Opportunities and Challenges of Contemporary Youth and Community Work: An Estonian Perspective

The participant must have studied at least 1 year at the bachelor's level in a field related to community or youth education and have personal experience as a participant and/or instructor in community or youth education.

NB! This is a preliminary programme. The final schedule will be sent to the participants two weeks before the course starts.

Day 1: Monday, 3 August

Info session in Tartu

Foundations of Youth and Community Work in Estonia

Day 2: Tuesday, 4 August

Professionalisation of Youth and Community Work

Day 3: Wednesday, 5 August

Civic Competences and Participatory Democracy

Day 4: Thursday, 6 August

Democracy, Inclusion and Diversity in Practice

Day 10: Friday, 7 August

Future Scenarios and Innovation

As preliminary work, the student must:

1. Implement a community mapping exercise of their own local youth or community organisations, identifying stakeholders, target groups, and activities (assignment 1)
2. Prepare one example (from media, research, or personal experience) of an inclusion challenge faced by vulnerable or minority groups in Estonia or elsewhere (assignment 2)
3. Throughout the course, students keep a reflective journal, documenting their learning journey, connecting theory to practice, and noting how their perspectives evolve (assignment 3).
4. As a summary of the course, the student writes a short reflection, imagining how youth and community education in Estonia might look in 2035, considering demographic changes, digitalisation, and other important aspects (assignment 4).

Upon completion of the course, a student will be able to:

• explain the main features of Estonia’s social, educational, and youth policy system;
• identify competence models, qualifications, and ethical standards that define youth work as a profession and connect these to broader community education and lifelong learning;
• sketch and implement approaches that promote inclusion and diversity;
• encourage active citizenship through participatory democracy tools such as youth councils, participatory budgeting, volunteering, and digital participation platforms;
• critically reflect on demographic changes, technological developments, and innovation trends, and anticipate their implications for youth and community work up to 2035.

• Application period: 20 March – 20 April
• Notification of acceptance: accepted participants will be informed after the application period, by 30 April at the latest
• Deadline for paying the course fee: 31 May
• Confirmation of courses taking place: 5 June
• UniTartu Summer School in Viljandi: 3 August – 7 August

Only fully completed applications, including all required annexes, received by the deadline (20 April) will be considered for selection. Applicants must submit the following:

• Online application form
  (application period: 20 March–20 April 2026)
• Motivation letter (maximum 1 page), explaining:
  • your motivation to participate;
  • your expectations for the programme;
  • how the summer course relates to your studies and interests;
  • how you plan to use the knowledge and experience gained in the future.
• Transcript of academic records
• Copy of your passport
• Proof of the application fee payment (25 EUR)

The participants of the UniTartu Summer School courses are required to pay:

• The application fee of 25 EUR must be paid by the application deadline (20 April) at the latest.
  The application fee is non-refundable.
• The course fee is 500 EUR.
  Includes: Study materials, academic work with lecturers, Certificate of completion, and cultural events
  Not included: meals, transportation and accommodation

Please note that the course fee is payable only after you have been accepted into the course. Once accepted, you will receive a confirmation of acceptance together with an invoice. The course fee can only be paid based on the invoice issued to you.

By paying the application fee, course fee and cultural events fee, you accept the terms and conditions information document. You are required to tick the box in the credit card payment form to confirm you have read and agree to terms and conditions. If you choose to pay by bank transfer, you will be informed of the same conditions.

Please note that by paying the fees, you are considered to have accepted the Terms and Conditions.