With this graduation thesis, I explored the possibilities of cooperation between the youth sector and schools in the Municipality of Ljubljana. First, I explored how youth workers imagine this partnership. Namely, what approaches, activities, and methods would they use when working in and with schools. Later, I focused on possible chances and challenges which the youth sector and schools may deal with in the partnership. Finally, I explored what youth workers think which practices and experiences from abroad could be adopted to Slovenia and why. For instance, practices observed and experiences gained by participating in mobility programmes for youth workers.
Youth workers work with young people to facilitate their personal, social, and political development through non-formal and informal education, counselling, and leisure activities. Furthermore, they support youth to have a voice in communities. Slovenian youth sector is highly engaged and active in working with young people where they are at. Slovenian youth spend most of the day in schools. Considering the previous facts, having youth work in schools is not only beneficial for young people, but also for schools and communities. “Youth work in Schools” is a concept for delivering informal and non-formal learning in formal settings. For instance, in primary and secondary schools.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 YOUTH
1.1.1 The Concept of Youth
1.1.2 Defining Youth
1.1.3 Youth in Slovenia
1.1.4 Life-worlds and Subcultures of Youth
1.2 YOUTH WORK
1.2.1 Defining Youth Work
1.2.2 Youth Work Ethics
1.2.3 Community Youth Work
1.3 YOUTH WORK IN SCHOOLS
1.3.1 Defining Youth Work in Schools
1.3.2 The Cycle of Cooperation Between Schools and Youth Sector
2. PROBLEM
2.1 OVERVIEW
2.2 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 TYPE OF RESEARCH
3.2 RESEARCH POPULATION AND SAMPLE
3.3 RESEARCH INSTRUMENT
3.4 DATA COLLECTION
3.5 DATA ANALYSIS
4. RESEARCH FINDINGS
4.1 YOUTH WORK PRACTICE
4.2 CHARACTERISTICS OF YOUTH WORKERS
4.3 SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN YOUTH WORKERS AND TEACHERS
4.4 YOUTH WORK IN SCHOOLS
4.5 CHANCES OF COOPERATION
4.6 CHALLENGES OF COOPERATION
4.7 EXPERIENCES FROM ABROAD
5. DISCUSSION
6. CONCLUSIONS
7. RECOMMENDATIONS
8. REFERENCES
9. APPENDIX
9.1 APPENDIX I: INFORMED CONSENT FORM
9.2 APPENDIX II: INTERVIEW GUIDE
9.3 APPENDIX III: CODE SYSTEM
9.4 APPENDIX IV: CODED SEGMENTS
9.5 APPENDIX V: INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS
9.5.1 Interview A
9.5.2 Interview B
9.5.3 Interview C
9.5.4 Interview D
9.5.5 Interview E
9.5.6 Interview F
Objectives & Research Themes
The main objective of this graduation thesis is to explore the possibilities for effective collaboration between the youth sector and schools within the Municipality of Ljubljana. The research seeks to understand how youth workers perceive this partnership, identify the potential benefits and challenges, and determine which successful international practices could be adapted to the Slovenian context to improve youth wellbeing.
- Prospects and challenges of partnership between youth workers and schools.
- Approaches and methods for delivering youth work in formal educational settings.
- Comparison of professional roles, practices, and perspectives of youth workers and teachers.
- Identification of relevant international practices for adoption in the Slovenian youth sector.
Excerpt from the Book
1.3.1 Defining Youth Work in Schools
A unified definition of youth work in schools does not exist as the discussion is still ongoing. However, we may define youth work in schools "as a process of non-formal learning in a formal setting" (Davies et al., n.d., p. 9). Traditionally, these two services were working separately as their methods and concepts are very different. However, many research studies have shown that students benefit when schools and youth workers work together. Both youth work and school have the same goal: to support youngsters in their transition from childhood to adulthood. Ekonoja (n.d.) said that "this model improves cooperation between schools and youth services and therefore makes it possible to improve youth wellbeing as a whole".
A research (Arad Research, 2015) found that young people, schools, as well as communities’ benefit from youth work in schools. This research found that youth work in schools offers young people alternative support which complements formal education in schools and aims to enrich and add value to the school's curriculum. Furthermore, the research found that youth workers have a more informal approach to support than teachers do. Youth workers focus on social and emotional issues while working on skills development and rising aspirations. Thus, youth work plugs a gap in formal education as youth work is based on voluntary engagement and is flexible in that young people can direct their learning. The research also found that youth workers have an alternative approach to youth. The youth workers have the skills, flexibility, and time required to build good relationships with young people, which teachers often do not have.
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: Explores the concept of youth through various academic dimensions, introduces professional youth work practice, and explains the specific concept of youth work within schools.
2. PROBLEM: Provides an overview of the ongoing development of school-based youth work in Ljubljana and outlines the specific research questions regarding expectations, challenges, and chances of this partnership.
3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: Details the qualitative and exploratory research design, data collection via semi-structured expert interviews with six youth workers, and the analysis process using Strauss and Corbin’s approach.
4. RESEARCH FINDINGS: Summarizes the key insights, including current youth work practices, the differences between educators and youth workers, and detailed evaluation of potential cooperation, its challenges, and international experiences.
Keywords
youth work, young people, youth work in schools, partnership, social development, non-formal education, collaboration, youth sector, educational system, empowerment, municipality of Ljubljana, community youth work, transition, social pedagogy, wellbeing
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The work primarily focuses on the cooperation between the youth sector and primary and secondary schools in the Municipality of Ljubljana, exploring how to integrate non-formal youth work into formal school environments.
What are the primary themes discussed in the thesis?
The central themes include the definition of youth in postmodern society, the role of youth workers, the comparative dynamics between teachers and youth workers, and the potential impact of school-based youth work on community and individual student development.
What is the ultimate goal of the proposed school-youth sector collaboration?
The goal is to support young people holistically in their transition to adulthood, complement formal education with informal learning, and provide accessible, on-site support to students in their local school environment.
Which scientific method was employed for this thesis?
The research uses a qualitative and exploratory approach, specifically utilizing semi-structured expert interviews with six practitioners from the youth sector, analyzed through Strauss and Corbin's coding scheme.
What does the main body of the research address?
The main body covers a comprehensive review of the youth concept, an analysis of youth work ethics, the "cycle of cooperation" between schools and local youth organizations, and a presentation of empirical findings from expert interviews.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Keywords include youth work, partnership, non-formal education, social development, and school-based cooperation.
How does the author propose bridging the gap between teachers and youth workers?
The author suggests creating space for professional meetings, joint trainings, and establishing a shared pedagogical language to break down prejudices and enhance mutual understanding.
What specific international examples are mentioned?
The thesis references practices observed in the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, such as mobile youth centers, dedicated youth rooms in schools, and multidisciplinary teams involving police and social services to support vulnerable youth.
- Citar trabajo
- Amar Toplić (Autor), 2021, Youth Sector in Schools. Towards Effective Collaboration, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1430083
