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New research: what happens to professionals when they become parents?
What happens to the participation of trainers, youth workers and project managers in Erasmus+ when they become parents? NGO “ideA” has prepared the research report “Keeping expertise in the Erasmus+ Youth field. Parenthood, Caregiving and Professional Participation”. It was developed within the Erasmus+ project “Supporting Parents’ Expertise in Erasmus+” (No. 2026-1-LV02-KA153-YOU-000391972).
The research is based on three sources:
- an international seminar in Jelgava in August 2026 with participants from 8 European countries;
- a survey of professionals from across Europe;
- an expert roundtable discussion.
What you will find in the report:
- how participation in Erasmus+ changes after becoming a parent or caregiver;
- what makes participation more difficult, and what makes it possible;
- arguments for why parents of young children can be considered participants with fewer opportunities;
- a practical checklist for organisations on how to build a family-inclusive Erasmus+ mobility;
- recommendations for National Agencies and the Erasmus+ programme.
Key findings:
- Parents usually don’t leave the field, but their possibilities to participate become narrower.
- Even “a break for a few years” is not neutral. During that time, contacts, visibility and a place in the professional community are lost.
- When parents are supported during this stage of life, Erasmus+ keeps the knowledge and experience it has already invested in for years.
The report is written for trainers, youth workers, organisations and National Agencies.
👉 Download the report: https://ej.uz/parenting_research_report
👉 Presentation of the research report: https://ej.uz/uxx7
The report will be presented online on 13 October:
Thank you to everyone who shared their experience: the seminar participants, survey respondents and roundtable experts, as well as our partners in Poland, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Italy.
Report authors: Madara Mazjāne and Lauma Gulbe.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, European Commission or the granting authority (Agency for International Programs for Youth). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Did you know?
What happens to Erasmus+ expertise when professionals become parents?
We asked 47 trainers, youth workers and project managers from 13 countries. Some answers surprised even us.
On 13 October we present the research report “Keeping Expertise in the Field”, with a practical checklist for family-inclusive mobilities and calls to attention for National Agencies.
13 October 2026 · 12:00 EEST
Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/bug-cqcv-xad
Project “Supporting Parents’ Expertise in Erasmus+”
Supporting Parents’ Expertise in Erasmus+
Project No.: 2026-1-LV02-KA153-YOU-000391972
Action: Erasmus+ Mobility of Youth Workers (KA153-YOU)
Project period: 1 June – 31 October 2026
Applicant organization: NGO “ideA” (Latvia)
About the project
When trainers, youth workers and project managers become parents, taking part in Erasmus+ often becomes harder. Travel, childcare, long programme days and expectations about availability can push experienced professionals out of the field. The project looks at these barriers and turns the lived experience of parent-professionals into evidence, practical tools and recommendations. The aim is that experienced people can keep contributing to Erasmus+ youth work while they care for their families.
Core activity
International seminar “Supporting Parents’ Expertise in Erasmus+”
📍 Jelgava, Latvia · 📅 26–29 August 2026 (plus travel days)
The 4-day seminar brought together 16 youth workers, trainers, facilitators and project coordinators from 8 countries: Latvia, Slovakia, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Italy. Many of them are parents of young children. The seminar itself was family-inclusive. It took place at a child-friendly venue with a child-safe learning zone and a dedicated family support person, so parents could take part together with their children.
Through workshops, peer learning, the iceberg model and the socio-ecological model, participants explored how caregiving affects professional participation at individual, organisational, national and Erasmus+ level. They also co-created a survey and took part in an expert roundtable.
Objectives
- Analyse the realities of parent-professionals at individual, organisational, national and Erasmus+ level.
- Strengthen understanding of structural barriers linked to gender and care.
- Collect evidence through a survey, focus groups and interviews.
- Co-create realistic recommendations for more parent-inclusive Erasmus+ mobility.
Results
- Research report “Keeping expertise in the Erasmus+ Youth field”: [download link]
- Practical checklist for organisations on building a family-inclusive Erasmus+ mobility
- Recommendations for National Agencies and the wider Erasmus+ programme
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, European Commission or the granting authority (Agency for International Programs for Youth). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
