The consortium spent two days discussing implementation issues:, follow-up to the application for an Erasmus curriculum development project under the Lifelong Learning Programme; curriculum module development; initial planning for a pilot seminar; and preparation for the key stakeholders’ meeting. The consortium welcomed several new faces to the discussion table, including Ola Stafseng for the University of Oslo, Norway; Nicole Vettenburg for the University of Gent; Katharina Lunardon for the University of Innsbruck; and Antje Rothemund for the Directorate of Youth and Sport of the Council of Europe. The consortium plans to finalise the curriculum description document by September 2009, so that one document can be can be used by each university partner to accredit the MA and planning for the ‘mini-pilot’ can begin in detail. The consortium’s next meeting is scheduled for October 2009 in Berlin.

Those who participated in the stakeholders meeting in Brussels received detailed information about the MA EYS curriculum and the framing conditions for making the MA EYS work in practice; they were asked for their advice, input and support in these respects. Potential governance and advisory structures were explored; follow-up foresees a proposal on these issues for further discussion. Participants expressed strong engagement and support in principle for MA EYS; there is clear interest in active involvement in the advisory mechanisms to be established. The consortium and its sponsors will now seek support to enable stakeholder meetings at regular intervals to facilitate an organic development of communication and exchange.

For more information on the progress of the MA EYS project, please contact Yael Ohana: yael@frankly-speaking.org or check the following website: http://www.youth-partnership.net/youth-partnership/about/MA_presentation.html .