Rethinking spaces of education: a multi-sited study of youth educational paths in northern Finland
Thesis event information
Date and time of the thesis defence
Place of the thesis defence
L10 (Linnanmaa)
Topic of the dissertation
Rethinking spaces of education: a multi-sited study of youth educational paths in northern Finland
Doctoral candidate
M.Sc. Marika Kettunen
Faculty and unit
University of Oulu Graduate School, Faculty of Science, Geography Research Unit
Subject of study
Geography
Opponent
professor Louise Holt, Loughborough University
Custos
professor Eeva-Kaisa Prokkola, University of Oulu
Youth educational paths as an increasingly important part of nation-building – unequal opportunities in education
M.Sc. Marika Kettunen's research examines youth educational paths as spatial phenomena, with a particular focus on the transition from comprehensive school to upper secondary education. The study highlights how education and young people's educational trajectories are deeply embedded in the construction of the Finnish nation and state space, while also revealing regional inequalities and spatial disparities.
This interdisciplinary research combines human geographical theorizations of space with studies in the fields of education and youth studies. The research materials include both educational policy documents and ethnographic material generated in four lower secondary schools in northern Finland in 2019. The ethnographic material consists of interviews with youth at the end of their comprehensive schooling and notes from participant observation.
The study connects the everyday lives of northern Finnish young people with national development goals and the influence of the global economy. Youth educational paths are not simply linear transitions from one educational level to another, but rather involve complex spatial tensions and pressures related to educational decision-making.
"Finnish policies aim to build a competitive knowledge society, and these goals manifest in the everyday experiences of young people completing comprehensive school. They face numerous expectations and assumptions regarding their future education," Kettunen explains. "The young participants in the study felt pressure to make the 'right' choices for their future," she adds.
However, not all young people are equally positioned to meet these expectations. In northern Finland, educational opportunities have become increasingly uneven, especially in sparsely populated areas where the school network has been cut down. For many young people, this means either relocating for education or reassessing their educational aspirations.
Investigating the spatial dimensions of youth educational paths enables us to understand them as phenomena constructed simultaneously in relation to multiple sites and scales. In doing so, the research offers a more multifaceted perspective on educational inequalities.
This interdisciplinary research combines human geographical theorizations of space with studies in the fields of education and youth studies. The research materials include both educational policy documents and ethnographic material generated in four lower secondary schools in northern Finland in 2019. The ethnographic material consists of interviews with youth at the end of their comprehensive schooling and notes from participant observation.
The study connects the everyday lives of northern Finnish young people with national development goals and the influence of the global economy. Youth educational paths are not simply linear transitions from one educational level to another, but rather involve complex spatial tensions and pressures related to educational decision-making.
"Finnish policies aim to build a competitive knowledge society, and these goals manifest in the everyday experiences of young people completing comprehensive school. They face numerous expectations and assumptions regarding their future education," Kettunen explains. "The young participants in the study felt pressure to make the 'right' choices for their future," she adds.
However, not all young people are equally positioned to meet these expectations. In northern Finland, educational opportunities have become increasingly uneven, especially in sparsely populated areas where the school network has been cut down. For many young people, this means either relocating for education or reassessing their educational aspirations.
Investigating the spatial dimensions of youth educational paths enables us to understand them as phenomena constructed simultaneously in relation to multiple sites and scales. In doing so, the research offers a more multifaceted perspective on educational inequalities.
Last updated: 14.8.2025