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Working and ageing
62 Guidance and counselling for mature learners

carry out self-assessment of the skills they have acquired. Overall three
guiding tools were produced, one for enterprises, one for employees and one
for use in training institutions. Each of these groups has a specific view on
employment and qualification in the advanced ageing period and therefore
specific demands and needs. (Husemann et al., 2007). The AgeQual project
also focused on promoting regional qualification networks. The region is the
starting point for building such a policy network. Specific frame conditions for
interaction between regional actors have to be considered. Region-specific
resources should be used to achieve the aims of active networking. Region-
specific coordination and conflict potentials have to be identified and
considered by setting up a regional network of regional actors. SMEs in
particular do not have information and resources regarding qualification
needs. These enterprises need advice about their enterprise qualification
profile and future qualification developments. Successful qualification
strategies should be based on existing relationships between regional actors
and on knowledge and competences of these actors. Active networking means
establishing a win-win situation for all involved. However, active networking
and management of networks will always operate in the space between
conflict and cooperation.
In Thuringia, a network of qualification counsellors exists ( ).Qualification
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counsellors work at regional level and regularly visit enterprises to discuss
qualification demand. They use the three guiding tools developed by the
AqueQual project to enlarge their normal working field to cover age-related
strategies. The strategic aim is to improve cooperation between enterprises
and regional institutions and support regional structures (not only enterprise
level) to increase employment of ageing workers (Husemann, 2010).

3.6. Summary

Discussion about the ageing population and labour force is dominated by
political discourse focusing on the supply side of the labour market. Forecast
growth in the population outside the labour force is considered the major
challenge. To prevent – or at least reduce – anticipated growth of the ʻsocietal
burdenʼ, most governments have already initiated – or are preparing – reforms
of pension and social security schemes aimed at increasing employment of
older persons and prolonging their stay in the labour force.

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( ) See http://www.qualifizierte-fachkraefte.de [17.6.2011].