1. Professionalising Career Guidance in Denmark
Steffen Svendsen
Executive Director
VIA University College, School of Continuing Education,

2. The Situation in DK Before 2004
Patchy provision of training – reflecting the sectorized and decentralized model for Danish Guidance
Many careers people worked without any formal training
Short and practically oriented programmes in small and isolated sectors
Week mechanisms of quality assurance, few links to research and formal education

3. The Changes of 2004
Larger and more professional centers in the two main points of transition were established
Common regulation of careers guidance in youth education, non – university higher learning and adult education
Implementation of Quality Schemes
National Portal
Professionalising the practitioners through education

4. The Careers Guidance Community in Denmark
Full time advisors in 45 Youth Guidance Centers, governed by the municipalities
Full time advisors in 7 regional higher education guidance centers,contracted out from the Minister of Education to different service providers
Full time advisors/employment officers in the employment sector, governed by the municipalities
Parttimers in the education sector supporting pupils and students

5. Current Training Possibilities
The postgraduate diploma in careers guidance, 60 ECTS
The masters programme in careers guidance, 60 ECTS
Bachelor programme in public administration, 210 ECTS – specialisation in careers guidance, employment management (90 ECTS, including practicum, 20 ECTS)
The postgraduate diploma in employment mangement, 60 ECTS

6. The profile of the Postgraduate Diploma in Careers Guidance
Provided by 5 University Colleges in Copenhagen, Sorø, Odense, Esbjerg and Aarhus
Compulsory for the professionals of the centers
3 mandatory modules, 2 electives, Dissertation (15 ECTS)
400 – 600 students enrolled pr. year
Strong network between the trainers at national level
National curriculum – local adaptation

7. The students of the Programme
Parttimers, employed in the field – the majority
Full timers in transition – the minority
Experienced people with professional background in teaching, social work, education management, business and technology
Representing all sectors

8. Trends and Challenges in the Training of Guidance practititoners
What to teach?
How to teach?
Practicum – collaboration with the field
Employment – Education?
Labour Market Information and Knowledge
ICT and flexible learning

9. CEDEFOP Study – Professionalising Career Guidance, 2009, I
Main Conclusions
What is ”sufficient training” for practitioners in modern career guidance systems?
Sufficient training is characterized by:
60 ECTS – specialised training at tertiary level with strong links to research (2/3 of the European countries meet this requirement)
Flexibility in adressing general and sectoral needs
Accessible to all groups of practitioners

10. CEDEFOP Study II
Attention to labour market knowledge and occupational information
Proper involvement of ICT and flexible learning methods
Praktikum – relations to the field