Trends in youth work training

The most recent report from the National Youth Agency (NYA) on youth work education and training activity over the past year highlights interesting trends in the health of the sector.
 
Headline figures from the NYA's Annual Monitoring of Youth and Community Degree Programmes 2014-15 shows an increase in the number of students registered from the previous year (793, up from 701) with a "slight decrease" in programmes from 34 to 31.
The number of placements and supervisors has dropped. The gender balance has shifted too: as of 2015, 75 per cent of youth work students were women.  
While the increase in student numbers is welcome, it is not a sign of celebration. The steady decline from 1,380 students in 2007 reflects the cumulative effect of austerity (see graphics). The closure of courses and anxiety about those that remain with dwindling numbers is acute in some cases.  
There could be cause for concern over staffing changes too. Youth work courses appear well staffed with an increase in the number of Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) qualified lecturers, but there is also a notable shift towards part-time staff.
The report also notes how courses have had to become more "flexible" in their requirement for placement supervisors to hold JNC status - the shortage of which is just one of the many consequences of sustained cuts to provision.
There are some sparks of welcome innovation in response: for example, course teams providing supervision training to colleagues from outside of youth work who hold supervision responsibility; while the use of alumni to provide supervision has the added benefit of providing a welcome continuous professional development opportunity to former students.