This section of the Visible Value aims to provide a quick overview of the state of the affairs about the recognition of youth work in the countries covered by EU-CoE Youth Partnership. In total it covers 53 country profiles (including 3 profiles for Belgium and 4 profiles for the UK).

The content in this section is based on several sources, including:

The sources of information are indicated at the end of each profile.

Back Sweden

Formal recognition Sweden is in the process of developing a structure for validation of non-formal and informal education. There is no regulated framework for validation in Sweden yet.Validation methods in Swedendiffer between different actors. Career and guidance counsellors within adult educationand employment servicesare generally key practitioners in initial validation. They identifythe purpose of a validation foran individual and follow up the process at different stages. Today, there are no formal requirements for carrying out a validation. The national criteria and guidelines note that those professionals who contribute to carrying out validation should meet set competence requirements. The information here is based onthe European Inventory on validation of non-formal and informal learning, country reports for Sweden 2014and 2016.Political recognition In November 2015, the government decided ona national delegation for validation. The delegation consists of members representing trade unions, employers’ associations and national authorities and has taken the name Valideringsdelegationen 2015-2019. Its main task is to follow, support and promote co-ordination of validation atboth regional and national levels. The final report will be presented in December 2019.When it comes to social recognition and self-recognition, learning in the youth work contexthas not been on the political agenda. Instead, formal education at upper secondary level for all and preventing early leaving from education and training have been the top priorities.Participation in European initiatives to support youth workSweden isinvolved in Erasmus+andYouthpass. When it comes to the other initiatives, such as Council of Europe Youth Work Portfolio,Sweden has not participated at the national level.

(from the EKCYP Country report on youth work in Sweden)

In Sweden, there is no definition or common understanding of youth work at national level.

In Sweden, there are no specific standards and criteria regarding health and safety requirements for working with youth. Neither are there requirements for minimum qualifications for specific pedagogical, educational, relational competences or for compliance with specific codes of ethics.

In Swedish national youth policy, the concept of youth work is seldom used. Instead, in government policy documents the concept of meaningful leisure activities (meningsfull fritid) is central. That concept relates both to mainly membership-based activities in youth organisations and to open meeting places for young people such as youth clubs or recreational centres.

In the context of youth organisations, those in charge of activities are most commonly members of the organisation and working on a voluntary basis. The organisation is responsible for their training. Those working in youth clubs or recreational centres are commonly employed, by the municipality or by the organisation running the centre.

On the other hand, almost all professional efforts to address social conditions of young people are organised, regulated and financed by the public sector. The concept of social work has come to be the general category to identify these efforts. Therefore, few professionals identify themselves as youth workers, even if their tasks relate to young people in a way that in other contexts would be understood as youth work.

In the History of Youth Work in Europe, volume 6, Björn Andersson states that one should not expect to find much youth work in Sweden. But, he continues, there are a lot of actions and efforts directed towards young people, but few, if any, would be identified by the concept of youth work. Professionals and volunteers involved rather specify the concrete organisational setting where they work in, or just say they work with young people. He proposes six main areas for youth work in Sweden:

  • youth organisations;
  • recreational and activity-oriented youth centres;
  • outreach and fieldwork;
  • investigative/support-oriented services;
  • residential care;
  • therapeutic work.

(Andersson 2018).

The Swedish Government has also initiated a number of comprehensive programmes and actions, where the target group consists of young people in a more vulnerable position, such as NEET, young people at risk for violence and radicalisation, young people with a migrant or ethnic minority background, young LBGT-persons, young disabled and newly arrived young migrants. 

These government actions usually combine knowledge compilations on the current theme, as well as dissemination to relevant professionals working in health care or in schools, in social work, in the police force and in organised leisure, including both youth centres and sports. Even volunteers active in CSOs and in faith communities are targeted.

Training for youth work is mainly provided by Swedish folk high schools (folkhögskolor). The folk high schools provide a two-year study programme leading to a diploma in youth work. 

Young people participating in youth work activities in Sweden cannot obtain recognition or validation of the skills and competences acquired. Participation in youth work activities does not give credit points or other accreditation towards a qualification within the system of formal education.

In Sweden, there are no top-level national policies and/or recognition mechanisms for identifying specific skills and competences that can be acquired through youth work.

 (From the Youth Wiki)