30217

WiSe 15/16: School-to-work transitions in Europe

Paula Protsch / Alessandra Rusconi

Information for students

Contact: paula.protsch@wzb.eu; alessandra.rusconi@wzb.eu Office Hours: by appointment, please contact us by email

Additional information / Pre-requisites

Exam: The exam is three passed essays (c. 1000 words each), ECTS 7,5

Comments

This seminar deals with one of the most important transitions in young people's lives: the transition from school to work. The decisions for or against different types of secondary or tertiary education and specific fields of study/training are socially structured and depend on the given institutional contexts and macro-economic circumstances. These decisions have significant long term consequences for young people's life courses, i.e., later employment chances, occupational statuses, and living conditions in general. In a comparative perspective, we will discuss how school-to-work transitions differ across European countries and social groups. How do institutional frameworks and macro-economic factors shape school-to-work transitions and patterns of social inequality among youth? The course readings will deal with sociological theories that address educational and labor market inequalities as well as empirical findings from different countries. Participants should have a good knowledge of quantitative methods. close