Kirsti Melesk

Labour & Social Policy
Programme Manager

Kirsti works on research topics related to the labour market and adult learning. She is interested in the educational choices of adults and related policy measures as well as connections between the labour market and adult learning. In her work, Kirsti has used qualitative and quantitative research methods which have given her an important experience in getting into details of different research topics as well as observing a broader picture.

Kirsti values teamwork and has wide experience in working with international cooperation partners. Kirsti is also interested in comparative research, which enables to put regions or countries into context and analyse the role of policy measures in shaping labour markets and adult learning.

Kirsti has been a member of Praxis’s team since 2006. Before that, she acquired some professional experience as a trainee at the Ministry of Social Affairs. She has BA in Sociology and MA in Government and Administration. She is continuing her studies as a doctoral student in sociology at Tallinn University. During her studies, Kirsti has participated in a summer school on combined research methods by Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences and she spent a year at the University of Bamberg writing her PhD thesis. There, she focused on writing international comparative research. In addition, she has participated in several other courses on methods in social sciences. Kirsti uses English at an advanced level and German at beginner’s level.

Kirsti is impressed by photography and so, from time to time, she also uses an opportunity to get interesting shots herself. But Kirsti’s bookshelf at home also has an important place for cookbooks. She takes on cooking with the thoroughness of an analyst and so most of her cookbooks are filled with comments and notes – all to improve the results.