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on the Ministry of Education and Science website Euroguidance Cyprus with the National Forum of
section for parents. Activities have led to new Lifelong Guidance organized the 4th European 6.3 National-level
networking opportunities and work will continue Counselling and Vocational Training Conference in
in 2018-2020 on promoting education and labour November. The topic of the conference was How
mobility of Latvians living abroad. guidance can help the harmonization and iden-
tification of new skills and competences needed lifelong guidance
Based on an input from the 2016 IAEVG conferen- in the ever-changing labour market. Euroguidan-
ce in Madrid, Euroguidance Latvia carried out two ce Cyprus invited experts from Greece and the
studies in 2017: one on the availability of career European Commission, especially from DG Em-
support in Latvian universities, and the other on ployment. Importance was given to the new ESCO
the research topics of master’s degree studies classifications and the New Skills Agenda of the weeks
in career counselling which were established in EU. More than 100 experts attended the confer-
Latvia ten years ago within the framework of an ence and the event supported the cross-sectoral
ESF project. The findings of the research were stakeholder dialogue in Cyprus and further afield.
presented at two national conferences where the
discussion of further development in these areas Further integrating the international dimension
took place. These activities have established ba- in the services provided by the national public
seline information for developing strategic inter- employment agencies in Finland was addressed
ventions in 2018-2020. in 2017. The starting point for this was that the
national economy of Finland is largely dependent
The Maltese Euroguidance Centre organized its on trade with other countries. Also labour force After the European Guidance Week in Tallinn, Development, marked a milestone in the history
first stakeholders’ forum in October which brought mobility to and from Finland is increasing, which Euroguidance Serbia organized a nationwide Gui- of the week in Slovakia, and turned out to be a
together key stakeholders in the field of lifelong makes Finnish society more international. It is vital dance Week in the Republic of Serbia in October. vital part for this year’s success. The Minister of
guidance to discuss issues and concerns relating that the guidance service provision reflects this This initiative gathered all relevant stakeholders Education, Science, Research and Sport and the
to education and employment and to enhance development. Therefore, a small working group in the field of guidance around several events. General Director of the Central Office of Labour,
networking and facilitate cooperation among the of guidance experts from the national, regional The aim was to inform guidance practitioners Social Affairs and Family took responsibility for
different entities. The main theme discussed was and local labour authorities and career services of about the latest developments in the field of li- the Lifelong Guidance week which means that
The Link between Education and Industry divided universities was set up by Euroguidance Finland felong guidance on both national and European the week was formally endorsed by the state au-
into several sub-themes, including cooperation for February-May. The aim of this group was to level, engage them in sharing experiences and thorities for the first time. Altogether more than
across the field, related benefits and challenges prepare a recommendation for better integrating examples of good practice and foster further 45 lifelong guidance providers were officially in-
and how the education-business partnership can the international dimension in the guidance ser- cooperation and joint activities. The Serbian Gui- volved in the initiative. Their activities covered
be further strengthened. The forum was attended vices provided to clients by the Finnish employ- dance Week consisted of several national and all sectors and target groups from pre-schools to
by 25 participants, e.g. all heads of secondary, ment offices. The recommendation was approved European events, such as the 12th Euroguidance adults, and were held in more than 20 different
post-secondary, tertiary educational institutions by the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Cross-Border Seminar, the 5th National Euroguid- Slovak cities. The Central Office of Labour, Social
and a Ministry representative. Euroguidance Mal- Employment in the autumn, and ever since then ance Conference, the official launch of Europass Affairs and Family (PES) launched a campaign by
ta plans to increase the networking opportunities guidelines given by the recommendation for in- in Serbia and a webinar on opportunities for guid- appointing one qualified counsellor at each of
among the guidance stakeholders beyond the ternationally oriented service provisions have ance practitioners through the EPALE platform. the 46 local PES offices to provide professional
educational sector to include the employment been promoted nationally and implemented by For five consecutive years Euroguidance Slovakia career guidance services to both employed and
sector and employer representatives. the public employment services. has coordinated the National Lifelong Guidance unemployed during the week. The Association for
Week. In November 2017, it took place on the Career Guidance and Career Development toured
same dates as the European Vocational Skills. This around Slovakia with series of workshops Grab
time the Slovak Euroguidance Centre decided to a coffee with a career counsellor. Euroguidance
take the initiative to another level by encouraging Slovakia contributed to the activities by organiz-
other private and public organizations to get in- ing a learning seminar for guidance practitioners
volved in promoting lifelong guidance in Slovakia. and by hosting a discussion with students on the
Cooperation with the professional organization, value of international mobility for skills acquisition
the Association for Career Guidance and Career and development.

40 6. DEVELOPING GUIDANCE AS A FIELD AT NATIONAL LEVEL AND POLICY SUPPORT 6. DEVELOPING GUIDANCE AS A FIELD AT NATIONAL LEVEL AND POLICY SUPPORT 41