Cities of Learning: The vision for visibility

• Validation of experience: It broadens the definition of learning beyond school walls, allowing the incredible achievements and soft skills young people gain through youth work activities to be seen and valued by the wider community, including employers.
• Values Alignment: The core Cities of Learning values (such as Inclusivity, Innovation, and Open Recognition) provide a strategic blueprint, ensuring that all learning opportunities are designed to be equitable and future-focused.

Digital Youth Work: The strategic foundation

• Enhanced access: It uses technology to overcome geographical and social barriers, making essential services and learning opportunities accessible to more young people.
• Skill relevance: By embedding digital tools (such as Virtual Reality) into your work, you naturally help young people develop the 21st-century skills (digital literacy, critical thinking, collaboration) that are crucial for their future careers. We will explore the potential of immersive technologies to reach and connect with young people.

Open Badges: Making skills and experiences portable and recognised

• Micro-credentialing: They are ideal for validating skills (like facilitation, teamwork, problem-solving, or digital empathy) and experiences that are often missed by traditional qualifications but highly valued by employers.
• Credibility and trust: Every Open Badge adheres to a global technical standard and is backed by a specific set of criteria and verifiable evidence. This commitment to quality, sometimes reinforced by the Quality Label endorsement, ensures the badge is taken seriously by employers and educators on the Cities of Learning platform and beyond.