Artificial Intelligence in Youth Work: Policy Lessons and Strategic Directions from the AI4YouthWork Project

This publication presents the Policy Paper “Artificial Intelligence in Youth Work: Policy Lessons and Strategic Directions from the AI4YouthWork Project”, developed in the framework of the Artificial Intelligence for Youth Work (AI4YouthWork) project, a Cooperation Partnership in the Youth field co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.

The paper translates empirical evidence generated through the AI4YouthWork project into actionable policy recommendations for the ethical, inclusive, and sustainable integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into youth work systems across Europe. It addresses a significant structural gap: while AI governance and digital transformation strategies are increasingly central to European policymaking, youth work remains largely absent from these frameworks.

The document is grounded in a transnational research process, including:

• A systematic literature review of 145 international and European sources (48 selected for in-depth analysis);
• Focus groups with 72 youth work professionals across several European countries;
• Expert interviews in AI, youth work, and digital education;
• A validation survey involving 100 youth workers, organisations, training providers, and policy stakeholders;
• Piloting of training resources, including a multilingual Digital Catalogue of 48 Open Educational Resources and an AI Training Toolkit.

The paper identifies structural challenges currently affecting youth work in relation to AI, including fragmented competence development, ethical and legal uncertainty, unequal access to training, and the risk of marginalising youth work in digitally mediated environments.

Based on this evidence, the policy paper proposes coordinated, multi-level action across European, national, and regional governance systems. The recommendations are organised into seven key areas:

• Inclusive Training Opportunities
• Lifelong Learning and Continuous Professional Development
• Ethical and Trustworthy AI in Youth Work
• Sustainable Funding and Resource Development
• Cross-Sector Cooperation and Knowledge Exchange
• Scaling and Sustainability
• Strengthening Collaboration Networks and Communities of Practice

The publication argues that AI competences for youth workers should be recognised as a matter of public interest and embedded into qualification systems, professional standards and youth strategies, emphasising how AI integration can reinforce core youth work values and functions.