ESOQ is the European Survey on Quality, developed by GEYC and PRISMA Network, in the frame of EQYP Project. EQYP Project is a mobility of youth workers under Erasmus+, co-financed by European Commission.

1. EQYP Survey on Quality
- ESOQ -
Final Results

2. Context
ESOQ is the European Survey on Quality, developed by GEYC* and PRISMA Network**, in the frame of
EQYP Project***.
* Group of the European Youth for Change – GEYC is a Romanian youth organization founded in 2010 active at
European level. Its aim is to empower young people to change their community. We are young people working with young
people through both peer-to-peer education and mass communication supported by youth leaders. Find out more.
** PRISMA Network gathers youth oriented organisations aiming to boost their efficiency by exchanging good practices,
developing activities with support of new media tools, focusing on developing qualitative youth work activities with a
European dimension. PRISMA is striving for excellence on belief that excellence is the result of high intention, sincere
effort, intelligent direction, skilful execution and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities.
Find out more.
*** European Quality in Youth Projects – EQYP is a mobility of youth workers under Erasmus+ (Eastern Partnership),
KA1, Youth aimed to train youth workers in the quality management field and to develop a quality standard for youth
projects (called "EQYP"). It include a training course aimed to tackle the main fields of focus regarding youth project
quality and a seminar during which a European Quality Standard will be created. It is co-financed by the European
Commission through Erasmus+ programme. Follow #eqypEU to find out more.

3. ESOQ Aim
ESOQ’s main objective was to come with a more complete
answer to the question ‘’What does quality in a youth project
mean?’’ than any of the respondents could bring alone to the
table. We strongly believe that we can build not only on
similarities, but also on multiperspectivism and the different
socio-cultural background of each of our respondents. Only
like this we can ensure that a common quality standard for
youth projects can be applied by all.
Thus, this survey aimed to show how quality in youth projects
is seen among different contexts by focusing on EQYP
pillars:
○ Non-formal Learning
○ Project Management
○ Partnerships
○ PR & Communication
○ Financial Planning

4. Methodology
Timeframe
● The chosen format was an online questionnaire with
six sections: General Information and one for each of
EQYP pillars- Non-formal Learning, Project
Management, Partnerships, Communication & PR, and
Financial Planning.
● Each of these five sections contained three
Agree/Disagree statements.
● If in the first part we focused on factual information, the
other five emphasized the opinions of our respondents.
● The form was anonymous.
● The respondents had ten days to fill in the
questionnaire, between the 2nd
and the 12th
of
September 2016.
● Responding to all questions took approximately 5
minutes.

5. Target audience
We envisaged ESOQ to reach youth workers, NGO managers, volunteers, trainers from a large range of contexts, with no
discrimination regarding gender or race. We had four main categories:
1. Representants from all partners of EQYP Project: Alternativi International (BG), Education Without Boundaries (AM),
European Cooperative Youth Network (TR), Futuro Digitale (IT), GEYC (RO), Invento (MD), JuBuk e.V. (DE), Viesite
Municipality (LV), Youthfully Yours GR, Social Youth Development – KANE (EL), STELLA (UA)
2. New Media Ambassadors*
3. Members of GEYC Community**
4. Others (youth workers, educators, NGO managers, volunteers that are not included in any of the categories above)
* New Media Ambassadors are volunteers all around the world entitled to represent, develop and promote the GEYC
Resources Center at local and national level. The initiative, a complex online practical training, aims to digitally empower
young people to create a positive change, improving both, hard and soft skills. Find out more.
** GEYC Community is a platform for youths, youth workers and educators, which aims to create an open space for
dialogue and cooperation, where members can find out and also promote personal and professional development
opportunities and relevant resources. Find out more.

6. General Information
● No. of responses: 138
● Age range of
respondents: 17-60
● Average age of
respondents: 25

7. Provenience
of
Respondents

8. Non-formal learning: Results
64,2%disagree Improvisation can not lead to quality.
77,4%disagree
In a non-formal activity it is normal that
facilitators are the only ones who will
provide all information.
65% disagree
The measure of quality depends strictly
on planification of non-formal activities.

