UK-German youth exchange formats, topics, outcomes, and benefits
Encouraging UK-German Youth Exchanges
Graph 3.11 Young people – Organisers of interest, by country group
Graph 3.10 Youth workers – Level of digitalisation, by country group
100%
UK (n=194) DE (n=690)
89.3
86.4
85.1
80%
69.1
70.9
87.0%
92.4%
47.8% 30.4%
19.6% 12.7%
62.2
60.3
60%
52.1
In-person
Virtual
Hybrid
20%
Valid % multiple answers possible
0
Youth organisation
School, college or university
Youth centre
Private company
UK (n=46) DE (n=79)
Organiser The majority of surveyed young people in both countries were open to UK-German youth exchanges organised by any type of organisation, with youth organisation then school, college or university being most popular (Graph 3.11). The survey also asked young people about their previous experiences of youth exchanges through an open text box. Here, responses suggest that young people do not always make a strict distinction between school-based exchanges and youth exchanges. Many described their experiences of school exchanges as an example of a youth exchange. Surveyed youth workers were asked about their preferences for supporting young people to take part in exchanges organised by their own organisation, compared to exchanges organised by an other organisation . The former was the most popular, particularly in Germany (Graph 3.12).
Graph 3.12 Youth workers – Organiser considered suitable, by country group
Interviews with youth workers provide more explanation to this. To support young people effectively, most youth workers felt that the same youth worker consistently supporting participants before, during, and after, an exchange was essential. Signposting young people to another organisation to undertake the overseas part of the exchange was said to undermine the youth work process. A small number of youth workers, mainly on the UK side, were more open-minded about this. Recognising that many youth organisations would not have capacity to support exchanges, these youth workers saw an opportunity for close collaboration between organisations in the same country. The interviewees envisaged a specialist or lead youth organisation that might take responsibility for the travel and support of young people whilst overseas, acting on behalf of other youth organisations which would be involved in recruiting young people, preparation, and follow-on activities.
84.8% 84.8%
71.7% 49.4%
Own organisation
Other organisation
UK Valid % (n=46) DE Valid % (n=79)
30
31
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