Juggling Rhythms: Working-Student Life in the 21st Century - Hardcover

by Alison Taylor (Author)

As in many European countries, the majority of undergraduates in Canada work while studying. However, little research has examined how they juggle school and work. This book draws on original research to address this gap. It moves from students' day-to-day survival strategies to engage larger questions including how students prepare for volatile labour markets and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Taylor draws on "circus arts" metaphors to argue that twenty-first century skills include the ability to juggle competing demands, to balance studies and various forms of work, and to learn boundaries and the limits of one's flexibility. Although students' experiences are diverse, commonalities indicate areas where more attention and support are needed from policy-makers, educators, and scholars of education.

Author Biography

Alison Taylor is a professor in Education at the University of British Columbia. She has published monographs, journal articles, and book chapters on students' transitions to work and community-engaged learning, including Vocational Education in Canada (Oxford, 2016).