PRO Youth Work – Strengthening Youth Work Professionalization and Research in the Nordic–Baltic Region

PRO Youth Work aims at enhancing the quality, recognition, and professionalization of youth work, while strengthening the connection between youth research and youth policy across Latvia, Estonia, and Finland. The project brings together University of Latvia, Tallinn University, Tampere University, the Latvian Youth Workers’ Association, and the Finnish Youth Research Society.

The central goal of the project is the development of two work-based short-cycle study programmes for youth workers. Latvia will launch its first-ever formal youth work qualification, marking a milestone in the country’s youth policy landscape. In Estonia, a new master’s-level work-based programme for youth work managers will be introduced. In parallel, the project will establish a Baltic–Nordic youth research network to promote regional cooperation in youth studies. The network will work on studying the impact of youth work, produce joint scientific publications, and create recommendations to strengthen evidence-based youth policy. Two national conferences will bring together researchers and policymakers to foster dialogue and promote long-term collaboration.

The Finnish Youth Research Society co-leads the work package developing youth research development and collaboration with stakeholders.

The project is active from December 2025 until September 2027.