This fascinating Thematic Paper, published 2025 by the European Commission - DG EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL AFFAIRS, AND INCLUSION, reviews the evolving role of the Public Employment Services (PES) in the prevention of unemployment through career counselling and upskilling of employees. Helping workers at risk of unemployment to make job-to-job transitions has ... Read More
13
Mar2025
OECD Working paper 2024 based on PISA 2022 results
This working paper is a salutary reminder of the challenges of translating good policy and systems intentions into effective mechanisms for developing teenagers' career visualisations and plans for the future. It is based on the analysis of responses of 62 schools and 2138 ... Read More
March 13, 2025John McCarthy
12
Sep2023
INNOVATION: CAREER EXPLORATION THROUGH THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM
FOR STUDENTS AGED 15-16 YEARS
The Department of Education in Ireland has a unique one-year school programme that bridges the gap between junior and senior cycle education, known as the Transition Year Programme (TYP). It represents a radical systems experiment whereby one whole year in the middle ... Read More
September 12, 2023John McCarthy
29
Mar2023
FOR NEETS, EARLY SCHOOL LEAVERS, AND STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES
AN EMPOWERMENT BASED APPROACH
"Nothing succeeds like observed success" is a phrase that I learned from my professor of applied psychology back in the 1970s! These words came to mind again in recent interactions with Pascal Chaumette, the director of ID6, a ... Read More
March 29, 2023John McCarthy
28
Jan2023
Jens Bjornavold worked for many years at CEDEFOP as a lead international expert on the interrelationships between education, training, and the labour market, the changing nature and role of vocational education and training, the role of learning outcomes and competences in reforming education and training policies, and the continuous development ... Read More
January 28, 2023John McCarthy
19
Jan2023
The Department of Education, Ireland, has just published a Consultation Paper on a national framework for lifelong guidance provision. It provides a brief overview of existing career guidance provision, a rationale for a national lifelong system, a vision for a high functioning system, some guiding principles, and four strategic pillars. It offers readers ... Read More
January 19, 2023John McCarthy
02
Jan2023
THE ROLE OF CAREER GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING
EU REVIEW 2022
This CEDEFOP report maps the existing career guidance and counselling policies and practices supporting learners at risk and early leavers from vocational education and training in the 27 EU countries plus the UK. It analyses the key characteristics of these policies and practices, identifies ... Read More
January 2, 2023John McCarthy
01
Nov2022
The National Guidance Forum of Germany aims to promote the professional delivery of guidance in education, vocational training and employment sectors in Germany, to give stimulation for the (further)development of guidance services which meet the different needs of the users, to develop guidelines for quality and quality assurance of services and practices, and ... Read More
November 1, 2022John McCarthy
24
Jun2022
In 2009, CEDEFOP undertook landmark research Professionalising Career Guidance into the roles of career practitioners in EU Member States and into their initial and continuing training and qualifications. Based on the research findings, CEDEFOP proposed a competence framework for career practitioners while recognising that career practitioner roles were not homogenous between ... Read More
June 24, 2022John McCarthy
24
Jun2022
This succinct and comprehensive Briefing Note draws attention to the importance of career practitioner professionalism in career guidance delivery, to the need to continually redefine practitioner competences and occupational profiles in response to societal and technological changes, and consequently the need for continuing government investment in re-skilling and up-skilling of practitioners ... Read More
June 24, 2022John McCarthy
23
Jun2022
In July 1966, the European Commission issued a Recommendation on Career Guidance to the then 6 Member States which highlighted in its first article the importance of annual monitoring and evaluation of career guidance services for young people and adults at national level. Such evaluation was intended to provide an evidence base to support the development of ... Read More
June 23, 2022John McCarthy
14
Dec2020
‘Towards European standards for monitoring and evaluation of lifelong guidance systems and services’
CEDEFOP has just launched a call for papers for a reference publication on the monitoring and evaluation of career guidance systems and services for adults, entitled ‘Towards European standards for monitoring and evaluation of lifelong guidance systems and services’ which can be downloaded here: https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/files/2020_11_16_call_for_papers_cedefop_careersmonitoring.pdf
Contributions will be used for developing a ... Read More
December 14, 2020John McCarthy
31
Oct2019
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is the European Commission's science and knowledge service which employs scientists to carry out research in order to provide independent scientific advice and support to European Union policy. It has published a series of working papers on the links between labour, education, and technology in ... Read More
October 31, 2019John McCarthy
31
Oct2019
Virtual assistant, you-tuber, app-developer.There are jobs that 20 years ago were not imaginable.Other jobs have almost disappeared.
