Guidance Policies across Europe meeting the LLL Challenge

Guidance Policies across Europe: meeting the LLL Challenge Dublin 30 April 2004 Ronald G. Sultana University of Malta

Key points Guidance on the European agenda The reviews exercise Core guidance issues across Europe Rationale: why invest in guidance? Delivery: how best to deliver in education/LM? Human and financial resources for guidance What leadership for LLG paradigm shift? Issues and challenges for LLG

The European agenda Europe as a competitive, dynamic KB society Europe as an inclusive society Promotion of employability and social inclusion Implications for education and training systems LLL Memorandum (1999)… Consultation (2000) Communication (2001)… Quality Indicators (2002) Objectives for education & training systems (2002+) Increased European co-operation in VET (2002+) Tertiary Education (Bologna process: 1999+)…

Role of lifelong guidance Key component in national strategies Priority area for action at EU level Policy development and initiatives: - Expert Group on Lifelong Guidance - Opinion on quality issues – citizen perspective - Policy Handbook on Guidance - Virtual community (CEDEFOP) - Research review on guidance across Europe

Four reviews: 29 European countries ETF review: 11 Acceding and candidate Cedefop review: 12 ACCs, plus 15 MS, World Bank Report: included Poland an

Key structuring themes and the EU defining challenges for public policy needs of young needs of adults GUIDANCE widening access career information staffing strategic leadership funding

Defining ‘guidance’ Services intended to assist individuals and groups of any age at any point throughout their lives to make educational, training & occupational choices and to manage their careers Offered in education & training institutions, PES, companies, voluntary & private… Face-to-face or at a distance… Include career information, assessment tools, interviews, career management, work tasters, transition services

Key common issues across Europe Rationale Delivery Resourcing Leadership

Why invest in guidance? Public-policy goals: - learning goals - labour market goals - social equity goals LLL + sustained employability Not just expansion but transformation Role in development of human capital

Key features in delivery …education Most guidance at key points in school context In/across curriculum – the ‘G-oriented school’ Focus on personal – guidance crowded out Emphasis on provision, not self-directed Aspiration to offer services to all (including HE) Strategies for target / client groups still to be developed (e. g. out-of-school youth; post-16)

ey features in delivery… Labour Market Services for adults: remedial and narrowly targeted to Few developments in guidance with employed, and in le Weak involvement of social partners Private provision underdeveloped/unregulated Increasing use of ICT and shift to self-service Weak connectivity: career, education, LM data

Resourcing Career guidance not professionalised yet: few offer specialised pre-service training Great variety within/between European states in terms of qualifications/training for staff Need for competence frameworks In general no mutual recognition of guidance qualifications between education /LM sector

Resourcing…ctd. Staff tend to have multiple roles PES staff over-burdened Feminised profession Professional associations emerging Lack of information re. expenditure Funding models: devolve, outsource, and stimulate private markets

Leadership Rare to find determined strategic leadership Evidence base tends to be weak Stakeholder involvement is underdeveloped Need for stronger co-ordination Strategic instruments - Legislation - Staff competence frameworks - Organisational quality standards Only some European countries have detailed goals Most European countries lack monitoring system

Key issues and challenges Develop national strategies for LLG Improve training provision Improve transparency / ease of access Encourage flexibility and innovation to meet needs of diverse client groups Strengthen social partner involvement Stimulate voluntary and private sectors Improve access to integrated career information

More issues and challenges Strengthen the employability focus Stimulate career management programmes Improve evidence base Strengthen quality assurance Generate more dialogue via national forums (practitioners and policy makers) Enhance international co-operation & exchange of good practice

YOU… …can make the difference Thank you