Prof. Ellu Saar
Institute of International Social Studies
Tallinn University
[email protected] Our ref. 21.03.2023 No 1.1-16/1249-1
[email protected]
Letter of Endorsement
Dear Prof. Ellu Saar
Ministry of Social Affairs is pleased to support the grant application ‘Mapping Youth
Transitions in Times of Increasing Uncertainties: A Mixed-method Longitudinal Study of
Educational Trajectories and Transitions into the Labour Market’ prepared by a research
team in the Institute of International Social Studies at Tallinn University.
The Ministry appreciates the interest of researchers in fields falling into the Ministry’s
administration. The proposed project will focus on youth transitions under increasing global
uncertainties by studying two cohorts (born in 2006 and 2009) whose key life path choices in
education and work had to be made during a period of multiple unexpected crises (COVID-
19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, energy crises, rising inflation and costs of living etc). The
planned project aims to explore both short-term and long-term effects of these crises on
young peoples’ different transitions to adult life by using a longitudinal mixed method
research design.
Youth, their educational trajectories, and transitions to labour market, as well as the
implications of the multiple crises on young peoples’ mental health and wellbeing form an
important part of our field of administration. Therefore, the Ministry is very interested in the
information gathered and new knowledge acquired with this project.
The Ministry is pleased to offer its expertise and support to the project. Our experts are ready
to consult researchers if needed in fine-tuning their plans for analyses focusing on the youth
transitions to early adulthood. This would be an excellent opportunity to extend the
knowledge transfer and build a solid cooperation platform between the Ministry and Institute
of International Social Studies at Tallinn University.
Yours sincerely,
Maarjo Mändmaa
Secretary General
/signed digitally/
Marion Pajumets +372 6269 164
[email protected]
Suur-Ameerika 1 / 10122 Tallinn / ESTONIA / +372 626 9301 /
[email protected] / www.sm.ee / Reg. no
70001952