Quality assurance

Youth work is currently not recognized in Italy, therefore there is no national mechanism of quality assurance in place at ministerial level. Nevertheless, in the frame of Erasmus+ the Italian Youth Agency put in place a mechanism aimed at ensuring quality assessment of youth work within the implementation of related projects. Added to that, NINFEA, the national association of youth workers in Italy recognized by the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT), developed a mechanism for quality check of the professional profiles of its associated youth workers in order to assure the quality of the youth work delivered by its members.

The development of systems and practices to assure quality youth work, however, is an important topic in the current debate on the legal recognition of youth work and the professional development of the youth worker, as well as in a draft law on youth work recognition that is currently being discussed.

Some Erasmus+ funded projects managed by Italian partners focused on the quality of youth work. For example, “All You Need” aimed at providing practical tools and methods for quality planning, implementation and evaluation of youth work in international projects; “Social Theatre Toolbox” addresses the quality of art-based youth work in the theatre sector; the project “D’ING – designing for learning” focused on two specific competences of the Competence Models (“Understanding and facilitating learning” and “Designing educational programs”); the project “Quality label for ESC volunteering” aims to develop quality standards for youth work with young volunteers; and “E+QUALITY Week” will work to develop management competences in youth work.

More recent Erasmus+ projects involving Italian organisations continue to address the quality of youth work, although within more complex transnational partnerships. Examples include projects such as “Youth Work 2.0 – Digital Transformation” (2021–2023), focusing on the development of methodologies and tools for digital youth work; “MENTOR+” (2021–2024), aimed at strengthening youth workers’ competences through mentoring approaches; and several initiatives on “Green Youth Work”, integrating sustainability into non-formal education practices. In addition, under the European Solidarity Corps, Italian organisations are strongly involved in the implementation of Quality Label standards for volunteering activities. More recent projects have also addressed emerging priorities such as youth mental health in the post-pandemic context. These initiatives reflect a shift from isolated methodological projects towards more integrated, competence-based and thematic approaches to quality in youth work.

Research and evidence supporting youth work

Evaluation studies on the National Civic Service program include a study conducted by the Zancan Foundation in 2008 and a more recent one conducted by Confcooperative and Studio Cevas in 2017. The first one is based on a comparison between a sample of young people who had finished the program and another who had just started it. The second one, evaluates the effects of civic service on a sample of young volunteers 5 years after its conclusion, in comparison with a control group not involved in the program.

The most highlighted impacts of these studies are the enhancement of relational and communication skills (e.g., listening, knowing how to understand the point of view of others) and the enrichment of one's own network of relationships (e.g., new friendships), including those supporting one's career path. The study by Confcooperative found a significant impact on employability: the incidence of those who had found work was greater among former volunteers than in the control group. Another relevant study conducted by the National Institute for Public Policy Analysis (“Istituto Nazionale per l’Analisi delle Politiche Pubbliche – INAPP”, formerly ISFOL) in 2018 found an association between competences of active citizenship developed during the civic service and employability.

 More recent evidence (2020–2024) does not substantially contradict these findings but complements them through monitoring data and European-level research. In particular, studies carried out within the Research-based Analysis and Monitoring of European Youth Programmes (RAY, 2020–2023), linked to Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps, confirm positive effects on social and civic competences, self-efficacy and perceived employability. Recent analyses (2021–2024) also highlight emerging dimensions such as digital skills, mental well-being and inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities. However, compared to earlier national studies, recent evidence is more fragmented and less frequently based on longitudinal or counterfactual methodologies.

Monitoring and evaluation of educational policies for adolescents

Services and projects carried out in educational spaces for adolescents are monitored by the National Documentation and Analysis Centre for Children and Adolescents (Law 97/2018). The Centre is in charge of a specific study activity on projects and services financed by the National Fund for Childhood and Adolescence (Law 285/1997) (please refer to the paragraph 10.3 for details on youth work projects supported by this Fund). In the annual plan of activities funded by Law 285/1997, a specific expert group coordinated by the Innocenti Institute conducts specific surveys on policies for children and adolescents carried out in the cities to which the funds are allocated.

RAY Project (Research-based Analysis of Erasmus+: Youth in Action). The Italian Youth Agency has been involved in the RAY Network since 2015. This network has conducted studies on the results of Erasmus+/Youth in Action (RAY-MON), on the impact on the building capacity of youth workers and youth leaders (RAY-CAP) and on the long-term effects of the programs (RAY-LTE_CIT).  More recently, it has also developed a specific research strand on digital youth work (RAY-DIGI, 2021–2024), focusing on the integration of digital tools and competences in youth work practices, particularly in the context of the post-pandemic transition.

The research on Urban Laboratories of the Bollenti Spiriti programme (Puglia). Launched in 2006 and concluded in 2010, the youth policy program Bollenti Spiriti in Puglia implemented a number of actions aimed at enhancing young people's skills through the support of youth initiative projects (program “Principi Attivi”, “PIN” and “Mettici le Mani”), the participatory creation of new youth spaces (Laboratori Urbani) and the co-planning of non-formal learning actions for young entrepreneurs (Laboratori dal Basso).

