Browsing by Subject "yrittäjäminä"

In 2020, the government of Juha Sipilä implemented a reform in higher education. The meaning of the reform was to bring forward the starting of university studies as well as remove the need to participate in preparatory courses. The ideals of the competitive society were influencing in the backround of the reform. Instead of disappearing, the preparatory course markets will presumably transform into courses offered for even younger students at earlier stage, thus causing extra pressure to younger students. The aim of this thesis was to study high school seniors who applied to universities under the new reform. The aim was to examine how the competitive ethos affected their transition as well as how they reasoned the need to participate in preparatory courses as a part of the transition. This topic has not been researched before in this research frame, however similar studies have been conducted of students participating in preparatory courses. Former studies show that preparatory courses are perceived as a normal part of transitioning from secondary education to tertiary education. Studies also show that successful transition seems to require entrepreneurial characteristics. The research data was collected in the winter of 2020 through semi-structured interviews. Altogether five senior students, who participated in preparatory courses in Helsinki Summer University, were interviewed. The data was analysed with discourse analysis. The competitive ethos affected the transitioning strongly. The impact is evident in the notion of entrepreneurial self as well as in emphasizing the instrumental value of education. The preparatory courses give important support in the application to universities thus it’s viewed as a natural part of the transition. As a conclusion, the preparatory course market will not disappear, only transform into courses offered for even younger students. As a result of the reform, students are required to act as an entrepreneurial self in order to secure a successful transition.

Traditionally psychological theories approach performance orientation as a personal trait or character. This study is based on the question if these traditionally individual considered traits could be consequency of social discourses. I consider neoliberal ethos as a governance by which individuals begin to govern themselves according to political interests. In neoliberal context entrenepreunial self becomes a new model of ideal self and governing themselves according this ideal individuals aim to redeem their proper citizenship and to secure their ”market value” in rising competition. Pursuing ideal self individuals adopt an entrenepreunial and performance oriented mentality and start to direct their actions and govern themself according these rationalities. The data consist of three half-structured interviews by general and adult education students of University of Helsinki. I study how society and its values is discussed by data and what are the individual consequences of neoliberal discourse and how individuals govern themselves by self techonlogies. The data is analyzed in discourse analytical way. The results consists of three chapter. At first chapter I analyzed how interviewees discuss about society and its values. Economical rules, result orientation and individual responsibility were emphasized but it could also be read that social responsibility was rising. At the second chapter I analyzed citizenship in neoliberal context. ”Zero-citizenship” was associated with participation of labor markets while reaching an ideal citizenship was associated with entrepreneurial performance rationalization and self governance. It was interesting that individuals detach themself of neoliberal governace e.g. through depression. This also makes agency possible. At third chapter I analyzed how downshifting and well-being have become an alternative to neoliberal demands althoug they could also be read as a new ways of governing the self. In this study is shown how neoliberal governance can effect harmful to individuals’ well-being. Mental health issues have traditionally been considered as a patological diseases but study’s results questions this view while considering these issues as a way to detach from neoliberal governance. Performance orientation is originated both individual and society and according to my reading some individuals are more sensitive to some ways of governance per se and adopt some subjectivities better than others. In future it would be intetersting to combine psychological and social perspectives when studying the formation of the self.