Self-Directed Learning Competencies for NEETs

<< Background >>The project was initiated in response to the high percentage of young people in the European Union (13.1% in 2021) who are not in education, employment, or training (NEETs). Education plays a crucial role in preventing NEET status, and participation in lifelong learning is essential for skill development and adapting to societal changes. NEETs often have lower well-being, lack 'soft' skills, and feel pessimistic about their future prospects. Employers also highlight the lack of basic and life skills among young people leaving the education system.To address this, a shift in learning attitudes and skills is needed. The project emphasised self-directed learning (SDL) as a key competence for NEETs, which involves individuals taking responsibility for their learning and setting their own goals. Youth work, with its open access to learning experiences, is identified as an effective way to develop SDL skills. The need for the project arose from the lack of sufficient interventions in youth work and in generally that support NEET youth in developing the skills that would bring them back onto the path of learning.<< Objectives >>The project aim was to create a new evidence-based youth work intervention that can be applied in different cultural contexts to support NEETs in developing SDL skills and reintegrating into education and employment. The project aimed to develop a new youth work method that would transform NEETs' learning attitudes and skills, strengthen the interdisciplinary role of youth work, and create a method that, developed through international collaboration, can be effectively applied across different cultural contexts.<< Implementation >>The project's activities were divided into two studies: one focused on developing the intervention model, and the other on assessing the effectiveness of the intervention. To implement the intervention, training was provided to youth workers on self-directed learning and how to support it, as well as on understanding NEET youth as a target group. The developed intervention model was then piloted both locally and internationally. The international phase included a 16-day activity involving youth and mentors from all participating countries. Throughout the process, data was collected for the second study. After the intervention, a second training was conducted for youth workers to enhance their skills as trainers, ensuring they were capable of teaching the intervention methodology to others. The project concluded with an international conference in Estonia and dissemination events in the partner countries. All activities have been documented in a guidebook. The first study has been published in an international scientific journal, and the second study is awaiting publication.<< Results >>The project's outcomes are expressed through the following indicators:- practices in Europe and the world for the development of SDL have been analyzed and adapted to the specificities and needs of NEETs into a single comprehensive program;- a training plan has been created for the training of supporting SDL competencies of youth workers through youth work; - 16 youth workers who know SDL concept and support methods and how to implement the created program have been trained;- the created intervention program has been piloted with 32 young people, using the SDL-NEET scale to measure its effectiveness.- 16 youth workers have been trained as trainers to teach the implementation of the program to other youth workers;- 2 research articles on the results of the project have been prepared and presented in professional and scientific journals; - the program has been introduced locally and internationally to ensure its sustainable implementation.Based on these activities, an evidence-based method has been developed for youth work, with results confirming its effectiveness in enhancing SDL skills among NEET youth.