The Dynamics of Transition Policies – The governance of guidance and counselling in post-comprehensive educational transitions in Finland

Attachment to education, delayed continuation to secondary and tertiary education, as well as high numbers of drop-outs and late transition to working life commonly are recognised as major problems. The research project aims to form a comprehensive view of the dynamics of transition policies – the interaction between the various institutions and actors providing guidance and support at national and local levels – by analysing the governance of post-comprehensive educational transitions in Finland. The theoretical and methodological approach will take up the challenge of unravelling the complexity, relationality and contingency that characterise the governance of post-comprehensive transitions. Due to local socio-cultural factors, the problematisations on well-functioning educational transitions are arguably distinctive to each local milieu. Therefore, the scope for action or municipal models of transition policies are dissimilar, requiring local understanding on local conditions.