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

The European agenda Europe as a competitive, dynamic KB society Europe as a competitive, dynamic KB society Europe as an inclusive society Europe as an inclusive society Promotion of employability and social inclusion Promotion of employability and social inclusion Implications for education and training systems 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 countries ETF review: 11 Acceding and candidate countries Cedefop review: 12 ACCs, plus 15 MS, plus Iceland, Norway Cedefop review: 12 ACCs, plus 15 MS, plus Iceland, Norway World Bank Report: included Poland and Romania (again) and Turkey World Bank Report: included Poland and Romania (again) and Turkey

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

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 Rationale Delivery Delivery Resourcing Resourcing Leadership Leadership

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

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

Key features in delivery… Labour Market Services for adults: remedial and narrowly targeted to the unemployed (PES) Services for adults: remedial and narrowly targeted to the unemployed (PES) Few developments in guidance with employed, and in leisure, 3rd age, retirement counselling Few developments in guidance with employed, and in leisure, 3rd age, retirement counselling Weak involvement of social partners Weak involvement of social partners Private provision underdeveloped/unregulated Private provision underdeveloped/unregulated Increasing use of ICT and shift to self-service Increasing use of ICT and shift to self-service Weak connectivity: career, education, LM data Weak connectivity: career, education, LM data

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

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

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

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

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

YOU…YOU… Thank you …can make the difference …can make the difference