This project idea takes place in the digitalisation of societies, which is now additionally accelerated by the lockdowns due to the pandemic crisis. Youth work is actively searching for ways to organise youth work online without stopping their services to young people.

All partners had the initial needs analysis in their organisations and their municipalities to identify the most recent challenges and gaps in youth work provisions. Needs analysis included mainly interviews and document analysis.

Partners identified that young people spend more leisure time by using digital tools and the internet. It requires youth workers to be where young people are. Youth work organisations are looking for ways to combine residential, in-person activities with online solutions.

At the same time, most of our local partners – youth work organisations identify a lack of skills to implement digital youth work, to combine residential and online opportunities. In most cases, cities do not provide guidance and infrastructure to support organisations in organising youth work flexibly.

A common challenge is the lack of youth work programmes oriented towards competencies and skills needed for young people to thrive today and in the future. That’s where the 21st-century skills idea originates.

Objectives:

1. Creating city-specific strategies to promote opportunities for young people to develop 21st century skills.
2. Developing the capacity of partner organizations to utilize the Cities of Learning framework and recognize the 21st century skills of young people.
3. Enhancing access to 21st century learning opportunities through the development of a mobile app for Cities of Learning.
4. Promoting new opportunities for 21st century skills at the participating countries and European levels.

Targets:

• Young people, including those with disabilities and fewer opportunities.
• Youth workers.
• Managers of youth work organizations and youth projects.
• Local organizations providing 21st century skills development activities.
• Youth work stakeholders in the involved cities.

Vilnius, the vibrant capital of Lithuania, played host to international partners working on 21st-century skills education and recognition. To discover more about the transformative visit to Vilnius City of Learning and the inspiring initiatives in 21st-century skills education, EXPLORE the blog post and delve deeper into the rich experiences, insights, and shared stories from international partners. Get inspired by Vilnius’ innovative approach to youth work, co-creation, and inclusive learning. Learn from the best practices and reflect on how you can implement similar initiatives in your own community.

The partnership has successfully created city learning strategies that focus on developing crucial skills for young people. This output was a key step towards achieving the project’s objectives. Learn about the methodology used to create these effective strategies, which can be transferred to other cities or locations aspiring to establish their own City of Learning. While the content is tailored to specific contexts, it holds valuable insights that can be adapted and applied to similar locations within the same country. Unleash the potential of 21st century skills in your community by delving into the details and unlocking new possibilities. CLICK HERE to find out more about the methodology and process, or CLICK ON THE VISUAL to go deeper into the strategies.

By creating learning pathways directly led to the achievement of project objectives to develop the capacity of partner organizations to use Cities of Learning framework to create new digital learning opportunities and recognize 21st century skills of young people, and promote new opportunities of 21st century skills in participating countries and on the European level.

Here is a list of learning playlists featuring various activities and opportunities for skills development in different areas created by project’s partners:

