My ongoing self-education is both formal and informal, including courses, conversations with young people and colleagues, reading books and individual reflection on my work. If any method is most important it must be dialogue - a conversation in which participants hope to learn something. This is the basis of youth work, particularly in detached settings, and is the primary way I develop my own practice.
But formal qualifications are not the be-all and end-all. My youth work diploma course was stimulating, gave me access to a range of tutors and built my confidence to understand and challenge systems I disagree with. I would recommend studying to anyone. But I will not be celebrating next year when it becomes compulsory for new youth workers to study to degree level or higher to be formally qualified.
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