International trends and innovation in career guidance

In a fast-evolving world and labour markets, career guidance is needed more than ever to help people manage their own career paths and transitions. This two-volume report explores career guidance policies and practices in the light of global challenges. The term 'career guidance' is defined as 'a range of activities that enable citizens of any age, and at any point in their lives, to identify their capacities, competences and interests; to make meaningful educational, training and occupational decisions; and to manage their individual life paths in learning, work and other settings in which these capacities and competences are learned and/or used'. The report examines the mega-trends in career guidance - use of information and communication technologies, career-management skills, cooperation and coordination mechanisms, and the role of parents in young people's career choices. The report also presents a selection of examples from around the world of how career guidance is changing to meet the 21st century challenges.

Volume I, 'Thematic chapters', is structured as follows: chapter 1 presents the context, purpose and methodology of the report and provides an overview of the analytical framework; chapter 2 focuses on global challenges and responses given by the education and training systems, and employment and social policies; it then reflects on the role of career-guidance policies and practices in tackling these challenges; chapter 3 identifies four mega-trends in career guidance, namely the use of ICT in career guidance systems, developing career management skills (CMS), the importance of cooperation and coordination mechanisms between key stakeholders, and the role of parents in young people's career choices (informal career guidance); in addition, there is a brief presentation of other issues and approaches that are emerging as trends in the international career guidance debate; and at the end of each section a table presents innovative or promising examples in the EU and internationally, which are explored in detail in volume II; chapter 4 presents a policy overview from three selected ETF partner countries - Kazakhstan, Turkey and Ukraine - and an analysis of the evidence international trends and areas for improvement in those countries; tables present innovative or promising examples from these partner countries on each mega-trend, again explored in detail in volume II; and chapter 5 draws conclusions and provides policy inspiration for partner countries and the international community. Chapters 1-3 and 5 of volume I were authored by Angela Andrei, and chapter 4 by Fusun Akkok, Almira Zakiyeva and Hanna Voronina.

Volume II, 'Country case studies', presents a selection of innovative or promising examples of how career guidance is changing around the world. The report aims to facilitate learning from these examples, increase awareness and understanding of policy and practice in career guidance, and provide policy inspiration to European Training Foundation (ETF) partner countries and the international community. It also aims to challenge practitioners and policymakers around the world to reflect on the risks and opportunities the future will bring and integrate these ideas into career guidance policy and practice. The selected examples of innovative or promising policies and practices link to the current mega-trends in career guidance described in volume I, and have an international scope, though most examples come from the European Union and ETF partner countries. Chapters 1-5 of volume II were authored by Angela Andrei, and chapters 6-8 by Fusun Akkok, Almira Zakiyeva and Hanna Voronina.

Edited excerpts from publications and publisher's website. Show less