1. Mental health promotion in the youth field – Link – Skill Area: Resilience
2. 21st century skills development during skating – Link – Skill Area: Resilience
3. Getting to know Rotterdam – municipality – Link – Skill Area: Taking Responsibility
4. Sustainable development goals – Link – Skill Area: Sustainable Development
5. Ik ben Open volunteer work – Link – Skill Area: Social Media Skills
6. Skills framework for young people who dropped out – Link – Skill Area: Dealing with Change and Adapt
7. Sta Sterk in je werk from 14/3 – Link – Skill Area: Organize and Execute
8. Welkom in Westland from 14/3 – Link – Skill Area: Dealing with Change and Adapt
9. Op weg naar financiële zelfredzaamheid from 14/3 – Link – Skill Area: Analyze and Interpret
10. Participatieverklaring from 14/3 – Link – Skill Area: Create and Learn
11. Taal en KNM: Lesprogramma Z route – Link – Skill Area: Create and Learn
12. Taal en KNM: Lesprogramma B1 route – Link – Skill Area: Create and Learn
13. Taal en KNM: Welkomweken B1 route – Link – Skill Area: Create and Learn
14. Taal en KNM: Welkomweken Z route – Link – Skill Area: Create and Learn
15. Barista basis – Link – Skill Area: Critical Thinking and Promple Solving
16. Digital skills – Link – Skill Area: Digital Skills
17. Active Citizenship – Link Skill Area: Active Citizenship
18. LifeComp – Link
19. Crearsi l’opportunità – Link – Skill Area: Multiple Skills
20. Keep Moving – Direzione Futuro – Link – Skill Area: Multiple Skills
21. Digital future – Link
22. RicicliAmo – Link
23. DateDaFè – Link
24. Learning the 21st Century Skills – Link – Skill Area: Various 21st Century Skills
25. Buildingblocks for your SkillsPas – Link – Skill Area: Create and Learn
26. StartPas “De brug naar werken en leren” – Link – Skill Area: Dealing with Change and Adapt
27. EMVIMIL: The Practical Approach – Link
28. Peer Educators Induction – Link – Skill Area: Taking Responsibility
29. Gimme Five – Link – Skill Area: Multiple Skills
30. Mereside Innit – Link – Skill Area: Literacy
31. Our Friends Electric – Link – Skill Area: Multiple Skills
32. Incluziune si Accesibilitate (Inclusion and Accessibility) – Link
33. Growing in Insight-ability of mobility (GIM) – Link
34. Ικανότητα Επίλυσης Προβλημάτων- Problem Solving Skills – Link – Skill Area: Self-Management, Problem Solving
35. Iκανότητα εργασίας σε διαπολιτισμικά περιβάλλοντα- working in multicultural environments – Link – Skill Area: Team Work, Intercultural
36. Self Confidence – Αυτοπεποίθηση – Link – Skill Area: Developing Self Confidence
37. Environmental Literacy – Περιβαλλοντικός Γραμματισμός – Link – Skill Area: Environmental Literacy and Sustainability
38. Learning to Learn – Link – Skill Area: Learning to Learn
39. Time management skills – Link – Skill Area: Self-Management, Time Management
40. Designing green growth learning aids for young persons with disabilities – Link
41. Volunteering conference playlist – Link – Skill Area: People Management, Digital Skills
42. Volunteering opportunities in a Youth centre – Link – Skill Area: Team Work, Creativity
43. Basics of personal career management – Link – Skill Area: Self-Management
44. From Creativity to Entrepreneurship – Link – Skill Area: Creativity, Entrepreneurship
45. Leadership essentials – Link – Skill Area: Leadership Skills
46. Spoekn and written English – Link – Skill Area: Public Speaking, Foreign Language Skills
47. Management of job search process – Link – Skill Area: Planning and Self-Management
48. Self-knowledge and personal image – Link – Skill Area: Self-Management
49. Psychology of stress – Link – Skill Area: Stress Management
50. Critical thinking (in English, for foreign students) – Link – Skill Area: Critical Thinking
51. Time management – Link – Skill Area: Time Management
52. Critical thinking (in Lithuanian) – Link – Skill Area: Critical Thinking
53. Volunteering at MO museum in Vilnius – Link
54. Training on how to use the Volunteering platform (as a version of Cities of Learning platform) – Link
55. Learning to be a peer teacher in orphanages – Link – Skill Area: Volunteering, Teaching, Social Responsibility
56. European Year of Skills – Link
57. Teamwork for Diversity – Link
58. Zilele Clujului: Aventuri senzoriale – Link
59. Antreprenoriat pentru tinerii cu deficiențe de auz – Link
60. Voluntariat pentru tinerii cu deficiențe de auz – Link

The City Badge Wallet App directly led to the achievement of project objectives to create better access to 21st century learning opportunities and promote new opportunities of 21st century skills in participating countries and on the European level.

As a result of this output, partners delivered a Mobile App for Cities of Learning, which was made available for both Android and iOS versions. Young people and learning providers played a direct role in user research and testing of this digital innovation. A promotional video and tutorials were created to guide young people and learning providers on how to use the Mobile App, thus promoting this innovative tool among the target audience in participating cities.

The Mobile App answers the following needs:

• one time download and login to the App make the experience of engaging with the activities and content straightforward and smooth;
• interactions between youth workers and young people are more organic and natural to the mobile user experiences of young people;
• all completed activities and earned badges are available to showcase on the go.

Functionalities of the App allow to:

• register / login and manage user account settings, including privacy policy and data protection;
• search the list of learning opportunities in a city and apply various filters to find something specific;
• navigate the map of a city to find learning opportunities based on location filters;
• view the content of activities and playlists and join them to participate and achieve the learning;
• use badges to upload evidence of skill, learning, experience or achievement;
• view and manage earned badges on personal portfolio;
• social learning interactions, e.g. messages or chat.

