Encouraging UK-German Youth Exchanges
Foreword
Table of contents
resulting from the UK’s exit from the EU, the impact of the pandemic and changes in the cost of living. This research identifies significant hurdles the youth sector is facing to do international activity well and do it inclusively so that those young people who are least likely to experience international work are able to. As a result of the pandemic, many young people have not experienced international activity in person in the last few years and the prospect can seem daunting and out of reach. Having not experienced it as young people themselves, many early career youth workers are also less experienced than they might have been before. Changes in the cost of living make many assume that international experiences are financially out of reach. Additionally, youth workers and senior managers are faced with the difficulties of navigating more complex administration: visas, passports, and ensuring a safe environment. Despite these challenges, the message from respon dents in both countries is clear. There remains a good level of international expertise to draw on in the sector. Increasing the quantity and quality of international work is possible, so long as the right kind of financial and capacity building support is available. This support needs to be not only for the direct costs of taking part in an exchange, but also for the indirect costs. None of this is insurmountable, but it does require a different design than may have been previously on offer. This research provides a refreshed insight we can combine with our many years’ experience to inform and encourage greater UK and German youth contact. We look forward to using these insights to deliver deeper connections together with our youth sectors, youth workers and young people in the UK and Germany.
List of graphs and tables
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International experiences are a foundational opportunity for young people to build skills, knowledge and positive attitudes to collaborate, engage and work in a more globalised world. Even short trips where participants are directly meeting peers are found to have a positive impact: building confidence and resilience; broadening perspectives and aspirations; and developing a world view. This research is timely. It is being published as international work involving in-person encounters between young people is starting to recover after the impact of the global pandemic. The purpose of this research is to better understand the views of youth and youth workers in the UK and Germany about international exchange – both in general, and between our countries. In particular, this insight will be used to inform the design of the offers of UK-German Connection – a flagship Schools and Youth initiative funded by the UK and German governments. However, the conclusions and insight from this research will have resonance for international youth work between other countries. The voices from the youth sector in both countries give us much encouragement. Interest in UK-German collaboration and exchange among young people and their youth leaders is strong. While there may be some differences in the need for support in each country, there is no doubt that the appetite to engage is there – if the design of the support and opportunity is right. Respondents tell us that there is great flexibility in the themes they wish to engage in, how they travel and where they might stay. We can also see clear preferences for more group experiences over individual and shorter- term over longer-term visits. However, at the same time as this recovery of international work is happening, youth and youth workers are grappling with compounding challenges
Terminology and acronyms
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Executive summary: Encouraging UK-German Youth Exchanges
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Chapter 1: Research background
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Chapter 2: Research methodology
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Chapter 3: UK-German youth exchange formats, topics, outcomes, and benefits
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Youth exchange formats
Youth exchange topics
Youth exchange outcomes and benefits to young people
Conclusion: Youth exchange formats, topics, outcomes, and benefits
Chapter 4: Barriers and enablers for young people when taking part in UK-German youth exchanges 46 Young people’s level of interest in UK-German youth exchanges 47 Barriers affecting young people 48 Enablers for young people 52 Conclusion: Barriers and enablers for young people when taking part in UK-German youth exchanges 56
Chapter 5: Barriers and enablers to UK-German youth exchanges within the youth sector
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Youth worker barriers and enablers
Organisational barriers and enablers
Conclusion: Enabling the sector to engage in UK-German youth exchanges
Chapter 6: Conclusions and recommendations
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Annex 1: Survey participant backgrounds
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Daniel Poli Director IJAB – International Youth Service of the Federal Republic of Germany
Shannon West UK Schools Lead, Education British Council
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