Discursive quality development of Open Youth Work

Background The project "Discursive quality development of open youth work", DISQ-OJA for short, wanted and wants open youth work (OJA) and its effects to be measurable, visible, comprehensible and make available. DISQ-OJA aimed to strengthen and further develop open youth work. In particular, the project promoted youth structures in rural areas Focus and builds on the participation, commitment and empowerment of numerous project participants. It strived for the effective public positioning of the dynamic and complex field of action and allows the social recognition of open youth work to grow. The "Discursive Quality Development" project builds on the strategic partnership between the Platform for Open Youth Work in Tyrol (POJAT) and the umbrella organization for open youth work in South Tyrol (NETZ). The quality development of open youth work is promoted through transnational cooperation. Quality instruments that have already been tested have been evaluated and implemented in anchored in the OJA South Tyrol. Objectives The importance of OJA was made visible through the quantitative collection of data and the securing of qualitative findings from the quality dialogues. The project strengthens Competencies and self-confidence of practitioners. It promotes discourse between young people, teammates, umbrella organizations, network partners and stakeholders. DISQ-OJA enables process-oriented, realistic target agreements for the OJA, as well as the definition of European quality standards and quality measures. The regional reference points POJAT (Tyrol) and NETZ (South Tyrol) provide local and transnational support through continuous, professional support Quality development by OJA. You are responsible for the public dissemination of the project results and the ongoing discourse at country level. The Project mediated transnational professional identity and formed the basis for the preservation and expansion of existing offers of open youth work, with the aim of OJA professionalize and embed it sustainably in the local social, educational and cultural landscape. The results and experiences of the project flowed into the adaptation and Further development of the method set quality dialog of the BOJA. Implementation During the project period, three transnational workshops/project meetings were held between POJAT and NETZ: In October 2020 Tyrol (had to be implemented digitally due to Covid-19) in April 2021 Tyrol in January 2022 South Tyrol The steering group meetings took place digitally. Coaching of the process facilitators also took place digitally. Achievements The project focused on the two Youth Goals No. 6 "Promoting youth in rural areas" and No. 9 "Spaces and participation for all". The project ensured the preservation and expansion of offers. It was shown that the quality dialogue with its well-balanced set of methods represents a way of raising awareness of the importance of "youth spaces for all". The inclusion of all levels was particularly successful: from young people to practitioners to stakeholders. The set of instruments developed under the working title "Quality Dialogue for Open Youth Work" consisting of an EDP-based data collection tool combined with suitable qualitative method sets from empirical social research was evaluated and revised. In addition, the digital skills of practitioners have been increased. The evaluation tool is now available again to the OJA South Tyrol. Six NETZ employees were trained as process facilitators by the POJAT experts and supported and coached in the implementation of the quality dialogues. At the end of the project, the results were presented to the public at national and international exchange meetings. In terms of a common strategy to strengthen the OJA within the EU, the quality procedures were transferred to other countries.