ALL YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS IN ONE PLACE With City Badge Wallet App, you can earn, store, manage & share digital Open Badges issued using Badgecraft.eu. The App is easy to use with intuitive navigation to earn, manage and share badges. NEW FEATURES & FUNCTIONALITIES Using the App, learners can access the following features and functionalities: New user experience (UX) / user interface (UI); Register/login  manage user account settings, including privacy policy & data protection; View content of activities & playlists and join them to start learning; Use Open Badges to upload evidence of skills, learning, experience or achievement. COMING SOON Search the list of learning opportunities in a city and apply various filters to find something specific; Navigate a city map to find learning opportunities based on location filters; View and manage earned Open Badges on a personal portfolio; Import/export Open Badges using integration with other badge issuing platforms; View and handle notifications that motivate to learn & achieve more; Social learning interactions, e.g. social forums or private chats.

At the beginning, a brandbook and communication guidelines were developed to provide partners with visual materials and ensure consistent communication, establishing a distinct presence among other initiatives.

8 communication campaigns were implemented in total. 2 European campaings were led by the communication partner “Creativitas”. The first one was designed to contribute to the achievements of IO1, focused on raising awareness of 21st century skills and related topics.

The campaign content covered essential aspects, such as understanding what 21st century skills entail, exploring how youth workers and educators can acquire these skills, and highlighting effective strategies to support young people in their skill development journey. Through engaging and short 8 videos, we aimed to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of these skills among our audience on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

The last European social media campaign was conducted at the end of the project and strategically designed to achieve two key goals: to highlight the Cities of Learning processes within the context of the European Year of Skills and to disseminate the project’s results to a wider audience.

The campaign ran for a duration of four weeks, from 1st to 26th May, ensuring a consistent and engaging presence throughout this period. To maintain active engagement, content was shared three times per week, providing regular updates and insights.

The campaign primarily utilized the Facebook and LinkedIn platforms, leveraging their broad reach and ability to target specific audience segments. The selected formats for content included still posts and animated visuals, captivating the attention of the audience and conveying information in an accessible manner.

To maximize the campaign’s impact, a paid media strategy was implemented, allowing for increased visibility and reach among the target audience. This approach ensured that the campaign reached a wider network of individuals interested in the European Year of Skills, 21st Century Skills, and Cities of Learning.

To enhance the campaign’s visibility and promote engagement, specific hashtags were utilized, including #EuropeanYearOfSkills, #21stCenturySkills, and #CitiesOfLearning. These hashtags were strategically chosen to align with relevant topics and facilitate the discovery of campaign content by individuals interested in these areas.

21st century skills: what are they? We’d like to grab your attention & opinion on the skills to succeed in today’s world. Check our video playlist on Facebook. Facebook videos   City Badge Wallet App With City Badge Wallet App, you can earn, store, manage & share digital Open Badges issued using Badgecraft.eu. Download EXPLORE THE PLATFORM 🖥

Other 6 campaigns were implemented by partners on the local levels. Moreover, partners also organised multiplier events in their cities to disseminate and celebrate the achievements of the project.

In the Netherlands, our partners collaborated with platform users to build their community and explore AI to make learning activities more inclusive.

In Lithuania, representatives from education, culture, and youth policy shared their best practices and ideas for developing 21st century skills using digital badges.

  The Skills Festival in Thessaloniki was a remarkable event! It brought together a diverse community of learners, skill enthusiasts, and change-makers, making a positive impact on the future of skills development. Alongside engaging workshops, participants were introduced to the Thessaloniki City of Learning platform, where they explored exciting opportunities for young people and youth organizations.

The event in Cluj-Napoca City of Learning focused on enhancing employability skills and increasing visibility for young people with disabilities, including those with visual and hearing impairments. The event aimed to foster inclusivity and empower young people with disabilities to thrive in the job market and contribute to society.

Through these communication efforts, over 195 000 individuals from the target groups were reached. The general public was also informed about the project and its accomplishments through the dissemination activities, including social media posts, events, and other promotional materials. By leveraging these communication and dissemination strategies, the project successfully engaged and involved a wide range of stakeholders while ensuring that the broader community was well-informed about the project’s goals and achievements

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Impact:

• Strengthened strategic and targeted approach to youth work, focusing on 21st century skills in partner municipalities.
• Increased capacity of organizations to deliver digital youth work in the six participating municipalities.
• Enhanced 21st century skills among young people.
• Enhanced international cooperation among project partners and local collaboration among youth work organizations.

Longer-Term Benefits:

• Increased opportunities for young people in their cities to develop and receive recognition for 21st century skills.
• Establishment of local and international networks of learning providers promoting opportunities for 21st century skills development.
• Expanded reach and impact of Cities and Regions of Learning, transforming learning practices in the 21st century.
• Introduction of digital innovations, such as learning pathways on the Cities of Learning platform and a Mobile App tailored to the needs of young people and youth work practices.