3.7 Factors relevant to planning,
that, as a team leader explained, are designed as a sort of retreat and hence can often be quite remote. However, stable internet is not necessarily the norm in these locations. To explain, the expert said, “It’s like we’re fighting against our own infrastructure and our geographical location” (Team leader, one-on-one inter - view). As for funding for digital projects, the interviewees stated that more stability is required and that it needs to be integrated in existing funding sche - mes. Specifically, more financial resources should be earmarked for suitable software solutions that are at the same time sustainable: a stand-alone solution that cannot be used for any other project is not desirable. The experts also called for a more flexible budget to account for any unexpected costs as well as less com - plicated access to software tools. In regard to the latter, they spoke of challenges arising when, for instance, the subscription period of an online tool was set to expire in the midst of an ongoing project. 3.8 Team leaders’ evaluation concer - ning the future of IYW projects with digital elements The last area of evaluation sought to answer the following question: • How do team leaders feel about the future of digital projects in international youth work? The majority of interviewees believe that digital ele - ments in international youth work are here to stay, not least owing to the advantages that they were able to experience while running digital projects, and also be - cause of the ample experience they have obtained and on which they plan to build. As one expert explained, “[…] I think that over the last years, a lot of people who weren’t really keen on the whole thing [= pro - jects with digital elements, ed.] just had to get on with it. And then you go ahead and start to realise that there’s quite a few advantages to it (…) Perso - nally, I don’t want to go back to the way it used to be. That would be really bitter, given the amount of work we’ve already put into it.” (Team leader, one-on-one interview)
implementation and the achieve- ment of objectives
In this part of the study, the researchers looked at fac - tors relevant to the planning and implementation of di - gital projects and to the achievement of the projects’ objectives. The following questions were asked: • What resources are required in order to implement a digital project? • In the interviewees‘ opinion, what rules and regu - lations around funding are required in these set - tings? The data suggested that of all the resources re - quired for digital projects, human resources were considered most relevant. Many interviewees emp - hasised how vital it was to the success of a project to have having technical support on hand in the shape of someone who can assist the educational team in all technical matters. One team leader also mentioned the need for a sufficiently large number of team leaders in the partner country, too, with an understanding of the methods that can be used in digital projects. The inter - viewees also stated that in digital projects, additional staff are required who ensure the technical equipment in the venues remains in good working order. To make sure no participants are disadvantaged, the team leaders said, the venues need to be equip - ped with suitable technical resources. Participants on both sides should ideally have access to a range of different technical equipment. As one interviewee put it, “And if you really want to ensure that no one is at a disadvantage, no one is excluded, you need to consider that aspect as well. You need to remember that not everyone has a laptop at home that they can just open up whenever the digital project starts. You need to make sure the preconditions are in place.“ (Team leader, one-on-one interview) Special attention needs to be paid to participants who do not have access to suitable equipment, either by gi - ving them the equipment they need, or by adapting the hybrid settings to compensate for any deficits. The experts also stated that institutional resources are required, such as stable internet access. Many of the venues where youth work activities take place are located in rural areas, such as education centres
13
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs