22–23 October 2025, Maribor, Slovenia
The Regional Development Agency for Podravje – Maribor (RDA Podravje – Maribor) hosted the partners’ meeting of the project OUT4INGOV – New Generation Alpine OUT-migration Engagement FOR an INclusive GOVernance on 22 and 23 October.
The two-day event brought to Maribor six partners from four Alpine countries, who are jointly seeking innovative ways to address the challenges of youth out-migration and to strengthen cooperation between young people, municipalities, and communities.
The OUT4INGOV project addresses one of the key demographic challenges faced by Alpine regions – the out-migration of young people from peripheral and mountain areas. Through this partnership, the project aims to develop innovative governance models that enable young people to take an active role in shaping regional policies. The goal is to strengthen human capital, build more connected communities, and encourage young people to remain in or return to their home regions.
The Maribor pilot: Youth Advisory Council
One of the central topics of the meeting was the presentation of the pilot model of a Youth Consultative Body, developed within the project by RDA Podravje – Maribor.
This model fosters cooperation between young people and key development stakeholders, providing youth with the opportunity to take part in decision-making on issues that influence their position and future, as reflected in development strategies.
The Maribor pilot will offer young people a structured platform for dialogue and contribute to the design of broader regional strategies aimed at retaining and attracting youth back to the region. In addition, the project is developing a Youth Migration Observatory and cooperation schemes between municipalities, regions, and civil society, which will support better monitoring of migration trends and the development of inclusive policies.
Two-Day Partners’ Meeting in Maribor
The first day of the meeting was dedicated to presenting key results – the Baseline Report and the prototype of the Consultative Body. Partners discussed models of collaborative groups and the Youth Migration Observatory, exchanged experiences related to pilot activities, and jointly developed guidelines for future work.
In the afternoon, participants took part in a study visit, gaining insight into the functioning of the youth sector and youth policies in Maribor.
The second day focused on planning the Maribor pilot and discussions on the Youth Migration Data Observatory and a digital platform for knowledge exchange. Partners also reviewed the methodology and training curriculum for the consultative body workshops that will be implemented in the coming months.
A Step Forward Towards More Connected and Inclusive Regions
The meeting in Maribor further strengthened the OUT4INGOV partnership and reaffirmed the importance of cooperation between young people, municipalities, and local communities. As emphasized by the partners, the project’s main goal is clear – to give young people a genuine voice in shaping regional development and thereby strengthen human capital and social cohesion across the Alpine area.-
