Study Guide

Objectives

The general goal of the Master's degree programme in the management and development of youth education is to give you the expertise and competences necessary for youth education and improving young people's living conditions. These abilities include predicting, studying, managing and coordinating development projects to enhance the wellbeing and participation of young people. Studies in programme broaden your skills in youth education, pedagogy, youth policy, management and research and development issues.

Degree programme description

Core competence comprises the knowledge, skills and aptitude needed in professional field. Core competence studies consists programme-specific advanced professional studies and the process of writing a master’s thesis. Supplementary competence comprises the skills and know-how that deepen and expand one’s core competence. In the degree programme of management and development of youth education with an extent of studies of 90 ECTS credits, core competence studies account for 60 credits. The thesis (30 credits) is included in core competence studies.

The core competence studies consist of two modules:

Versatile operational environments of youth education - 15 ECTS credits
• Current issues and professionalism in youth education, 5 ECTS credits
• Pedagogical development in youth education operating environments, 5 ECTS credits
• Strategic development of young people´s wellbeing, 5 ECTS credits
Youth educator as a developer and influencer 15 ECTS credits
• Development methods in operational environments of youth education, 5 ECTS credits
• Youth wellbeing and influential communication, 5 ECTS credits
• Pedagogical leadership in the development of the work community, 5 ECTS credits

The master’s thesis (30 credits) is a research or development project. Master's thesis associated with your professional field and produce knowledge or develops practicies in the field.

You can prepare supplementary skills studies (30 credits) according to your personal study plan to support your professional development. You can choose studies for complementary skills from the Xamkin Master School offer, from the offer of higher grants from other higher education institutions, and from the online study offer of the Youth Research University Network (YUNET).

It is possible to direct studies during the education, for example:
• to specify or update one's professional skills
• to respond to various working life needs by developing own skills
• for the development of working life, the working community or one's own work
• for acquiring and deepening research or development expertise or
• to acquire a wide-ranging professional general education.

Implementation of studies

The online studies are mainly studied online. Core competence studies are time-bound lecture and participatory online teaching that requires attendance. Scheduled contact teaching online is carried out during the day on weekdays.

The programme is designed to last in 2 years, but it is possible to complete the core competence study courses included in the degree in 1 years.

These studies are suitable, e.g., to be done alongside work

Career opportunities

The graduates of this master’s degree programme find employment mainly in the same areas as youth educators with a bachelor’s degree, but the duties and responsibilities differ quite significantly. Community educators with a master’s degree qualify for work in the following areas:

• Municipal youth work (instructor, planning and management positions)
• Non-governmental organisations (coordination and project management positions)
• Schools (coordination of youth work at school, youth guidance and councelling activities)
• Research and development work (project manager, coordinator, planner)

RDI and cooperation with world of work

The programme do its own field cooperation with Juvenia, the Youth Research and Development Center in Xamk. Juvenia's activities focus on strengthening young people's inclusion, active citizenship and community spirit, and preventing marginalization. It is possible to connect the thesis or coursework to Juvenia's R&D activities.

Learning environments

The main study environment of the programme is an online environment. In terms of content, the studies focus in many cases on the development of working life. In that case the learning environment can be one's own work community or another professional environment.

In studies, it is possible to take advantage of international study opportunities in Xamk's cooperation universities within the framework of a personal study plan. You can also take advantage of the general possibilities of international student mobility to promote your studies internationally (see www.oph.fi).