Prizes will be given in the following categories:

1. Promoting gender equality in sport “Be Equal” (projects promoting the empowerment and participation of women and girls in sport)
2. Sport for peace (projects using sport as a vehicle to promote peace and European values)
3. Breaking barriers in sport (projects that show inspiration, giving positive examples of empowerment and role models from groups with fewer opportunities that step up and lead change)

A winner and two finalists (ranked 2nd and 3rd) will be announced at a special awards ceremony. The three winners will receive € 10,000 each and the 6 runners-up will receive €2,500 each.

Deadline to submit projects is 29 September 2022.

All details on how to take part are available here.

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2022 ErasmusDays | Register your event today

L'articolo EU Sport Awards | Nominations Open proviene da Youth Networks.