Since 2009, the “Bollenti Spiriti” program has been covered by a series of studies focused on the role and impact of youth work in youth participation processes and non-formal learning experiences. The main research reports produced are listed below:

• Mechanisms and outcomes of youth policies in Puglia (2009-2010), coordinated by Fausta Scardigno and partly published in Scardigno-Manuti (2011);

• “Evaluating youth-work: youth centres as places of non-formal education and participation” (2010-2013)”, PhD research carried out by Morciano Daniele, and published in Morciano e Scardigno (2018), Morciano (2015), Morciano et al. (2015), Morciano et al. (2014), Morciano (2012).

Evaluation of the INSPRIT. INSPIRIT is a three-year project funded by Erasmus+ aimed at the recognition of non-formal education and voluntary experience. The partnership is composed of universities and voluntary associations from Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic. The specific objective is to promote the recognition of workcamps coordination experience within academic pathways.

The project started in 2018 and finished in December 2021 with a final publication of the research results from the three countries that joined the project.

A qualitative research action carried out by the Department of Political and Social Studies of the University of Salerno had the objective of studying the impact of the coordination experience of international workcamps on the skills of university students. In addition, a direct and participatory observation of training for young leaders was carried out. The research showed that the students acting as the coordinator of workcamps had the opportunity to experiment non-formal education techniques and methodologies as well as to acquire and improve transversal skills necessary to face the continuous challenges of a globalized and rapidly changing society.

Evaluation of the "Gio-stra" Project. Financed by a call for proposals by the Department of Youth Policy (Art. 4 of the Ministerial Decree of 21 June 2007) the project "Gio-stra" (Extraordinary Young People/ “Giovani Straordinari”), involved in 2011 nine Salesian oratories in 7 Regions (Piemonte, Liguria, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Campania, Calabria, Puglia, Sicilia). The idea of a specific socio-educational project in the system of oratories stems from the consideration of the strong potential of the oratory as a non-formal education space for youth.

The project provided for a specific evaluation of the effects of the activities on children and young people involved, as can be seen in the final report. 

Participative youth work

The Universal Civic Service is the only national public initiative in the field of youth work to have created a national consultative body - National Council for Universal Civic Service representing young people. This body participates in the Civic Service National Council, a body within which all decisions regarding the planning of civic service are taken.

At the moment, there are no other specific interventions carried out or financed by the national authorities aimed at creating spaces for youth participation focused on youth work policies and practices. For policies aimed at youth participation in the policy-making process, see section 5.4.

The role played by the main consultative bodies activated by national and regional youth policies also includes a role of analysis and proposal about youth workers and youth work practices (in paragraph 10.3. reference is made to the initiatives that these bodies have recently undertaken).

Moreover, the national web radio network Ang InRadio created by the Italian Youth Agency, now concluded, was a specific listening and participation space that involved young people in the reflection, proposal and comparison on non-formal education opportunities, services and projects offered by the plurality of actors involved in youth work in Italy. A specific program of the Department for Youth Policy and Universal Civic Service funded 44 radio projects spread over 13 Italian regions, with the direct involvement of 600 young people and an impact on 150,000 under-30s. Some examples of web radios already active within this network are Radio Das, Youth in Radio Piemonte, Serendipity Puglia, and Youth on Air.

At a regional level, specific participatory processes have been promoted within the youth policy programs supported by the National Youth Policy Fund. For example, in the Bollenti Spiriti program in the Puglia Region, informal youth groups and youth associations have been involved in the design, implementation and management of new youth spaces called Urban Youth Laboratories. Please refer to paragraph 10.4.2 for an excursus on some research on participatory processes in these youth spaces.

A national project that promoted the participation of youth associations in the reuse of spaces and the creation of creative incubators was “The Great Beauty. Young talents re-use Italy” (“La grande bellezza. Giovani talenti ri-usano l'Italia”) funded by the Department of Youth and National Civic Service. The project has accompanied groups of young people in the design of projects for re-using abandoned buildings in 5 Regions, supporting the feasibility study, the drafting of a business plan and the development of a participatory management model.

Moreover, the project has created a web platform to match the demand and offer of projects of building reuse.

More recent initiatives (2019–ongoing), including programmes such as “Fermenti” (2019–2021), “Giovani in Biblioteca” (2018–2022) and “Spazi Civici di Comunità” (2021–ongoing), as well as projects funded under Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps (2021–2027), have contributed to creating new, albeit less structured, spaces for youth participation in youth work.

"Smart" youth work: youth work in the digital world

Within the European and national debate, a distinction is often drawn between digital youth work and smart youth work, although the two concepts are closely interconnected. Digital youth work generally refers to the use and integration of digital media and technologies in youth work practices, either as tools supporting existing activities or as environments in which educational and relational processes take place. In this perspective, digitalisation can range from a merely instrumental use of technologies to more advanced forms in which digital environments become spaces for learning, participation and identity construction. By contrast, smart youth work represents a broader and more strategic approach, encompassing not only the adoption of digital tools but also the capacity of youth work systems to innovate, adapt and respond to the changing needs of young people in a digitally mediated society. It implies a reflective, critical and intentional use of digitalisation, integrating technological, pedagogical and organisational dimensions.

