Cedefop - European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training
Published: 2012
Total Pages: 338
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This Cedefop report reviews progress made across Europe during 2007-10 in developing guidance policy coordination, quality assurance mechanisms, access to services and career management skills. According to the review, the overall EU policy framework and changed economic conditions are bringing national governments and authorities (policy level), guidance communities (practice) and academic bodies (research) closer and building collaboration, consensus and partnerships. Together they are locating assets and resources, identifying and engaging stakeholders, defining and completing joint goals and objectives, and balancing a diverse range of interests in order to achieve success. Increasing cooperation among guidance stakeholders aims at creating better synergies between the different sectors (education, training, employment), levels (European, national, regional, local) and guidance service providers (educational institutions, public employment services, guidance centres). A synthesising observation is that a future challenge for Europe will be to define the characteristics of a lifelong guidance system and to agree on what needs to be done next to make such a system a reality to support lifelong learning, better employability, sustainable employment, social inclusion and active citizenship for all.