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Student Research on the Role of Youth Work

Explore the excellent resources created by Masters students from The University of Edinburgh during their placement at YouthLink Scotland and other valuable student research from the University of Dundee and Open University.

YouthLink Scotland & University of Edinburgh Logos on white background.

Over the last few years we have hosted Masters students from the University of Edinburgh to complete a placement based dissertation. The students research has been invaluable to adding to our independent evidence base on the role of youth work. They have explored issues such as youth work’s role in education, climate action, political literacy and mental health. Law students at the Open University have also completed research exploring ‘a right to youth work’.

Youth worker helping young person online cropped
Youth Work's Role in Education
Dissertation by Public Policy MSc student Sara Galiliea exploring youth work's role in education in 2022
Youth worker sitting in an outdoor setting talking with a young male.
Mental Health and the Role of the Youth Work Sector
Dissertation by Emily Carson, an International Development Masters student, exploring mental health and the role of the youth work sector in 2019
Youth Work Role in Political Literacy
Dissertation by Masters student Anamarija Velinovska, examining the role of youth work in advancing the political literacy of young people in Scotland in 2020
Scotland's Young People's Forest member smiling at camera
Climate Change Policies in the Youth Work Sector
Dissertation by Sophie Hoult, a Masters student, exploring current climate change policies in the youth work sector in Scotland in 2021
Youth Work Role in Crime Prevention
Dissertation by Karen Alejandra Garza Figueroa, a MSc International Development Masters student, examining the role of youth work in crime prevention in 2023
The ‘Right to Youth Work in Scotland’: A Research Report for YouthLink Scotland by the Open University Law School
In 2024 seven final-year law students in the Policy Clinic as part of the Open Justice Centre at the Open University Law School, were tasked with investigating Scotland’s current youth work provision and exploring the potential impact of legislating for youth work access. You can read the report here.
Young males from Royston Youth Action
Youth work's response to young males understanding of masculinity
In 2024 Aidan Harper a Community learning and development undergraduate student at University of Dundee completed an internship with the East Youth Team at Dundee City Council. Aidan chose to focus his dissertation on young males understanding of masculinity and youth work's response.

Contact our Research Team

We're here to help with any research enquiries you have. If you are interested in hearing more about the research conducted by the students, contact our Senior Policy & Research Officer Dr Amy Calder.

Email Amy