The use of digital media is a necessary part of youth work practices and non-formal activities with young people in Italy. In particular, the use of social media (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp etc.) is commonly used in combination with face-to-face interaction to give information, keep in touch, discuss issues of interest for young people, offer and share ideas or solutions, social gaming, express and share emotions etc.

These practices increased during the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak. There are several examples of youth work projects based only on the use of digital media during the lockdown (games, photo contest, digital storytelling labs, group and individual counselling, help with schoolwork, counselling for parents, etc.). Webinars have been also offered on how to tackle fake news on social media during the pandemic outbreak (e.g. Get Your Facts Straight!,).

In Italy, there are several public-funded programs and projects aiming at enhancing digital skills among the operators and volunteers working in non-formal education with youth, in youth policy and other policies directed at young people (e.g., employment, leisure time, entrepreneurship, volunteering, vocational training etc.). Furthermore, there is increasing attention towards the development of digital education resources on the safe and positive use of digital media among adolescents and young people.

Programs and initiatives can be found at both national and regional levels, as well as in EU- funded partnership projects coordinated by an Italian partner.

Examples of programs or tools at a national or regional level are: information platforms developed in the frame of youth policy (e.g. the Youth Portal of the Italian Eurodesk network; regional platforms such as Giovanisì in Toscana Region), national programs for media education run by non-profit organizations and supported by the national or regional authorities (e.g. Generazioni Connesse, https://paroleostili.it/), foresight-for-the-future digital events (e.g. Quale Futuro - Visionary Days).

Recently, Italy joined the new research project conducted by RAY Network on digital youth work, called RAY DIGI, focusing on the role of digitalization in youth work and non-formal learning in the context of the European youth programmes. Analysis and Monitoring of European Youth Programmes (RAY DIGI, 2021–2024), focusing on the role of digitalisation in youth work and non-formal learning within the framework of Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps programmes. The RAY DIGI research outputs are publicly available through the RAY network and provide comparative data at European level, including evidence relevant to the Italian context. Findings indicate that, also in Italy, youth workers increasingly recognise digital youth work as a necessary and complementary dimension of practice; however, significant disparities persist in terms of digital competences, access to tools and organisational capacity. The report highlights a strong demand for targeted training and capacity building, as well as the need for more strategic and intentional use of digital tools beyond their instrumental application. Moreover, the Italian context reflects broader European trends, such as the acceleration of digital practices after the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside ongoing challenges related to inclusion, engagement of vulnerable groups and the ethical use of digital technologies in youth work.

Additional evidence further contributes to this debate. According to a recent doctoral study (Coppola, 2025), entitled “Youth work e trasformazione digitale: policy, pratiche e traiettorie nel panorama europeo e italiano”, based on qualitative interviews with youth workers across Italy, digitalisation is perceived as a transformative but still unevenly integrated dimension of youth work practice. The findings show that digital tools are widely used in everyday activities, yet often in a non-systematic way, oscillating between being considered mere operational tools and being recognised as educational environments in their own right. In particular, the interviews highlight a significant heterogeneity in digital competences and levels of self-awareness among youth workers, accompanied by a strong demand for structured training and continuous professional development. The study also points to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as a key accelerator of digital practices, although many experiences remained limited to the transfer of offline activities into online settings, with varying degrees of effectiveness. Furthermore, issues related to digital rights, ethical use of technologies and inclusion emerge as only partially integrated into daily practice, while the identity of the “digital youth worker” is still in the process of being defined. Overall, the research underlines that digital youth work in Italy is evolving towards a more intentional and reflective approach, but still faces structural challenges related to training, recognition and methodological consolidation.

According to the same doctoral study (Coppola, 2025), a significant expansion of digital youth work can be observed in Italy in the framework of projects funded by the Italian Youth Agency under Erasmus+. In the period 2021–2024, a total of 224 projects related to digitalisation and artificial intelligence in youth work were funded, showing a steady increase from 22 projects in 2021 to 72 in 2024, thus reflecting a progressive institutional and organisational investment in digital transformation. At the same time, the qualitative analysis conducted in the study reveals that only a limited share of these initiatives can be considered fully transformative: specifically, 40 projects (17.9%) were identified as examples of transformative digital youth work, i.e. projects in which digital technologies are integrated in a critical, pedagogical and methodological way, leading to a substantial reconfiguration of educational practices. The majority of projects (56.3%) instead adopt a more instrumental use of digital tools, without significantly altering the underlying logic of youth work interventions. These findings highlight both the rapid quantitative growth of digitalisation in the Italian youth sector and the persisting gap between the widespread adoption of digital tools and their effective transformative use within youth work practices.