Why and for what do we exist?

• We don’t take the ‘knowledge-based society’ concept for granted. We think that it is relevant to build democratic processes and experimentations which empower a wide-ranging of the population according to those issues, as many young people have lost confidence in decision-making systems and experience disaffection in terms of traditional participation in public life. Therefore, we want to develop concrete social practices and attempts which involve and bring together young generations, social actors (NGOs, associations, foundations, actors of the formal educative systems, firms) and scientists.

• As we want to analyse, to critic, to reconsider the ‘knowledge-based society’ concept, our scientific council - called Group 38 (G38)- produces free, permanent and open debate spaces where analysis can be improved, developed and supported (such as permanent seminar, workshop, summer school, collaborative research…).



• We think that our societies need to be more ambitious with young generations. The complex, interdependent and “risky” societies do impose new educative and social dynamics. We observe a high-degree of interest in ‘knowledge’ careers and disciplines within young generations. We develop strategies connected to concrete actions in order to make knowledge careers and fields less abstract for young generations. However, institutions, formal and non-formal educative actors need to be aware of some cultural and mental frame evolutions within new generations in the sense they consider their own priorities, wishes and ways of doing things. That is why we facilitate the emergence of autonomous spaces for youngsters in order to support their own actions, social experimentations, agendas and priorities.

• Structurally, we wish to be part of dynamics that could join together quality and specificities of formal and non-formal educative and social spaces. New forms of professional and intellectual qualifications must be recognised & supported in order to help a larger part of young generations to commit themselves in social activities while such actions should be positively identified by educative systems/institutions. More generally, YPSSI platform encourages partnership between education and working life, develops involvement of youngster in citizenship initiatives programs at local, national, European and international level.