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1. Forthcoming policy developments

2. Ongoing debates

Forthcoming policy developments

In Malta, youth work has long been recognised as a meaningful space for personal development, civic engagement and social inclusion. However, a growing debate within youth work settings concerns the validation of transversal (life) skills developed through non-formal and voluntary activities. Young people participating in NGOs, sports clubs, cultural associations and band clubs acquire competences such as teamwork, communication, leadership, initiative, adaptability and problem-solving. While these skills are highly valued in the labour market and essential in a rapidly changing, AI-influenced economy, they often remain invisible and undocumented.

The discussion has gained momentum in light of national strategies, including Malta’s National Youth Policy Towards 2030 and the National Employment Strategy 2030, which emphasise employability, lifelong learning and the recognition of skills acquired outside formal education. Youth organisations argue that although they provide rich learning environments, there is still no structured and nationally embedded mechanism to validate transversal competences gained through non-formal learning. As a result, young people struggle to clearly demonstrate these competences to employers or education providers, and youth organisations face challenges in evidencing their educational impact.

The debate also reflects broader European developments on validation of non-formal and informal learning and alignment with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). Stakeholders increasingly acknowledge that recognising transversal skills as standalone competences — not only when linked to specific occupations — could strengthen young people’s transitions into employment and further education.

Consequently, current discussions in Malta focus on how to develop credible, transparent and youth-friendly validation tools that respect the values of youth work while ensuring reliability and labour market relevance. This emerging policy and practice dialogue signals a shift towards formally acknowledging youth work as a legitimate contributor to Malta’s national skills ecosystem.

Ongoing debates

Youth Work in Malta is regulated through the Youth Work Profession Act (Chapter 533 of the Laws of Malta). Article 7 of this Act states that a warrant issued under the Act shall continue to have effect provided that the warrant holder proves to the satisfaction of the Youth Work Profession Board that they have undertaken such programme or programmes of continuing professional development (CPD) as may be prescribed. Where a warrant holder fails to provide satisfactory evidence of having completed the required CPD, the warrant shall be considered suspended until the prescribed requirements are fulfilled.

The Youth Work Profession Board has initiated the development of a structured Continuing Professional Development (CPD) system applicable to all warranted youth workers in Malta. As part of this framework, youth workers may be required to present and document the professional development activities they have undertaken for an agreed number of hours. This process aims to ensure accountability, maintain professional standards, and support the continuous enhancement of youth work practice in Malta.