Assessing the long-term impact of a self-directed learning intervention on NEET youth

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Sunday 9:45 am
  In Poster Session: Insights on Adolescence and Youth Development: Advancement of Research and Methodological Approaches

Abstract

Self-directed learning (SDL) is essential for NEET youth to re-engage with education or employment. This study evaluates the long-term impact of a 2023–2024 SDL intervention targeting 30 NEET-status youth from Estonia, North Macedonia, Turkey, and Malta. Using a mixed-methods approach, SDL skill levels were measured before, after, and 18 months post-intervention with the SDL-NEET test (Authors, 2024). Follow-up interviews explored participants’ educational and employment trajectories and their reflections on the intervention’s influence. Quantitative data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, and qualitative data via abductive content analysis in QCAmap. The findings contribute to understanding sustained effects of SDL interventions and offer insights for designing more effective, long-term support strategies for vulnerable youth.

Authors

• Kerli Kõiv, University of Tartu

• Katrin Saks, University of Tartu

• Pihel Hunt, University of Tartu

• Annika Kuus, Rõuge Basic School