Page 242 - Working-and-ageing-Guidance-and-counselling-for-mature-learning

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Working and ageing
236 Guidance and counselling for mature learners

First, significant numbers of adults guided to RVCC processes accounted
on average for almost 80% of candidates guided by new opportunities centres
between 2006 and 2010. Initially (2001 to 2005) RVCC processes were the
only activity carried out by the centres (the remainder being called at this time
RVCC centres). Today, this qualification modality remains more sought after
than the others, proving to be a suitable method for meeting expectations of
low-qualified adults who seek out the centres. Messages of ʻmy experience
countsʼ or ʻstarting to study again without having to go back to square oneʼ
(used as slogans in one of the first advertisement campaigns for the initiative)
seem to have reached their target audience, while throwing up other
challenges we address below.
Second, and despite take-up of RVCC processes, there has also been
growth in guiding candidates to training modalities outside new opportunities
centres, showing that demand for qualifications offers, through attendance of
courses and education-training sessions, is a current reality, one that can be
established during guidance defined in the centre or following a partial
certification through a RVCC process.
These data also show some trends and challenges. First, adults tend to
arrive at centres with very high expectations of RVCC processes,which can
lead to resistance to accepting guidance proposals for another qualification
modality. High expectations of RVCC processes are particularly linked to full
certifications, also leading to resistance in accepting that, in some cases,
evidence submitted by candidates only allows partial certification, which must
then be followed by another qualification modality, of short duration, to
complete the training pathway. It is important to reinforce initial guidance of
candidates to training modalities outside centres, as well as RVCC processes
with partial certification followed by guidance for adequate training modalities.
Counselling activities are crucial.
Second, once a suitable qualification modality for a candidateʼs profile has
been identified and agreed, the centreʼs team sometimes has difficulties in
finding relevant training opportunities in the area where the adult lives or
works. Strengthening networking practices among local operators is also
essential to overcome these obstacles.
Among candidates guided to RVCC processes, statistical data show almost
no gender difference, with a slight decrease of guidance targeted towards
women (in 2010, data show 49.8% women against 50.2% men). Although a
non-significant difference, low qualification rates, an important target of the
new opportunities initiative, are higher among women than men (2001 census
data – INE, 2009). These data point either to lower adherence of women to