Research field

Youth Work and Youth Research

Tampere University

Youth work and youth research is a multidisciplinary research area that studies young people, youth and youth work as social, societal and cultural phenomena. It produces a unique, youth-oriented and critical understanding of youth-related phenomena in society and the world. The discipline is interested in a wide range of human phenomena, from interaction between individuals to social arrangements and global and ecological issues. Discipline strengthens youth research and youth work research as scientific approaches, builds expertise in youth work and gives an in-depth understanding of social issues.

Education in youth work has been provided at Tampere University and its predecessor, the School of Social Sciences, since 1945. At present, it is possible to complete Bachelor's and Master's degrees in the Degree Programme in Social Sciences at Tampere University specialising in youth work and youth research.

The degree programme includes both joint bachelor's studies in social studies and master's studies in the field of youth work and youth research. In addition, it is possible to complete "Youth and youth work" theme studies in youth work and youth research. Youth work and youth research can also be studied as an optional subject. Youth research is one of the fields in the Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences.

The study line “Youth Work and Youth Research” of master's studies focuses on the basics, structures and practices of youth work, as well as young people and youth from a multidisciplinary perspective. In addition, the thematic studies explain how theoretical, research-based and multidisciplinary knowledge on young people and youth is used to study youth work issues.

The discipline has been networked both nationally and internationally in the professional field of youth work and in scientific youth research. Tampere University is the only university in Finland that provides degree-oriented education in youth work and youth research.

Youth, young people, and youth work have been studied at Tampere University for decades, for example, in research projects funded by the Academy of Finland and foundations, by teachers in their work and students in their master’s theses. The goal is to produce scientific knowledge on young people, youth, and youth work for professional needs and to develop the perspectives, theories, and research methods of youth research.

Youth is studied as a social phenomenon from, among other things, the perspective of inequality. At the same time, young people are also regarded as actors with valuable opinions and the ability to influence their lives and future. The research on youth work focuses on the history, pedagogical theory, structures, and significance of youth work. In addition, issues related to the youth work profession and education are studied. The research promotes multidisciplinary youth studies and youth work and produces scientific knowledge to benefit university education and meet the national and international needs in the youth field.

Ongoing research projects:

Under Pressure
TikTokCracy - TikTok (Anti)Democracies: Self-making, Scepticism, and Political Expression among Young People

Completed research projects:

ALL-YOUTH
Contested consent
What works?
NOW!
Into the Flow: urban space, community and subculture in flow art
Boomerit! Meidän Äänemme Kuuluviin ja Näkyviin - JÄLKES
- The purpose of this paper is to study how young vocational school students in Finland frame themselves and their participation in society and whether they are seen in various media. The explorative research, with n = 213 vocational school and prepatory VALMA students as co-researchers, tells us that young vocational school students use value framing to create understandings of themselves as participants in society and in media. The purpose is this to present the breadth of their thinking and to draw conclusions from the empirical data produced solely by the co-researchers.

Tampere University is the only Finnish university to offer degree education in youth work and youth research.

At Tampere University, youth work and youth studies can be studied in the Degree Programme in Social Sciences and in the thematic studies of ‘Young people and Youth Work’. It is possible for students to complete the joint Bachelor’s degree in social sciences (180 cr) and specialise in youth work and youth research in the Master’s degree (120 cr). Students from other degree programmes and faculties can study youth work and youth research course units as optional studies. In addition, there are the ‘Young People and Youth Work’ thematic studies, which students can complete as a whole or do individual courses while earning 20–40 credits. The thematic studies are offered to students from both the Degree Programme in Social Sciences and other degree programmes and faculties as optional studies. In addition, it is possible to specialise in the field of youth research in doctoral studies.

The course descriptions and teaching schedules of both the studies in the field of youth work and youth research and the thematic studies ‘Young People and Youth Work’ are available in the electronic study guide.

Students of University of Tampere can include YUNET – Finnish University Network for Youth Studies studies as part of their own studies. YUNET – Finnish University Network for Youth Studies.

Head of Discipline in youth work and youth research is university instructor Juha Nieminen.

Conference of Youth Studies 2025

XXIII Annual Conference of Youth Studies 2025 will be held at Tampere University (Kalevantie 4, Tampere) on 13–14 November 2025. The theme of the conference is "The Time together ?"

Annual Conference of Youth Studies 2025