Youth Transition to Adulthood Today

(Based on comparative research between Finland and France, within EU context)

Course: for 18-20 students (20 maximum)

Course Goals:

The course introduces students to research conducted in advanced societies on youth transition to adulthood and youth prolongation. In the different lectures, the actual patterns and markers of transition to the stage of adulthood are examined, based on up-to-date studies. The lectures analyse the current phenomenon of youth extension and changes within the stage of transition itself. The course enlarges towards contemporary socio-economic restructuring and highlights the influence it bears upon young people's routes of integration within the wider social sphere.

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Teaching Plan/Spring Term 2012

24h course - includes: 12h lectures, 12h seminars;

Lectures on Mondays, 11-13, place: Linna 5016

Seminars on Thursdays, 12-14, place: Linna 5016

Timetable:

Lecture 1: Mon 6.2.2012: course introduction, course assessment, introduction to youth studies and youth transition, distribution of reading material

Seminar 1: Thu 9.2.2012: discussing existing theories on youth transition and course assessment (doing presentations and essay writing)

Lecture 2: Mon 13.2.2012: youth extension in figures and re-contextualisation, presentation of present socio-economic situation

Seminar 2: Thu 16.2.2012: presentations, discussing young people's present social context

Lecture 3: Mon 20.2.2012: school to work transition, and general information about Finland and France (socio-economic and historical backgrounds), doing comparative research

Seminar 3: Thu 23.2.2012: presentations, discussing cross-country research and the cases of Finland and France (eg. differences and similarities)

Lecture 4: Mon 27.2.2012: integrating the labour market, youth situation in Finland and France, young people's expectations from working life and dilemmas regarding integration into working life

Seminar 4: Thu 1.3.2012: presentations and discussing young people's strategies of integration in the labour market

Lecture 5: Mon 5.3.12: leaving the parental home and plans for family formation, living arrangements

Seminar 5: Thu 8.3.2012: presentations, discussing today's young people's attitudes towards living arrangements and starting a family

Lecture 6: Mon 19.3.2012: becoming adult, re-conceptualising concepts (youth and adulthood), new perspectives on transition, new pathways to adulthood

Seminar 6: Thu 22.3.12: presentations, discussing patterns of transition and social concepts change, course conclusion

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Learning outcomes

Students will gain knowledge on the contemporary and growing social phenomenon of youth extension, as well as the larger contextual structural causes that engender it. They will simultaneously get a clearer perspective on a given phenomenon but also its roots. In addition, students will be introduced to comparative research.

Teaching methods

The teaching occurs via lectures and seminars. The lectures provide theoretical knowledge on particular themes related to youth transition to adulthood. In the seminars, the themes are explored further during small presentations, group discussions and evaluation, based on relevant material (textbooks, articles).

Course assessment

- Participation in lectures and seminars

- The students will be required to write an essay (from a list of topics) based on one of the lecture themes.

- They will also be asked to give short presentations (usually in pairs) during the seminars, based on study material related to the lectures topics.

- Marking: grades from 1 to 5.