Evaluation of the Impact of EU on the Field of Youth Policy at Subnational and National Level: Example of the Youth in Action Programme in Slovenia

• Published in: Uprava 2012-09, Vol.10 (3), p.97-108
• Main Authors: Cugmas, Mateja, Lipicer, Simona Kustec
• Format: Article
• Language: Slovenian
• Subjects: Education, Adult; European policy; European Union; Evaluation; Implementation; International Cooperation; Management; Participation; Policy analysis; Policy implementation; Public Interest; Slovenia; Social integration; Transnationalism; Youth; Youth employment; Youth policy
• ISSN: 1581-7555

In the article the main emphasis is given on the evaluation analysis of Slovenian experience with the implementation and management of EU program Youth in Action 2007 -- 2013 and to the impacts that it brings to the different political levels at which it operates -- subnational, national and transnational, and to different groups of young people, as direct users of this program. The program has been designed in order to increase the commitment of young people and the strengthening of key competences for lifelong learning, known as increasing the employability and inclusion of young people into the society. The guiding principle of youth policy is based on promoting and offering positive tangible and intangible transfers that contribute to the improvement and development of young people's lives and to their generally higher participation in society. Youth policy is an integrative, cross-sectoral policy, with the aim of promoting cooperation between young people, taking into account the total volume of social, cultural and political issues that affect them. In the above context the concept of youth work as a form of working with young people on voluntary basis takes one of the crucial roles. In the youth field this focus is of strong public interest and is closely related to the Youth in Action Programme, which is also the subject of the analysis in this article. The aim of our analysis is to evaluate how the results achieved in the implementation of the program at the subnational level meet the multi-level policy idea on one hand and young people as direct target group of the program on the other. With this regard the analysis of the program in terms of evaluating its goals, objectives and management aspects is being conducted. A concrete case study of Podravje region, designated as least developed in the field of youth policy in Slovenia is analysed. Adapted from the source document.