7 www.digital-youth.eu Training Needs Analysis of Youth Workers Youth workers aim to prepare young people for life, a digital life. To offer young people a combination of practical skills, knowledge, motivation, attitudes, and other social and behavioural components that are mobilised together to achieve effective action. In the Digital Age, how we learn has changed, and therefore, how we teach must adapt. This means that both the figure of the teacher and the teaching methodologies have to adapt to a changing world and to the needs of the current generation of young people. On the other hand, the young generation is indeed fluent in technology, but at no time does this indicate that they are making correct, useful, and beneficial use of it for their personal development and learning; and this is where youth workers need to have an impact. Any trainer's task is to create and foster a learning ecology that enables learners to improve quickly and effectively on their existing learning. Ultimately, youth workers in the Digital Age must maintain an attitude of permanent enquiry, foster the learning of competences (generate learning environments), maintain a continuum from individual to teamwork (support integrated educational projects) and encourage the development of an ethical spirit. Technology and information alone do not guide, help, or advise young people; therefore, the work of an educator in the digital world is more important than ever. Training Needs Analysis of Youth Workers in Cyprus The arrival of COVID-19 has had a negative impact on youth work because communication barriers have been reinforced. Face-to-face contact with people has been lost, and this has led to a decrease in volunteers interested in civic engagement and participatory activities. At the same time, the need to use online communication platforms (ZOOM, Skype, etc.) for meetings and seminars has increased. Therefore, there is a need for youth workers to provide basic ICT skills, as well as up-to-date training methods (webinars, etc.), and a digitised workplace for discussions or debates. In the Focus Group conducted in Cyprus, the need was found to apply more cost-effective digital tools in a workplace (online communication platforms, online seminars/trainings/workshops/training activities, study visits, etc.), not only to have an efficient management but also to establish a strong connection with young people through social media. "Young individuals are voicing the need for simplicity: simple lives, simple online application procedures, and minimum paperwork". In addition to formalising and recognising the profession of youth workers in Cyprus, youth workers also need to be digitally trained and skilled in the use of social media (Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter), and online communication platforms (ZOOM, SKYPE, Microsoft Teams) to communicate with young people and keep them engaged by disseminating
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