Page 36 - Euroguidance-Networks-Highlights-2017

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Euroguidance Ireland located at the National Cen- Republic. Once again it proved to be an inspi-
tre for Guidance in Education hosts regular study rational event, where career counsellors from
visits with the aim of supporting the sharing of various institutions, projects and initiatives met
best practice in guidance among practitioners and exchanged their novel approaches and inno-
and other relevant professionals. In February, vative ideas. The winners of the Czech national
the Euroguidance team hosted members of the career guidance awards participated in a study
Placement and Career Guidance Unit (PCGU) of visit co-organized by the Swedish and Czech
the United Nations Relief and Works Agency Euroguidance Centres. The ample programme
(UNRWA). The group comprised guidance coun- introduced participants to the Swedish education
sellors, registrars and school principals from the and guidance systems. An important part of Developing guidance
Lebanon. In November 2017 the Centre hosted the study visit were visits to the labour office,
a 3-day visit by representatives of the guidance
communities from seven other European coun- university and various types of high schools,
tries, the theme of the exchange being: Strategic where participants could discuss and compare the as a field at national
Planning in Guidance – Policy and Practice. guidance services in both countries.
For three days in June 2017, the French-speaking The 19th Euroguidance Romania National Con-
Euroguidance Centre in Belgium welcomed a stu- ference was organized in collaboration with the
dy visit from the newly established Euroguidance Institute of Educational Sciences and the Ministry
Centre in Montenegro. The visit focused on the of National Research and was held in Bucharest, level and policy
presentation of the core activities of the Belgium Romania in November. Representatives of 38 co-
Euroguidance Centre, cooperation with other insti- ordinating school counselling centres in Romania
tutions and agencies, lifelong learning, career gui- were present, summing up 55 participants. The
dance and learning mobility. It also included a topic of the conference was Counselling and support
presentation of the New Skills Agenda by Mr personal development – resources for teachers.
William O’Keeffe of the European Commission DG It was organized for the purpose of having a new
Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (E2 - guide for teachers validated with the support of
Skills and Qualifications). The Montenegrin dele- conference participants. This teachers’ guide con-
gation highly appreciated this opportunity for tains practical activities for the implementation of
mutual learning and knowledge sharing.
the new guidance and counselling curriculum in
The year 2017 marked the 9th anniversary of the lower secondary schools which is in place since
National Career Guidance Awards in the Czech September 2017.
As emphasized more and more in the past few years, the Euroguidance Centres
have a central role in contributing to the development of guidance service
provision not only in their countries, but also at the European Union level. The
spirit across the countries is that the national lifelong guidance systems should
constitute an all-age, easy-access, high-quality, holistic and coherent service
provision that spans education, training and employment. To what extent this
already has become a reality, differs between countries due to varying levels of
infrastructure, human capacity, financial resources, and levels of engagement.
Yet there is a consensus that lifelong guidance should be an integral element
in all learning and working. The national and regional level stakeholders (incl.
Euroguidance Centres) have actively participated in the development of lifelong
guidance policies, strategies, systems and service delivery, and have shared the
results of their work throughout Europe. In 2017, many Euroguidance Centres
were involved in strategic developments in their countries. Their work has ranged
from bringing key stakeholders together to discuss topical matters to designing
frameworks for integrating guidance better in the service provision, from
increasing the use of research evidence in guidance policy to raising awareness
of how guidance can support individual citizens on their learning and career paths.

36 5. STUDY VISITS AND PRACTICE EXCHANGE