10.8 Current debates and reforms
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Forthcoming policy developments
The Ministry of Education and Culture approved funding three Youth Work Centres of Expertise for the period 2024-2027 instead of the previous six. Due to cuts in state funding, the activities of the centres of expertise cannot be carried out to the extent planned. New centres of expertise will focus on youth work in schools (led by XAMK), regional data of youth work (led by Finnish Youth Research Society) and equality (led by Guides and Scouts of Finland). The centres of expertise that will close are, for example, Koordinaatti and Verke the Center for Digital Youth Work, which have been focusing on national coordination and dissemination of youth work specific information and digital youth work. According to Verke’s current Manager Minna Ilva (8.10.2024), Verke aims to ensure that all the knowledge produced remains accessible even after the end of their activities at the end of 2024.
Ongoing debates
The city library of Espoo got the national youth work award of 20 000 € reports the information bulletin (25.4.2024, available in Finnish) of the Ministry of Education and Culture. In her commentaries, the minister responsible for youth matters, Sandra Bergqvist, said that the libraries of Espoo have over time developed their working methods to support the engagement and participation possibilities of children and young people. The award was given in YOUTH2024 – National Days of Youth Work -seminar organised by the Finnish National Youth Council Allianssi. ‘Public spaces into which children and young people are welcome are very much needed’, said the minister.