Digital Leap in the Youth Field - Estonia

The 'Digital Leap in the Youth Field' project aimed to boost local municipalities' capability to use smart solutions in the context of youth work. Made possible by Tallinn University and the Estonian Youth Workers' Association (ENK) in collaboration with 66 of the 79 total local government units in Estonia, under the coordination of the Estonian Education and Youth Board (Harno), the project started in the Spring of 2022 and ran until the end of 2023.
About this initiative
The project's goals were to develop innovative and smart solutions to improve the state-of-play of youth policy work (including e-participation activities), support the competence building of at least 100 youth workers via a learning community and thematic training, and in effect, create the necessary foundations to allow the 'digital leap' of youth workers and local governments through a set of digital frameworks and evaluation methodologies.
The project was funded under the Local Development and Poverty Reduction Program of the European Economic Area and the Norwegian Financial Mechanisms 2014-2021, with a budget of a bit more than 850.000 EUR.
Project outputs: guiding the next generation in the digital world
Together with guidance for youth workers, such as the Digital Competence and Maturity Framework for youth workers and youth employment organisation study and report, the project produced 5 'Learning bites' - or learning modules on the latest digital topics and trends, such as ChatGPT and AI in youth work, e-games in youth work, Canva's opportunities in youth work, the basics of creating a pay-per-view broadcast. The Bites comprise of concise video presentations (up to 10 minutes) and bite-sized reading material and are suitable both for newcomers as well as those with more experience in youth work. Find all Learning Bites and other links to project material via here.
Why is this a good practice?
The project succeeded in making space for a plethora of diverse and extensive training activities. These took place during the ENK Summer School 2023, reaching a total of 265 participants, including more than 200 youth workers from over 50 municipalities in Estonia.
In total, 207 youth workers from 66 local government units ended up taking part, surpassing twice the original target of training 100. The innovative approach of the training rests on a collaborative work model in enhancing digital competencies in the youth work sector. This is strengthened by visionary and insightful seminars on trendy topics in the field, encouraging knowledge-sharing and providing a range of resources with the potential to be replicated. Similarly, the 'Learning bites' offer a scalable and adaptable format for other countries to integrate similar programs within youth work education.
Amongst the benefits of the 'Digital Leap in the Youth Field' project are the proactive approach in addressing contemporary youth needs, as well as the structured examination of the evolving role of AI in the work of educators. The project also provides a systematic approach for both practitioners and organisations to assess and enhance their digital skills, but also opens up a discussion on the broader role of technology in shaping the landscape of youth work.