from europe to asia: capitalizing experience in youth work

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ANALYSIS ON NON FORMAL EDUCATION, YOUTH MOBILITY & ACTIVE PARTICIPATION

ONE MEDIA BORACAY - THE PHILIPPINES

NON FORMALEDUCATION

NON FORMALEDUCATION

For the past 10 years the field of NFE has been given more importance since lobbying from Maltese Association of youth workers (http://www.maymalta.org/) lobbied with the government for more recognition of NFE.

In 2011 a youth agency was set up for the sole purpose to offer youth work services to NGO and individuals on the island and support the development of NFE in Malta. In 2013 the profession of youth work was official recognized and given the status of a profession in the Maltese legislation.

The general public still lack the basic understanding of the benefits associated with NFE and how individual develop their skills and increase their employabilty thus also their possi-bilities in life. The General public still sees the formal part of education as more important and perceived the link for employment.MAYMALTAwww.maymalta.org

0101 What is the general picture of non-formal education in your country? How much is it understood by the

public? Where can you see examples of it being used and where is it more evident than it is lacking?

What is the general picture of non-formal education in your country? How much is it understood by the

public? Where can you see examples of it being used and where is it more evident than it is lacking?

A Qualification framework on a national level was also established in 2008 to start giving formal recognition to Non formal education happening in Malta.

Youth work as already explained above is also recognized as a profession since 2013. Youth workers are not found in all the public schools of Malta in the secondary level (age 11- 16). The Youth Agency (http://www.agenzijazghazagh.gov.mt/) is also employing youth workers to run youth centers which act like drop in centers to cater for young people who are being excluded or living in disadvantaged areas.

As already said in the previous sections a special unit was established to recognize activities which are being done in the non formal part of education (http://www.ncfhe.org.mt/conten-t/home-malta-qualifications-recognition-information-centre/52002817/). It deals with the recognition and comparability of both academic and vocational qualifications through the Qualifications Recognition and Information Centre (QRIC). QRIC uses the Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF) and the European Qualifications Framework for Life Long learning (EQF) to provide recognition advice on both local and international qualifications. It also assists in the recognition of Maltese qualifications abroad.

In October 2013 the Parliamentary Secretary for Research Innovation, Youth and Sport set up a youth policy advisory group with the task of drafting a new national policy for and with young people.

The Policy Advisory Group were asked to prepare a draft national youth policy, for the Mini-stry's consideration and for consultation with all relevant Ministries, entities, the Church, the National Youth Council, Youth NGOS, stakeholders in the youth field and the broader public.

In preparing and drafting this national youth policy framework, the Government emphasised to the Policy Advisory Group that the underpinning principles, overall aim, objectives, and headli-ne features and components of the policy approach needed to be based on: inclusiveness, past achievements and good practices, identifiable outcomes for young people, clearly defi-ned roles for relevant Ministries and entities, the European and international context, effective institutional capacity, research and knowledge building, and the positive role played by the voluntary youth sector and the private sector. This is being implemented for as part of achie-ving the EU2020 - Youth on the Move.

0202 What is the legal recognition that non formaleducation is given in your country? Are theremeans

of certification for it?

What is the legal recognition that non formaleducation is given in your country? Are theremeans

of certification for it?

In Malta as its current state of play Non formal Education is still gaining ground with the private sector. The mechanisms which exist on a local and European Level such as Youthpass and Europass are a good effort toward more validation of NFE but they are not enough.

From legistlative perspective non formal education and the results being produced are not measu-rable enough and they very hard to measure and make visible. There the challenge is to find ways to make NFE and the results more produced. In Malts the government of Education is putting efforts in increasing the involvement of the Private Sector. This may be beneficial since the private sector will get to know the activities done and the amount of skills obtained by the participants who are part of NFE activities.

The Government is now placing youth workers in schools, therefore there is the first level of comple-mentary in the education system in Malta. NFE education is not being used to teach young people their compulsory topics which should be covered in their schooling experience. Therefore the Non formal education is being introduced in the formal schooling but its not being integrated on a peda-gogical level.

The positive thing is now Youth workers are being used for the holistically development of the students, the negative part would be that the Youth worker is still out of the class rooms and deals mainly with free time and extracurricular activities.

0303 What are the biggest challenges for the recognition of non formal education in the legal frame or by

the public in your country?

What are the biggest challenges for the recognition of non formal education in the legal frame or by

the public in your country?

0404 Is there an integration of non formal education within the formal education system? If yes, what is

the connection? If not, what are the obstacles to this integration?

Is there an integration of non formal education within the formal education system? If yes, what is

the connection? If not, what are the obstacles to this integration?

YOUTHMOBILITY

YOUTHMOBILITY

Malta is a very insular since its not attached with mainland Europe. This has kept the Maltese culture from changing in the same rate as mainland Europe. This lack of mobility also means that young people in Malta feel more tight with the Island which make its difficult for them to go abroad easily. A perfect example of this is that the number of people who left for a long term EVS experience in less than a 20 from 2007 - 2014.

On the other hand other programmes and action found in former YIA and E+ are more popular because they are either shorter in length or is directly linked to their formal studies or work. The Government puts an effort and gives opportunities to Maltese students to continue furthering their studies abroad. The Majority of the people who go abroad for study or work they always come back to Malta at a later stage in their lives.

