Students will understand the contemporary process of transition to adulthood and societal dynamics shaping transitions. The lectures will focus on the structural factors that influence and transform current patterns of transition. They will gain basic knowledge on comparative research and different methods of youth research. Students learn to apply theoretical knowledge into practice by conducting a mini research project and present it in a conference setting practicing academic ways of working. Students will learn to work in a multicultural environment and to discuss and communicate with people from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

This international course introduces students to research on youth transition to adulthood within a cross-country comparative setting. Each lecture looks at transitions from different perspectives and discusses youth transition to adulthood and its current changes in connection with wider socio-economic, political and cultural contexts.

There will be six three-hour lecture-meetings (18 h) and a full conference-seminar day (6 h) (altogether: 24 h). The lectures are both theoretical and interactive. The lectures will be video recorded and available on Moodle.  

Teaching language is English.

Teachers of the course are:

Aurelíe Mary, The School of Social Sciences and Humanities

Eriikka Oinonen, The School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Unit of Pori

Ewa Krzaklewska, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland

The ‘live’ course:

1.  Lectures attendance, active participation in the discussions: 1 credit.

 2. Theory-building analysis + presentation: 2 credits.

The lectures are interactive and participatory. Students are required to conduct group work (2-5 students/group) based on themes of lecture 4 School to Work Transition and lecture 5 Reaching Independence and Family Formation. Each group analyses 1-2 articles and uses the articles as a basis for assessing the situation related to the above mentioned topics in their own countries.

 3. Mini research project + project presentation (conference day): 2 credits.

In groups of 2-4, students carry out a small project based on issues related to the course. Students are expected to investigate a particular question and look for answers to it by analysing different materials/data. Each group will present their work in the conference.

The on-line course:

1. Students watch video recorded lectures and each student writes a reflective lecture diary based on all the lectures and using the provided reading material. Length of the diary is 5-6 pages and it may be written in English OR in Finnish: 2 credits.

2. Each student writes an academic essay on a topic related to the lectures which he/she finds particularly interesting using lecture notes, reading material and possible personal experience (e.g. youth work, social work, etc.). The essay of 5-6 pages may be written in English OR in Finnish: 3 credits.  

Video recorded lectures, lecture power points and readining material on Moodle.

We wish that all students, both doing the course 'live' and on-line, will take part in the first lecture session in Tampere so that everyone could meet the teachers and fellow student,s and receive the information concerning the practicalities of the course.

If you are taking the on-line course, please inform Eriikka Oinonen via e-mail (eriikka.oinonen@uta.fi)!