The Digitalisation of International Youth Work Dr. Niels Brüggen, Franziska Koschei | JFF – Institute for Media Research and Media Education
How is digitalisation changing International Youth Work? Before answering that question, it is a good idea to call to mind the goals and particularities of International Youth Work. The following section describes, against the back- drop of the digital transformation, the goals of Interna- tional Youth Work and what characterises International Youth Work as compared with Youth Work. The goals of International Youth Work International Youth Work pursues the general goals of Youth Work as defined in section 11 of Book Eight of Germany’s Social Code while at the same time aiming to achieve the substantive goals of cross-border exchanges and encounters. In particular, international exchanges and cross-border encounters aim to contribute to » teaching intercultural skills, providing international learning opportunities and promoting an awareness of global interdependencies,
When developing a methodology of Digital Internation- al Youth Work, particularities can be pinpointed on the basis of a modified version of the model proposed by Kutscher et al. (2015). This model has established itself in the field of social work when it comes to observing me- diatisation and digitalisation processes; it focuses on the triad comprising addressees, experts (both staff and vol- unteer) and the organisation. Factors and variables can be defined in relation to these three groups and their relationship to one another to create a methodology of Digital International Youth Work. What is characteristic of International Youth Work is that at least two of the three interact (see Fig. 2). When designing online, blended or hybrid Digital Inter- national Youth Work formats, the focus can be placed on various design aspects in line with Fig. 2. However, additional questions arise in relation to digital formats when it comes to achieving the aforementioned goals and facilitating meaningful youth exchanges.
» fostering tolerance and diversity-sensitive attitudes in a diverse society,
Examples of these include » in relation to young people:
» critically engaging with a shared history and reconciliation,
› What skills do young people already have that enable them to use digital media?
» strengthening European integration and peace in Europe and the world.
› How can these skills be put to specific use?
› Which digital services (apps and software) do young people use in which countries to communi- cate, including informally?
As an aid to achieving the goals of International Youth Work in the long run, quality criteria for International Youth Work and the relevant indicators were drawn up back in 2004 (see Quality Standards and Indicators for International Youth Work, IJAB 2004). These quality cri- teria now need to be reassessed and updated in light of the digitalisation of International Youth Work. Account needs to be taken of the particularities of Digital Interna- tional Youth Work, which are presented in the following.
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