TDM 2000 Malta is always creating opportunities for its young members to travel and discover other cultures and realities outside of Malta. We often give these chances to persons coming from lesser opportunity backgrounds.

The travel and mobility opportunities are of two forms: non formal educational opportunity activities such as democracy projects, trainings, exchanges and networking projects as well as career based programmes such as LDV People in the Labour Market and Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs. We have also organised a Grundtvig In Service Training which gives professional the opportunity to increase their knowledge of good practices.

0505 How much is youth mobility widespread in yourcountry? How much importance do stakeholders

give to it in different fields?

How much is youth mobility widespread in yourcountry? How much importance do stakeholders

give to it in different fields?

0606 Is your organization active in the field of youthmobility? What are the results in terms of

participation, achievements and empowerment to young people?

Is your organization active in the field of youthmobility? What are the results in terms of

participation, achievements and empowerment to young people?

The members of TDM 2000 Malta who have travelled have changed their outlook of different cultu-res and travelling, often looking for new opportunities once an exchange project is completed so mthat they learn more. The exchanges in themselves instill both curiosity for other cultures as well as an opportunity to look for career opportunities in other countries.

0808 What is the impact that youth mobility has had in the youth of your country?

What is the impact that youth mobility has had in the youth of your country?

What is the impact that youth mobility has had in the youth of your country?

Persons having some experience in non formal or career based EU funded opportunities are often using their international networks so as to find work placements and other opportunities far from the Maltese islands.

Many Maltese end up finding job opportunities in the European Union as well as the United States of America and Australia.

0707 Is there any other programme of youth mobility besides from Youth In Action/Erasmus+ known/ap-

plied in your country? Please explain

Is there any other programme of youth mobility besides from Youth In Action/Erasmus+ known/ap-

plied in your country? Please explain

ACTIVEPARTICIPATION

ACTIVEPARTICIPATION

Are you aware of any cooperation between policy makers and the youth groups and/or youth organi-

zations that is making a notable change in society at a local, regional or national level?

Are you aware of any cooperation between policy makers and the youth groups and/or youth organi-

zations that is making a notable change in society at a local, regional or national level?

0909

In Malta there is a structure which is bringing organisations together with stake holders and policy makers. This structure is called the Malta EU Steering and Action Committee (MEUSAC). One of the main activities of this structure is to put its member organisations in sectoral committees with public and private stake holders and decision makers in the different sectors. The sectoral committees are the following:

Agriculture and FisheriesCompetitiveness and Consumer AffairsEconomic and Financial AffairsEducation, Youth, Culture and SportEmployment, Social Policy and HealthEnvironmentGeneral AffairsJustice and Home AffairsTransport, Telecommunications & Energy

The sectoral committees meet every so often in focus groups or consultations to discuss issues and reviews in the different fields and to issue papers regarding recommendations.

Are you aware of any cooperation between the busi-ness sector and the youth groups and/or youth

organizations that is making a notable change in society at a local, regional or national level?

Are you aware of any cooperation between the busi-ness sector and the youth groups and/or youth

organizations that is making a notable change in society at a local, regional or national level?

Policy makers are sometimes involved in separate projects if these are related to the policy makers or businesses priorities. Typical types of projects are placements in career based projects, democracy projects or projects related to entrepreneuring or inclusion where stake holders make interventions or open their doors to share examples of good practice.

Very often the elected council of the University Students organises these meetings including the University of Malta Senate recognised organisations and stake holdeers.

The business sector is also present in the sectoral meetings set up by MEUSAC.

Another initiative was set up by the Maltese National agency (European Union Projects Agency) to match business sectors and NGOs according to Ttheir common goals so that they may help in providing support for the NGOs as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

1010

If there is any action mentioned above (between policy makers/business sector with youth sector), that were

succesfully implemented at local, regional or even national level and that served as a model for further

action or set a trend, law or policy? Please explain

If there is any action mentioned above (between policy makers/business sector with youth sector), that were

succesfully implemented at local, regional or even national level and that served as a model for further

action or set a trend, law or policy? Please explain1111

RESEARCH OFYOUNG PEOPLE NEEDS

RESEARCH OFYOUNG PEOPLE NEEDS

Please list the priorities given by your Government for young people (e.g. education, employability)

Please list the priorities given by your Government for young people (e.g. education, employability)1212If you agree with the list belove, please explain

more about those prioritiesIf you agree with the list belove, please explain

more about those priorities

That young persons are more open to multi cultural environments and that we fight certain taboos that young persons in Malta have towards minorities.

Employability, active participation in democratic processes and society, knowledge on the EU.

The 3 priorities are imposed for a Cohesion country by the EU. However these priorities are necessary for the growth of youngsters and TDM 2000 Malta promotes them too!

1313What are in your perception, as youth worker/youth

organization, the demand of young people in yourCountry or region?

What are in your perception, as youth worker/youth organization, the demand of young people in your

Country or region?1414

More international work and exchanges (maybe making them compulsory) as well as compulsory non formal education within the formal education syllabus.

What are the strategies you would suggest to give an answer to the demands described?

What are the strategies you would suggest to give an answer to the demands described?1515

from europe to asia: capitalizing experience in youth work

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