This report is the work of The Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Commission's science and knowledge service, which employs scientists to carry out research in order to provide independent scientific advice and support ... Read More
October 31, 2019John McCarthy
14
Jan2019
CEDEFOP, an agency of the European Commission, published a handbook in 2018 that describes 25 ICT in guidance initiatives in EU Member States. Some of these initiatives were established for and in the education sector while others are from the employment sector. A common feature of both sets of initiatives is their ... Read More
January 14, 2019John McCarthy
08
Nov2017
Future European co-operation in the field of policies and systems for lifelong guidance and the use of ICT in guidance policies, systems and practices were some of the main concerns of the Estonian EU Presidency conference, held in Talliin at the end of September with an attendance in excess of ... Read More
November 8, 2017John McCarthy
13
Mar2017
Did you ever wonder why a country might benefit from having a national strategy for career guidance and what a national strategy for lifelong guidance might look like?
In general, most countries have subsystems of career guidance in the education, training and employment sectors, that often are not connected to each ... Read More
March 13, 2017John McCarthy
27
Feb2017
The German BeQu-Concept – now available in English
"Quality development in career guidance and counselling is an essential issue in lifelong guidance policy and systems development. Very few countries have statutory or binding quality standards and compulsory requirements for the qualification and competences of guidance and counselling professionals.
With the funding ... Read More
February 27, 2017John McCarthy
27
Feb2017
Why is there a growth in the percentage of older workers in the workforce in your country? New pension requirements? Skills shortages? Removal of age discrimination? All of the above? Other?
Do you have policy responsibility and/or interest for the development and retention of older workers engaged in arduous work (work ... Read More
February 27, 2017John McCarthy
21
Jan2017
Key Action 3: Support for policy reform
Erasmus+ -Key Action 3 - Initiatives for policy innovation
Erasmus+ - Key Action 3 - European Policy Experimentations
Forward-Looking Cooperation Projects
Status
Deadline
Call reference
Open
14/03/2017 - 12:00 (CET, Brussels time)
EACEA/41/2016
The specific objectives of this call are:
— to kick-start longer-term changes and field-test innovative solutions to challenges in the education ... Read More
January 21, 2017John McCarthy
12
Oct2016
This publication of the European Commission, DG Employment, Social Affairs, and Inclusion, sets out the policy landscape and analysis for the variety of outreach guidance approaches used in the European Union.
While the aim of the publication is to inquire into the feasibility of a Mutual Learning Programme on this theme ... Read More
October 12, 2016John McCarthy
12
Oct2016
How to provide career guidance to the most marginalised on the labour market has long been a challenge to policies and systems for career guidance in many countries.
This publication of the European Commission, DG Employment, Social Affairs, and Inclusion,
iccdpp-pes-practices-for-the-outreach-of-neets-report-2015
illustrates the work of the public employment services in European Union in ... Read More
October 12, 2016John McCarthy
04
Jul2016
In September 2015, Education Scotland, an agency of Scottish Government, published a Career Education Standard for children and young people as they make their way through school and learn about the world of work.
The Standard is set out according to:
-the Career Education entitlements of children and young people
-the expected support ... Read More
July 4, 2016John McCarthy
11
Dec2015
These EU Guidelines, produced by the European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network (ELGPN) provide an agreed reference framework on policies and systems for lifelong guidance across EU Member States. They aim to assist policy makers and policy developers to reflect in a systematic way on existing career guidance services and programmes ... Read More
December 11, 2015John McCarthy
11
Dec2015
Career management skills refer to a range of competences which provide structured ways for individuals and groups to collect, analyse, synthesise and interpret information on oneself, on learning and work pathways and on occupations, as well as the skills to make and implement decisions and transitions arising from this information.
