Assessment tool for digital competences in youth work

The assessment tool for digital competences in youth work is an outcome of the Digital Youth Work Strategic Cooperation between National Agencies (DYW SNAC). It has been developed and tested together with the European community of youth work practitioners between 2021 and 2023, with the support of National Agencies for Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps (NAs).

The main reason for carrying out an assessment of digital competences is to develop youth work. The tool provides an opportunity to have a comprehensive picture of how well the digital dimension has been integrated in youth work. The results allow youth professionals to have a better understanding of what are the strengths and what are the areas to be improved.

The self-assessment tool for digital competences in youth work consists of 5 competence areas, 14 specific competences, 3 dimensions, 4 proficiency levels and thus 38 indicators.

Overview of the competence areas and their specific competences:
COMPETENCE AREA 1: SUPPORTING CREATIVE SELF-EXPRESSION: Competence to support young people through the necessary digital tools and approaches. Establishing conditions for young people to create their own digital content. Endorsing attraction to technology through “do it yourself” (DiY) approach and having fun.

COMPETENCE AREA 2: SHARED GUIDELINES AND PEER LEARNING: Competence to understand the expectations and priorities of youth work organisations and the ways they are aligned with the principles of digital youth work. Looking at how digital media and tools are used to acquire knowledge about young people; awareness about digital working methods and need for sharing ideas with colleagues.

COMPETENCE AREA 3: DIGITAL RIGHTS: Competence to support and protect young people’s digital rights. Young people are both active users of their digital rights, and vulnerable to their violations. Digital youth work has a role to promote the respect of young people’s digital rights and raise awareness of their neglect.

COMPETENCE AREA 4: CRITICAL DIGITAL LITERACY: Competence to understand and apply the principles of critical digital literacy. Digital literacy covers the technical tools to find, evaluate, and communicate information clearly. The “critical” component adds the broader understanding of the effects of digital transformation on young people’s lives.

COMPETENCE AREA 5: IDENTITY GROWTH: Competence to support identity growth in the new digital era. Young people explore, test, and mirror their identity to what peers think of them. Digital tools and media enable identity expression and exploration.