9. Non-formal Learning: Conclusions
The answers under Non-formal Learning pillar show that there is a tendency of accepting
uncertainty, assuming shared-responsibility and breaking the large process into small steps,
each of it ensuring quality through its particularities.
According to the opinions of our respondents improvisation can help getting things done, even if something unplanned pops
up. Thus, it is not a sign of weakness, but a reference of flexibility and creativity to respond promptly to unpredicted
challenges, keeping calm and making things happen without disarming before panic and fear.
Regarding the way knowledge, attitudes and skills are transferred during non-formal activities, respondents believe that
there are other actors besides facilitators that can contribute with learning content. There is a learning partnership between
everyone involved in the learning process, based on the active participation of learners. They are not only empty boxes
which trainers fill with information, but conscious learners that get involved in their development.
Moreover, the planification step of non-formal activities itself is not enough to ensure quality. There are other important
phases that lead to the success of this process, which should all be correctly implemented and linked to the main objectives
of the project.

10. Project Management: Results
78,8%agree
Project management effectiveness
should focus on group performance.
44,5%agree
Project ending phase is the one proving
the quality of a project.
59,9%agree
A qualitative project is the same both in
companies and NGOs.
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11. Project Management: Conclusions
The answers under Project Management pillar reveal a business approach, with emphasize
on teamwork and a strategic vision over all different phases of the process.
Regarding project management effectiveness, group performance is considered by our respondents to be a key element
to reach it.
Teams are, in this sense, not only more effective than individuals in performing tasks but also an essential part of any
project, as their result as a whole and not the result of each one of the members helps to achieve quality at all levels. The
group outcome is thus greater than the sum of its parts.
Almost half of the respondents think that project ending is not the only phase that provides the quality of a project. All
steps can add value. Ensuring the best outcomes for each of the parts would lead to a successful result.
Moreover, a qualitative project is believed to be similar in companies and NGOs. Regardless of differences in profit
making, great outcomes rely on common principles and quality standards in both kinds of entities.

12. Partnerships: Results
65%disagree
You can get good results when having a
partner that does not focus on the quality of a
project.
75,9%agree
In the non-gov. environment, business
relationships are different than in the corporate
sector.
63,6% disagree
Delivering the best results is the most important
for you. What your partners do, should not
influence you.

13. Partnerships: Conclusions
The answers under Partnerships pillar underline the great impact of each actor on the
quality of the project.
According to the majority of respondents, all partners should focus on quality to ensure good results,
because what they do influences the quality of the project in general. Even if the project is targeted at
individual and organizational levels, the impact of each participant and partner will be project-wide.
Rather than attempting to isolate the effects of a single action or in-action of one partner, collective
results should assess the progress and quality of the process as a whole.
Also, business relations in non-governmental sector have their own particularities that draw the map of
strategic partnership. By ensuring that the project is managed as a strategic one, taking into
consideration the effects that each part of the domino can have, there are increased opportunities for
success.

14. PR & Communication: Results
54,7% disagree
Dissemination of results is more
important than visibility of a project.
80,3% disagree
Between NGOs and their stakeholders,
communication happens naturally; there
is no need of a communication strategy.
65%disagree
Having a communication plan means
having a Facebook page where you can
post.

15. PR & Communication: Conclusions
The answers under Communication & PR pillar emphasize the understanding of the
benefits and purpose of the communication strategy and the relevance of both
dissemination and visibility of a project.
The majority of respondents strongly believe that a communication strategy is needed to link different
key actors, as it creates consistency, helping to reduce confusion or missed information. A
communication plan includes a large range of tools, online and offline, linked to the objectives, targets
and resources of the project. It ensures that all significant information is dispersed to the correct people,
both internally and externally.
Moreover, both dissemination and visibility are important. Not all parts of the project may be exploited
further and it is important to enhance the visibility of the project's activities in addition to the
dissemination of sustainable results and outputs.

16. Financial Planning: Results
75,2%disagree
Low investments mean low quality of a
project.
56,2%agree
Quality on the financial side means
having an expert taking care of this part.
59,9%agree
Bottom-up financial planning is better
than top-down financial planning.
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17. Financial Planning: Conclusions
The answers under Financial Planning pillar highlight the fact that if used wisely, little
financial resources can also create great value.
The majority of the respondents consider that low investments do not trigger low-quality of a project.
Great things can be done with little financial resources, if these are well used. Nevertheless, a financial
expert can bring an added value to the project and help generating high quality from low budget.
Bottom-up approach seems more appealing. More of half of the respondents believe that a detailed
budget composed by combining spending plans for each department is more efficient than breaking
down a budget into smaller amounts dedicated to the identified needs.

18. Follow #eqypEU for updates
regarding quality in youth projects.
Thank you!