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Exploration tool Columbus

Flanders

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Columbus is a new exploration tool for youngsters in the 3rd grade of secondary school education.
Implementing the coalition agreement, education minister Mrs Hilde Crevits assigned the Flemish Universities and
University Colleges Council (VLUHR) to develop this instrument. VLUHR developed the tool in close consultation
with the ‘Study choice from secondary to higher Education’ (SOPO) platform of the Flemish Education Council
(VLOR). This consultation platform forms a bridge between secondary and higher education and offers a broad
forum representing all relevant players (including pupils, parents, teachers, education providers, pupil guidance
centres, students, higher education representatives, the Education & Training Ministry’s Office, and the Department
of Education and Training).

The consultation platform serves as a sounding board to the VLUHR expert group, which developed Columbus
and helped gaining consensus among all stakeholders. It was awarded the contract to develop a scenario which Recent Developments in Guidance - Belgium | Chapter 3 | Tools & media
supports the implementation of Columbus in secondary schools. The first scenario was available during 2016-2017.
In 2017-2018, a first update was disseminated.

AIM(S) strengths, in the light of possible 3rd level studies.

Columbus aims to strengthen the study choice process By presenting them with an independent, scientifically
in the third grade of secondary education. It is one based ‘mirror’, they obtain, as individuals, insight into:
aspect of the (school) career guidance journey facili- • Base camp (study choice tasks);
tated by the pupil’s secondary school and aims to give • Who am I? (Self-confidence, motivation & study
pupils the best possible support in choosing a career, skills);
higher education studies or training. • What can I do? (Language strategies, vocabulary,
reasoning skills and basic skills in mathematics);
TARGET GROUP(S) • What do I want? (Interests and Academic Scale -
professional vs. academic orientation).
Pupils, their teachers and/or supervisors in the third
grade of secondary school. Columbus integrates the strongest components of
available tools in Flanders. It contains scales taken from
the LASSI questionnaire, the LUCI platform, SIMON,
METHODOLOGY Ready for Higher Education and the LEMO tests.

‘Columbus’ refers to the exploratory nature of the Columbus gives pupils qualitative and quantitative
instrument: pupils explore their own interests and pos- feedback to support self-exploration. It helps pupils
sibilities, and gain an overview of their preferences and to gain insight in their own learning strengths and in
the areas that need work. The feedback triggers the
next steps that should be taken in the choice process
- along with the school team, pupil guidance centre
(CLB) and the parents. It provides valuable valuable
information on the stage pupils are at in their decision
making process. The results can be compared with oth-
er elements that are part of the selection process (e.g.
a visit to an SID-in, an information evening with former
students, a motivational talk or the class council’s ad-
vice) to help pupils find their ideal study choice.

Columbus is not a finalising test that contains a positive

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