Christiane Meyers holds a DEA in Sociology and is a Research (and Development) Specialist at the Centre for Childhood and Youth Research (CCY) at the University of Luxembourg.
RAY MON and RAY SOC studies in Luxembourg (2021–2027)
Monitoring and impact studies on Erasmus+ Youth and the European Solidarity Corps
The RAY MON and RAY SOC studies examine the implementation and impacts of the EU’s Erasmus+ Youth and European Solidarity Corps programmes in Luxembourg during the 2021–2027 programme period.
They form part of the European research network RAY – Research-based analysis of European youth programmes and provide scientifically sound yet practice-relevant insights for youth policy, administration and professional practice.
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Background: RAY network, Erasmus+ programme and agency
The RAY network (Research-based analysis of European youth programmes) is a network of 36 national agencies for the Erasmus+ Youth and European Solidarity Corps programmes and their research partners.
Since 2008, it has been supporting the EU programmes in the youth sector – initially ‘Youth in Action’, now Erasmus+ Youth and the European Solidarity Corps – through regular studies.
Infobox: Erasmus+
Erasmus+ Youth is the EU programme for non-formal and informal education in the youth sector. Among other things, it supports international youth exchanges, the mobility of youth workers, transnational cooperation projects, and initiatives aimed at developing key competences and strengthening democracy, participation and inclusion. The European Solidarity Corps (ESC) is an EU programme that gives young people the opportunity to get involved in national solidarity projects and voluntary services across Europe. The focus is on activities that strengthen solidarity and social cohesion, for example in the fields of social affairs, the environment, education, culture or youth support. In Luxembourg, both Erasmus+ Youth and the European Solidarity Corps are implemented by the national agency anefore. This agency is responsible for providing information and advice, processing applications and managing projects, and supports organisations and young people in making use of the programmes.
Luxembourg has been a member of the RAY network since 2009 and has been carrying out two key studies ever since:
- RAY MON: a monitoring study on Erasmus+ Youth. It examines the projects within the programme and analyses how they are used, what impact they have and how they develop over time.
- RAY SOC: a monitoring study on the European Solidarity Corps. It focuses on solidarity projects and volunteering services and examines their significance for young people, organisations and local communities.
Both studies combine national analyses in Luxembourg with European comparisons within the RAY network.
Objectives of the studies in Luxembourg
The RAY MON and RAY SOC studies in Luxembourg pursue several interlinked objectives:
Monitoring the programmes
The studies monitor the implementation of Erasmus+ Youth and the European Solidarity Corps in Luxembourg throughout the entire funding period 2021–2027. They record which opportunities are taken up, who participates and what the framework conditions are.
Analysis of impacts
A key focus is on the impacts for:
- participants, e.g. in terms of personal development, social, intercultural and democratic skills, a sense of belonging to Europe and commitment to solidarity,
- organisations, e.g. in terms of quality development, internationalisation, networking and cooperation,
- the youth sector as a whole, e.g. in terms of structures, programmes and professional practice.
Support for youth policy and administration
The studies provide evidence-based information to support youth policy and programme administration in Luxembourg in further developing the Erasmus+ Youth and European Solidarity Corps programmes and adapting them to current needs.
Support for professional practice
The results are also intended to be useful for professionals and organisations in the field of international youth work and solidarity engagement, for example in the context of quality development, programme design and further training.
Contribution to European comparisons
The Luxembourg data is incorporated into the transnational analyses carried out by the RAY network. This enables comparisons between countries and highlights common European trends.
Research questions and topics
Within the framework of RAY MON and RAY SOC, the following questions, amongst others, are being investigated:
- How do young people, professionals and organisations experience their participation in Erasmus+ Youth and European Solidarity Corps projects?
- What learning processes and skills do participants gain, for example in terms of independence, collaboration, intercultural learning, civic education, a sense of European belonging, or commitment to solidarity and participation?
- What impact do the programmes have on youth work organisations and structures, for instance with regard to internationalisation, quality development, cooperation and networks?
- To what extent do Erasmus+ Youth and the European Solidarity Corps contribute to the implementation of youth policy objectives in Luxembourg and Europe, e.g. in the areas of inclusion, participation, democracy, human rights, sustainability and solidarity?
- What challenges and conditions for success do the stakeholders involved identify in the implementation of the programmes?
Methodology
The studies are based on a standardised, internationally coordinated research design developed by the RAY network. This research design is intended to ensure that the results from different countries are comparable.
Surveys are conducted on a regular basis in the participating countries with:
- young participants in Erasmus+ Youth and European Solidarity Corps projects,
- youth leaders, specialists and project managers,
- and, where applicable, other stakeholders involved in the projects.
The participating countries use harmonised questionnaires and indicators. This enables the results to be compared across countries and common patterns to be analysed.
Timeframe and activities in Luxembourg
The studies run alongside the 2021–2027 programme period of Erasmus+ Youth and the European Solidarity Corps.
Activities in Luxembourg include, amongst others:
- conducting the regular RAY MON and RAY SOC surveys with participants and professionals in Luxembourg,
- processing and analysing the Luxembourg data for national reporting,
- producing national reports, brief analyses and factsheets on selected topics,
- the presentation of findings at specialist events, workshops and conferences for youth policy-makers, administrators and practitioners,
- participation in European working groups and publications of the RAY network.
National project partners
The RAY MON and RAY SOC studies are supported in Luxembourg by national partners active in the fields of youth policy, programme implementation and research.
In Luxembourg, these are:
- the Centre for Childhood and Youth Research (CCY), which is responsible for national research coordination and provides academic support for the studies in Luxembourg,
- the national agency anefore for Erasmus+ Youth and the European Solidarity Corps, which implements the programmes in Luxembourg and supports the studies,
- the national youth service SNJ, which supports the project under a cooperation agreement between the university and MENJE.
The Luxembourg partners work closely with the other countries in the RAY network to facilitate coordinated data collection, analysis and publications.
