3358 - SUPPORTING DISADVANTAGED YOUTH IN PURSUING DECENT WORK IN THE FUTURE: EXPERIENCES AND NEEDS OF DISADVANTAGED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN TÜRKIYE

Session: 3351 - REFLECTIONS, EXPERIENCES AND CHALLENGES ABOUT SUSTAINABLE CAREERS AND DECENT WORK. A CROSS-CULTURAL COMPARISON.
AUTHORS:
Gurbuz Akcay Fatmagul (Department of Educational Sciences, Trakya University ~ Edirne ~ Turkey) , Karacan Ozdemir Nurten (Department of Educational Sciences, Hacettepe University ~ Ankara ~ Turkey)
Abstract text:
Although they constitute a significant portion of society, individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds often face barriers to accessing quality education and the skills required for the labor market. Traditional career development models often overlook the unique needs and experiences of these groups. Therefore, it is important to explore their perceptions of decent work from the Psychology of Working Theory perspective, which provides a more inclusive framework for career development. In the Turkish context, many groups face social exclusion and discrimination due to their socioeconomic status, ethnicity, gender, or disability. The Romani community is a particularly poignant example of a socially marginalized group that contends with poverty and limited opportunities, leading to significant obstacles in labor market entry. Consequently, it is essential to support Romani high school students in their journey toward securing decent work in the future. This presentation will discuss the skills that can be developed to support young people in their pursuit of decent work, with a specific focus on the needs of Romani youth. For the general youth population, key skills include developing a youth purpose, critical consciousness, self-efficacy, and career adaptability. In addition to these, Romani students require an emphasis on general learning-to-learn skills, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Furthermore, fostering skills like realistic goal setting and self-management is critically important for this group. This discussion draws on preliminary findings from a doctoral thesis currently being conducted with Romani high school students in Türkiye. The research aims to identify their needs at the individual, relational, and systemic levels to facilitate their access to decent work.