The European Qualification Framework

This handbook is the result of the Erasmus+ Key Action 2 Innovation in the field of youth work “21st Century – Coaching Europe’s Navigation Towards Understanding and Reactivating Youth”, supported by the the EU funded programme Erasmus+ Programme’s Czech National Agency, Dům zahraničních služeb and implemented by the Czech civil society organisation The Globe in partnership as lead partner, in consortium with the EduEra (SK), ResCogita (EE), Strauss APS (ITA), COOBRA (AT) and Praxis (HL). This handbook was produced with the financial assistance of the European Commission. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of The Globe and its consortium partners, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. 

Welcome to a framework that puts young people at the center of their own growth story. Whether you are a seasoned youth worker, a new social coach, or someone exploring this field, this handbook offers you a practical roadmap for supporting young people in ways that truly matter. Young people today navigate a world of unprecedented complexity. They face traditional challenges of identity formation and career decisions alongside new realities: climate anxiety, digital overwhelm, social inequality, and rapidly changing job markets. As youth workers and social coaches, we need approaches that honor both their individual journeys and their place in wider communities and ecosystems. This competence framework isn’t about checking boxes or following rigid procedures. It’s about
developing the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that help you create spaces where young people can:

• Discover their authentic selves
• Build meaningful relationships
• Navigate complex systems with confidence
• Contribute to positive change in their communities
• Develop resilience for an uncertain future

This Competence model for youth coaching was developed to provide a structured, practice- oriented framework for professionals who support young people through coaching, mentoring, and non-formal education. It combines insights from psychology, youth work, coaching, education, and sustainability to describe what high-quality youth coaching looks like in practice. This handbook aims to develop a comprehensive and effective competence model for social coaching, designed to assess and support the skills, knowledge, and attitudes required of practitioners in this emerging profession. The model is grounded in the European Qualification Framework (EQF) and the National Qualification Frameworks (NQFs) of partner countries, ensuring coherence with European standards while responding to the diverse realities of youth work and social coaching. The purpose of this model is to ensure that individuals working in social coaching have the necessary qualifications and competences to provide high-quality, ethical, and impactful services. It offers a structured way of identifying, articulating, and assessing the competences that social coaches need in order to empower young people, strengthen communities, and respond to today’s complex social and ecological challenges.


You might wonder why a handbook about youth coaching talks about the European Qualification Framework. The connection is both practical and transformational for your career and the young people you serve. For your professional recognition: Youth work has historically been undervalued and poorly recognized compared to other helping professions. By aligning our competence framework with EQF standards, we’re establishing youth coaching and social coaching as legitimate, skilled professions that deserve recognition, proper compensation, and career development opportunities. This isn’t just about credentials – it’s about respect for the complex, important work you do. For quality and consistency: When youth services vary wildly in quality from one organization
to another, young people suffer. The EQF connection ensures that whether a young person works with a social coach in Slovakia, Spain, or Sweden, they can expect certain standards of competence and ethical practice. This protects young people and strengthens the profession. For your career mobility: In our interconnected Europe, you should be able to take your skills across borders. An EQF-aligned framework means your competencies are recognized whether you want to work in another European country, participate in international exchanges, or collaborate on European-level youth projects. Your professional growth isn’t limited by national boundaries. For accessing training and funding: Many training programs, funding opportunities, and career advancement positions require recognized qualifications. By connecting your practical experience to EQF levels, you can more easily access professional development opportunities, apply for leadership positions, and secure funding for innovative projects. In this way, the competence model not only sets a standard for professional practice but also acts as a living resource for reflection, learning, and transformation — ensuring that social coaching remains responsive, ethical, and impactful in rapidly changing social and ecological contexts.