The ... Read More
December 11, 2015John McCarthy
11
Dec2015
The Resolution of the EU Council of Ministers (2008) on better integrating lifelong guidance into lifelong learning strategies prioritised the development of the quality assurance of guidance provision for the implementation of an active guidance policy within national lifelong learning strategies. It also asked Member States and the Commission to ... Read More
December 11, 2015John McCarthy
11
Dec2015
This report summarises the work of the European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network (ELGPN) during the eight years of its existence. The network consisted of country teams of education and labour ministry officials or their representatives from over 30 European countries who met together and worked together along with international partner ... Read More
December 11, 2015John McCarthy
23
Sep2012
The Framework, published by Skills Development Scotland in July 2012, describes career management skills set around 4 themes:
Self - developing a sense of self in society
Strengths - acknowledging and building on one's strengths and experiences
Horizons - visualising futures, and planning and realising them
Networks - developing support relationships and networks.
The skills ... Read More
September 23, 2012Tibor Kovacs
23
Sep2012
This is a Report of a Working Group established by the Scottish Government to examine current practice and propose future strategic directions for the development of the career guidance workforce in Scotland. Published in July 2012, it describes role profiles in the guidance workforce and the types of qualifications that ... Read More
September 23, 2012Tibor Kovacs
19
Sep2012
Bildungs- und Berufsberatung in Deutschland
Diese Broschüre gibt den ausländischen Partnern in der Europäischen Union und darüber hinaus einen Überblick über die Grundstruktur des Systems der Bildungs- und Berufsberatung in Deutschland. Für jeden Lebensabschnitt – sei es in Schule, Studium, Aus- und Weiterbildung, im Beruf oder bei Arbeitslosigkeit – bietet das ... Read More
September 19, 2012Tibor Kovacs
19
Sep2012
Career Guidance in Germany
This brochure, published by the National Guidance Forum of Germany, gives an overview of the basic structure of the German guidance system especially for our partners in the European Union and beyond. In general, the German system provides access to educational and career guidance services for all ... Read More
September 19, 2012Tibor Kovacs
19
Sep2012
This document produced by the National Guidance Forum of Germany is a shortened form/flyer based on the complete description of Career Guidance in Germany given elsewhere on this website. This is the German language version.
Read more
September 19, 2012Tibor Kovacs
19
Sep2012
This document published by the National Guidance Forum of Germany is a flyer/shortened version of the publication Career Guidance in Germany which can be found elsewhere on this website.
Read more
September 19, 2012Tibor Kovacs
15
May2012
This 2009 report, commissioned by CEDEFOP, presents the findings from a Europe-wide study with the following aims:
to review trends and patterns in training provision for career guidance practitioners;
to develop a common competence framework for career guidance practitioners in the European Union (EU).
Sections 1 to 4 review current training and qualification systems ... Read More
May 15, 2012Tibor Kovacs
15
May2012
Im vorliegenden Bericht werden die Ergebnisse einer europaweiten Studie
vorgestellt, die zwei Ziele verfolgte:
Erfassung von Trends und Mustern in der Ausbildung von Laufbahnberatern;
Erarbeitung eines gemeinsamen Kompetenzrahmens für Laufbahnberater in der Europäischen Union (EU).
Die Abschnitte 1 bis 4 haben vorhandene Ausbildungs- und Qualifikationssysteme für Laufbahnberater in Europa zum Gegenstand. Untersucht werden die im ... Read More
May 15, 2012Tibor Kovacs
31
Aug2011
This Decree signed by the Prime Minister, the Minister for Labour and Employment, the Minister for Higher Education and Research, the Minister for Education, Youth and Community Life, and the Minister for Vocational Training, sets out the procedures to be followed and conditions for any organisation or group of organisations ... Read More
August 31, 2011Tibor Kovacs
31
Aug2011
This Order sets down the quality criteria that career services provided by one or by a group of organisations must meet in order to obtain official recognition for the provision of such services and the right to display the logo that indicates such recognition.
