Youth Work Virtual

Project Reference Number: 1-KA220-YOU-04D8CBA3

Duration: 35 months

Project Start: September 2024

Project Finish: August 2027

TUS Project Budget: €243,658

Total Project Budget: €400,000

Project Summary

Youth Work Virtual is an Erasmus+ funded project which commenced in September 2024 and will run for 35 months. Comprised of partners from seven European countries, TUS is the lead partner who will oversee the project as well as the design & development of the virtual reality (VR) application. 

This project will develop a VR space for youth work, designed specifically, though not exclusively, to engage young people who find it difficult to access face to face support because of Neurodivergence, Disabilities or Geographic Isolation. Through this project youth workers will be trained at masters level to use and develop the space which will operate in parallel with conventional youth work practice. The space will be inclusive, creative, developmental and available for use across the EU.

Project Outputs

• The co-creation of a bespoke user-centric immersive virtual reality environment which facilitates identified youth engagement activities in support of the project’s target users, and which is available for use by youth workers and organizations across the EU. 
• Develop a Masters programme in immersive education to train youth workers.
• Create a governance structure for the application to be used by youth work organisations after the project ends.

Project Partners

The Youth Work Virtual project team comprises of partners with experience and skills in design and development of the virtual reality applications, education, and both digital and traditional youth work. Additionally, the project has associate partners across the EU working in the youth work space.

Partners

• Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), Ireland 
• Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
• European Youth Information and Counselling Agency (ERYICA), Luxembourg
• City of Helsinki (Formally Verke), Finland
• Youth Work Ireland, Ireland

Associate Partners

• Limerick Youth Services, Ireland
• Kezdj Velunk Foundation, Hungary
• North Kerry Regional Youth Services, Ireland
• Centre for Sustainable Community Development, Romania
• Association of Active Youth Florin, Greece
• Donegal Youth Services, Ireland
• DIAK Youth Work, Finland

Main Project Contact(s)

Name: Alan Devins

Email: alan.devins@tus.ie

Further Information

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