1. Youth Work and Youth Work Education and Training in Finland

2. Some things really are different … (February in Finland)

3. practice architectures
The theory of
practice architectures
(Kemmis & Grootenboer 2008)
study of prerequisities of social practices in terms of
the cultural-discursive preconditions (‘sayings’)
the material-economic preconditions (‘doings’)
the social-political preconditions (‘relatings’ )

4. Sayings: how to talk about youth work
Legislation since 1972, Youth act 2016, The Government Decree on Youth Work and Policy 2017, National youth work and policy program ( )
A professional journal for youth work (Nuorisotyö)
Growing body of research on youth work, mostly in Finnish
Curricula of different level educational organisations
National centres of expertise providing information and training
A quality framework for local youth work, used all over Finland
Different local methods of describing what youth work is about, including but not limited to youth work curricula, productization, basic mission statements etc.
Social media groups
Finnish Youth Work statistics (nuorisotilastot.fi) and related data

5. Youth Act definitions young people means those under 29 years of age
youth work means the efforts to support the growth, independence and social inclusion of young people in society
youth policy means coordinated actions to improve young people's growth and living conditions and intergenerational interaction

6. Doings: how to do youth work
State provides financial support for youth work (Finnish Lottery Profits, 54,770,00o euros in targeted youth work and youth work-shops 19, 500, 000 euros + special subsidies 1, euros)
Municipalities are mainly responsible for providing youth work, NGOs and parishes are also significant
While the exact numbers of youth workers in Finland is impossible to count, around 3800 paid youth workers are employed by municipalities, 1200 by parishes. Around 1100 people are employed by NGOs.
Measured in man-years. The actual number of people working is higher, since some of them work on part-time basis.
Facilities for doing youth work: youth clubs and youth centres in almost every municipality, also other facilities such as low threshold services for NEETs (Ohjaamo/Cockpit one-stop guidance centers).
Sustainable youth work careers
Youth work education available in different levels of education

7. Relatings: how to promote youth work, how to co-operate, how to unite the field
Trade unions and other associations of youth workers, including Finnish Youth Co-operation – Allianssi, a national service and lobbying organisation for youth work
11 national youth work centres of expertise funded by government
Different multi-professional networks (e.g.human rights and equality in youth work; digital youth work; targeted youth work)
According to the future expectations survey done by an umbrella organisation of youth organisations, Allianssi, 80% of the respondents thought that the significance of youth work has increased in the last five years. Over 80% believed that the significance of youth work will increase in the future as well. (Nuorisotyön tulevaisuusodotukset 2017, 12-15)
National and (mandatory) local youth councils
Youth research bodies co-operating with youth work

8. The importance of municipalities
Tomi Kiilakoski

9. Elements of youth work in Finland
Firstly, youth work is an age-specific activity.
Secondly, youth work is about creating activities for youth who engage in the process of youth work on a voluntary basis.
Thirdly, youth work creates spaces where young people can co- operate and have fun with their peer group. There is a strong universalist element in youth work.
Fourthly, the conception of youth work as education has been important in the history of Finnish youth policy.
Fifthly, youth work aims at promoting youth participation both within youth work and in society as a whole.

10. Context
Social context
Education policy
Youth Work Policy

11. Principles
Principle 1: Educational equity Principle 2: No dead-ends Principle 3: Life-long learning Principle 4: Importance of civil society Principle 5: No official or required qualifications for youth workers (exception: The Evangelical Lutheran Church)

12. Formal education
Adult education
Non-formal education

14. Non-Formal Youth Work Education
IN THE FIELD OF YOUTH WORK: - Youth and civic organisations and movements - Public administration of youth work - Youth work centres of expertise - National youth centres - The Evangelical Lutheran Church, other churches, religious organisations and movements - Foundations, schools, others…

15. Adult Education and Youth Work Education
- Education and training leading to a degree/certificate
- Liberal adult education
- Staff-development
- Training provided/purchased by employers
- Labour policy training

16. Trends affecting youth work (education)
1. External differentiation of youth work
2. Internal segmentation of youth work
3. Professionalisation of youth work
4. Fragmentation of youth work
5. Flowing of youth work
6. Schoolisation of youth work

17. In Finland we have had this thing called ”belief in education”… Thank you!