Ungas kraft 2 (“the power of youth 2) - development and learning in school

The method development project Ungas kraft was run by Universeum Foundation together with the Gothenburg region and the City of Gothenburg during the years 2017 to 2020. Now Universeum wants to ensure the quality and further develop the method, by broadening and strengthening the content and testing an upshift.

Ungas kraft was part of the Wallenberg Foundations' initiative Education for increased integration and aimed at the great societal challenge concerning the level of education, labor shortages and exclusion in Sweden. The main result of the project was the method that was developed. It can be described as a whole-school approach with the aim of creating the best conditions for development and learning. The method strengthens an entire school in science, technology and sustainable development and will contribute to completed studies in the longer term.

Ungas kraft 2 is further based on results and lessons learned from the original project. During 2021 to 2023, Universeum wants to develop the content by including the subject of mathematics in the method. The content is also enhanced with developed programs for parents.

Universeum also wants to explore how the method can be effectively scaled up and work even for schools that are geographically further away from Universeum. The upscaling is done by including more schools in the metropolitan area of Gothenburg and adding schools in rural areas. In the work with schools at a greater distance, the development of Universeum's mobile platform becomes particularly important, with more activities taking place at the school or in its vicinity.

In parallel with content development and upscaling, Universeum's digital platform will be further developed, which means improved resource support for students, teachers and parents, regardless of time and place.

The method as a whole is based on working methods and teaching practices that in research are considered favorable for learning in general and for the subjects science, technology and sustainable development in particular. Efforts are made within three method packages: school, family and leisure. The goal of all of them is to strengthen the students' scientific capital. The concept sheds light on how individuals' different conditions affect feelings of meaning and relevance. Studies show that in addition to interest, there are many other factors linked to individuals' worlds of life that are important for a commitment to science, technology and adjacent areas to arise and be maintained over time.

Project:
Ungas kraft 2

Principal investigator:
Carina Halvord

Organization:
Universeum Foundation

Grant:
SEK 10 million