The criteria are grouped into three categories:
1. Criteria pertaining ... Read More
August 31, 2011Tibor Kovacs
30
Aug2011
This is a shortened version of a report on the work of the European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network from 2008-2010. It covers: career management skills, widening access to careers services, cooperation and coordination of stakeholders, quality assurance of services, and developing the evidence base for policies. The full report has ... Read More
August 30, 2011Tibor Kovacs
30
Aug2011
Ein Bericht über die Arbeit des Europäischen Netzwerks für eine Politik der lebensbegleitenden Beratung 2009–10
Inhalt
Vorwort
Danksagung
1 Überblick
2 ELGPN-Arbeitsprogramm 2009–10
3 Career Management Skills (WP1)
4 Erweiterung des Zugangs (WP2)
5 Mechanismen der Zusammenarbeit und Koordination (WP3)
6 Qualitätssicherung und Evidenz (WP4)
7 Beobachtung der EU-Politik (TG1)
8 EU-finanzierte Projekte: Synergien und Verbindungen mit Politik (TG2)
9 Evaluierung der ... Read More
August 30, 2011Tibor Kovacs
30
Aug2011
Ceci est la version abrégée du rapport (2008-10) préparé par le Réseau européen pour les politiques d’orientation tout au long de la vie (ELGPN), un réseau d’Etats membres ayant bénéficié de financements européens dans le cadre du programme d’apprentissage tout au long de la vie.
Sommaire
Avant-propos
Remerciements
1 Vue d’ensemble
2 Programme de travail d’ELGPN 2009–10
3 ... Read More
August 30, 2011Tibor Kovacs
29
Aug2011
This Cedefop 2011 publication examines progress by EU Member States in implementing the priority action areas of the 2008 European Council Resolution on Lifelong Guidance. These areas are: expanding access to careers services, the teaching and learning of career management skills, assuring the quality of career services, developing the evidence ... Read More
August 29, 2011Tibor Kovacs
29
Aug2011
This is the full report of the work of the European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network (ELGPN) 2009-10 in a very readable format as presented by the representatives of the EU Member States, and edited by Dr Vuorinen and Dr Watts. It describes the structures and processes of the ELGPN and ... Read More
August 29, 2011Tibor Kovacs
30
Jan2011
Wales, bounded by land and sea, with a good mix of urban centres and rural aspects, is a part of the United Kingdom, with a population of 3 million people. It has its government and own parliament, the National Assembly of Wales, its own language, Welsh, and many people living in ... Read More
January 30, 2011Tibor Kovacs
30
Jan2011
This document is the response of Leighton Andrews, Minister for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning, National Government of Wales, to the recommendations of the report: Future ambitions: developing careers services in Wales.
It is a good example of how review report recommendations can be implemented within the statutory responsibilities of a ... Read More
January 30, 2011Tibor Kovacs
05
Sep2010
While the context and content of this paper sit firmly within the expressed political positions of the three main UK political parties during the present year, 2010, Section 3 of the report demonstrates that career services and counselling support can and do make a difference in terms of learning outcomes ... Read More
September 5, 2010Tibor Kovacs
28
Jul2009
This Working Pâper by Bert Clough of Unionlearn, an organisation established by the Trades Union Congress in the UK, provides a historic review of the government skills strategy in the UK and of the partnership response of the trade union movement. It describes the rise of the Union Learning Representative ... Read More
July 28, 2009Tibor Kovacs
28
Jul2009
The Climbing Frame is an electronic tool developed by Unionlearn, an organisation established by the Trades Union Congress in the UK to help Union Learning Representatives to promote lifelong learning in the workplace and to assist members to access learning opportunities.
The Matrix Standard is a unique quality standard to support ... Read More
July 28, 2009Tibor Kovacs
27
May2009
Looking at Guidance is a report of the Guidance Inspectorate of the Department of Education and Science, Ireland. It consists of an analysis the findings of fifty-five reports on inspections of Guidance in second-level schools carried out from September 2006 to May 2007. The report comments on the quality of provision ... Read More
May 27, 2009Tibor Kovacs
27
May2009
This is an example of a ministry inspection of the provision of career guidance of one second-level school in Ireland. It presents the findings of the evaluation and makes recommendations for the further development of guidance provision in the school. It shows the nature and condition of the linkages between ... Read More
May 27, 2009Tibor Kovacs
29
Jun2025
CAREER GUIDANCE AND VET – EUROPEAN UNION POLICY PERSPECTIVE