The Professional Association’s Annual Conference 2020

The Association will be hosting its first ever virtual Annual Conference via ZOOM due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Conference will focus on the lessons learnt and adjustments being made in anticipation of a brave new world living with Covid-19. The day conference provides a timely opportunity for Association members and our wider network to consider how pedagogical approaches to professional formation in youth and community work may be required to ‘deliver differently’ for the foreseeable future. There will also be sessions aimed at connecting members with areas of special interest and regional groups that encourage collaborations to be sustained post-conference as part of the launch of ‘Project 2025’ (our new strategic plan).

As we emerge from lockdown and adjust to a ‘new normal’ there are many unanswered questions about what higher education, youth work, and community development will be facing in the weeks, months and years ahead. However, it is already clear how the pandemic has highlighted the health, wealth and social inequalities across society; and the need to deliver differently as we live with the legacy of a global pandemic. This presents particular challenges and opportunities for youth and community work as a distinct professional practice and for our work as educators, researchers and practitioners. Conference will explore this through seminar presentations and group discussions that share best practice, debate emerging realities and plan for future collaboration.

Our emphasis - as with all annual conferences - will be on dialogue, discussion and debate as we convene to refresh our commitment to youth and community work education in a brave new world. Contributions to the seminar programme are invited through the links and briefs provided below, and the conference will be FREE to join but booking is required:

seminars will address:

Delivering Digitally:  We invite contributors to present on the policy and practice of teaching that embraces digital tools; and digital approaches to supporting the development of practice competencies in meeting occupational standards.

Practicing Differently: We invite contributors to present on how to provide meaningful practice opportunities for students; exploring methods, locations and approaches to engagement with ‘socially distanced’ models of youth and community work.

Social Change: We invite contributors to offer perspectives on innovation in educational practices that challenge social injustice and promote social change. These may take the form of curriculum approaches, student movements and/or the interface between Universities and civic spaces.

We are seeking contributors who will present, facilitate, animate, record and report on our virtual discussions. Download the seminar brief for details of how to volunteer.

what to expect from the programme

The conference programme will commence at 10.30am on Friday 10th July and close at 4.30pm, with scheduled breaks and activities taking place throughout the day:

The conference programme is centred around five aspects:

Sector news and updates: with an overview from officers on the status of youth and community work across the 4 nations.

Seminars and workshops: presentations and discussions led by members based on research and emerging practices.

Association business: conference includes a short AGM and formation of working groups for priorities in 2020-2021.

Knowledge exchange: delegates will be encouraged to share learning from their engagements across the sector.

Networking and collaboration: space to connect with members through breakout rooms and virtual social activity.