Youth Sector in Schools. Towards Effective Collaboration

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

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.