“RADA” has updated data on the needs of Belarusian youth in non-formal education

The previous survey took place in 2023. At the beginning of 2025, the team of the Belarusian national youth council “RADA” decided to update the data and also proposed to explore the demand for informal education within the framework of the “Narodny Opros” (National Poll) – an independent initiative that has been studying the opinions of Belarusians on current events since 2020. The data from both surveys is presented below.

The goal of the research is to identify the needs related to the content and organization of non-formal education programs among young Belarusians living in different countries.

A limitation of the research is that it was conducted using convenience samples, which do not represent the general population and mostly cover a more active, pro-democratic, and protest-oriented segment of the youth with prior experience in non-formal education programs. Nevertheless, despite the lack of representativeness, the research still captures the main trends in the formation of interest in non-formal education programs.

Who we surveyed and how

The “RADA” study was conducted via an online survey from January to March 2025.

92 respondents aged 18 to 35 were surveyed.
32% identified as male, 64% as female.
11% reside in Belarus, 60% in Poland, 11% in Lithuania, and the remaining 19% in other countries.

The majority of them are engaged in some form of civic activity.

The target group of the “Narodny opros” (National Poll) project includes individuals seeking educational opportunities, researchers and members of the business community living in various countries. The survey was conducted online in January 2025.

To study youth audience, a subsample of 91 respondents aged 18 to 30 was selected.
53% were male, 45% – female.
Most live in Poland (41%), Belarus (22%), Lithuania (6%), and the remaining 32% living in other countries.

The results showed that there is an interest in non-formal education programs among Belarusian youth, particularly among those who are more civically active. Most respondents have previous experience participating in non-formal education programs.

Topics such as financial literacy, effective communication and the use of AI are equally in demand among both women and men. Some areas of non-formal education, however, show gender-specific preferences.

The main advantage of participating in educational programs is the opportunity to gain new knowledge and skills.

Active youth especially emphasize the importance of networking, theoretical insights and professional development.

The respondents mostly prefer practice-oriented classes that facilitate the acquisition and reinforcement of new skills.

Lecture-style sessions for discussing new information and internships are also popular.

The duration of training should generally depend on its purpose. Respondents are willing to choose programs of any length depending on the context, though they tend to favor shorter courses (up to one month).

Blended learning formats that combine both offline and online sessions are highly preferred.

The choice of language in non-formal education programs should be guided by the course’s thematic focus. Respondents are open to participation in programs conducted in their native language or in languages they speak.
Place of residence also plays a role: in the “Other” option, Polish, German, Ukrainian, French and Czech were mentioned.

What factors influence youth participation in non-formal education projects

Green flags

Respondents are primarily guided by pragmatic considerations when deciding whether to participate in an educational program.

The most important factors include:

Availability of clear preliminary information about the program
Convenient location and schedule
Qualified instructors

Red flags

Organizational inconvenience is the main reason for refusing to attend courses.
It is worth noting that while reputation risk may not significantly deter participation on its own, negative reviews and a bad reputation are among the top reasons for opting out of a program.
For the “Narodny Opros” (National Poll) audience, a lack of interest in the topic may also be a decisive factor.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Thematic and content focus:

The primary criterion for interest in an educational program is its content. The most in-demand are relevant topics that help expand practical skills, especially in the digital domain, including:

Financial literacy,
Creative thinking,
Information design,
Cybersecurity,
Media promotion,
Use of artificial intelligence.

There is also significant interest in social-psychological and personal development areas, such as:

Effective communication,
Leadership,
Personal growth,
Psychological resilience.

Additionally, among youth living away from Belarus and within the Polish and Lithuanian diasporas, there is growing interest in learning the Belarusian language and culture.

Organizational and methodological support:

The motivation to attend educational courses includes:

Gaining new knowledge,
Improving existing skills,
Expanding social connections and communication networks.

The most optimal durations are short-term (up to one month) and medium-term (one to three months) courses.

Blended learning formats are the most in demand. These combine online and offline methodologies with opportunities for group interaction and networking support.

A crucial factor in attracting participants is high-quality organizational support, including: