This article, written by Dr Jim Sampson of Florida State University and delivered as a presentation at the IAEVG conference in Jyvaskyla in June 2009, examines two elements of policies for career guidance: the effectiveness of career guidance interventions in relation to cost and access to such interventions by citizens. It commences by identifying the different elements of career guidance and proceeds to examine the translation of career theory to practice, the effectiveness of career guidance interventions, and the access people have to career guidance. Collaborative counselling is proposed as an intervention to improve access. The paper ends with a discussion on how to balance effectiveness and access in career guidance delivery.

In his preparation of this paper, Prof Sampson noted the lack of a comprehensive and consistent evidence base for career guidance interventions and the little or no attention paid to integrating career theory, public policy, and the cost-effectiveness of career guidance interventions.

This is a recently signed agreement between the Australian federal government and the States and Territories of Australia. It is designed to address the objectives of the National Education Agreement and the National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development already signed by the same parties.

The new agreement covers the engagement of young people aged 15 to 24 with learning, work, employment and the transitions involved, particulary to improve outcomes in educational attainment. There is special reference to social inclusion aims, especially for the indigenuous disadvantaged. Its overall aim is to better align federal, State and Territory programmes and services related to youth, career and transitions. Under the agreement the States and Territories will gradually assume primary responsibility for career guidance activities.

The agreement sets out indicative actions and outcomes for the following reform areas:

• multiple learning paths
• career development
• mentoring
• school, business, community partnerships
• individualised, personalised support for young people at risk.

It also sets out performance indicators and benchmarks for the agreement.

This Agreement is one example of how federal and regional governments can share the responsibility of career guidance provision and of the devolution of power to the regions with performance indicators.

This 2008 report describes some of the definitional, conceptual and historical foundations of the concept of social inclusion. It summarises the strengths and limitations of Australian and international approaches to the topic so far, and sketches some of the scope of exclusion in terms of locational disadvantage, intergenerational disadvantage, children at risk, child poverty and jobless families, employment, mental health, disability and homelessness. It also discusses the relational dimension of exclusion. The report provides elements of policy approaches to move from exclusion to inclusion.

Career guidance is often used as part of multidimensional strategies to address exclusion issues; indeed in its origins it was part of a social reform movement. In order to see where it may or can play a role, this report is essential background reading.

This paper produced by Helmut Zelloth of the European Training Foundation (ETF) traces the history of career guidance provision in the education, training and employment sectors in Kosovo particularly since 2001. Based on field visit observations and relevant documentation, the paper sets out the strengths, weaknesses, and policy and other recommendations for career guidance provision in Kosovo.

Kosovo is a landlocked country with boundaries of 702 kms and a population of 1.8m people. Its population is aged mainly under 28 years.

This paper is a useful description of one country's experience in charting the way forward to developing a policy and system for guidance provision where none existed previously.

This review undertaken by Prof. Tony Watts for the Welsh Assembly Government, was part of a wider review of careers services in Wales, UK. Its aim was to review the work of Careers Wales in terms of strengths and challenges, including its links to other career guidance providers, in an international context, using benchmarks provided by the OECD Career Guidance Policy Review and drawing comparisons with other main all-age guidance providers in New Zealand, Northern Ireland and Scotland (with some reflections on comparisons with the adult careers services in England).

The report is structured as follows:

• setting the direction (policy context, structure, resources, international context)
• shaping the service (including access, coherence, targeting, and marketing)
• improving performance (assuring quality)
• working with other guidance providers
• summary of strengths and challenges.

The development of lifelong guidance delivery systems and access to such by citizens is a high political priority in Europe. In most countries segmented and dis-associated career guidance services exist; and one approach to overcome such boundaries is to develop a networked and linked approach to the provision of an all-age service. This report is essential reading on one country's experience of a network linked approach, enhanced with comparisons to other all-age models in other countries.

This Occasional Paper, prepared by Prof Ronald Sultana for iCeGS, UK, in 2008, assesses the dynamics of international policy learning (policy lending and policy borrowing), its possible motives, and key mechanisms by which transfers of learning take place. It raises questions regarding the value and limitations of deterritorialised policy exchange, noting that career guidance practice is firmly rooted in a particular complex of values and meanings that are entwined in the social and economic environment of each country and region.

The author draws on his work experiences in Malta, Palestine and Egypt, to illustrate the way transnational and globalised agendas are reconfigured and reinterpreted at the local level.

The ministers for VET of the European Union , the European Social Partners and the European Commission met in Bordeaux, France under the French Presidency of the EU in 2008 to review priorities and strategies in European cooperation in VET. The outcome of their discussions is known as the Bordeaux Communique.

The Communique outlines the process of cooperation since 2002, describes the key EU instruments created and their impact on national policies. It sets out a new strategic vision for 2008-2010, especially the challenges of globalisation. The Communique proposes four priority areas for future action:

• national implementation of cooperation instruments and agreements
• improving the quality and attractiveness of VET
• improving links between VET and the labour market
• strengthening European cooperation arrangements.

The Communique makes very explicit the centrality of the provision of career guidance to VET and CVET policies for young people and adults.

It calls for:

• facilitating access to information and lifelong guidance and counselling services through the successful implementation of the 2008 Council Resolution on Lifelong Guidance (which may be found elsewhere on this web site)
• action to be taken to promote guidance systems which help young people and adults to cope better with transitions within education and training and all along their career paths
• improve guidance and counselling services to ease transition from training to employment.