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2.6 National With this first award, Euroguidance Latvia aimed to the opportunity for promoting the European
shine a spotlight on the achievements of Latvian dimension in guidance by inviting the recognised
careers practitioners. It is our hope that by increas-
participants of national awards from the Czech
ing the visibility of career guidance and recognizing Republic, Hungary, Serbia and Latvia.
conferences, fairs and professional contributions we will enhance the National Career Guidance Award 2019
professional identity of guidance practitioners. In
the future, it is intended to expand the scope
in the Czech Republic
of the Latvian National Career Guidance Award
recognition events competition by addressing not only the school The National Career Guidance Award 2019 organ-
and vocational education sector, but also higher ised by Euroguidance Czech Republic was once
education, the public employment service, and again a space for dissemination of new guidance
private providers.
projects and activities to the community and
(including awards) In a continued spirit of synergy, input from the afterwards to the wider public. This year 26 proj-
ects were submitted to the contest from various
Latvian National Career Guidance Award compe-
sectors, such as schools, labour offices, NGOs,
tition was provided by Euroguidance Latvia at the
regional career centres and youth organisations.
Slovak National Career Guidance Award ceremony
on 24 October 2019 and has been submitted for During the 2019 award ceremony, which included
presentations of the award-winning organisations,
inclusion in a compendium of all award-winning
contributions from the National Career Guidance representatives of the Ministry of Education, Youth
and Sports announced results of the contest. The
Awards in Europe.
award ceremony was traditionally accompanied by
an expo of all contributions to the competitions,
National Career Guidance Award 2019 which provided an opportunity for extensive
in Slovakia networking and exchange of ideas.
Every year several international seminars and
conferences are organized by the Euroguidance The ‘National Career Guidance Award 2019’ All winners of the Czech National Career Guidance
Centres. Bringing guidance experts together from Conference took place on 24 October 2019 in Award were granted an opportunity to participate
abroad at such events is an attractive way to Bratislava, organised by Euroguidance Slovakia. in a study visit in Slovenia. Examples of Czech
support knowledge sharing and active networking. Five out of twenty entries were recognised and good guidance practices in career counselling are
Often those guidance professionals who partici- awarded by the board of experts. Most of them also being disseminated by the Czech edition of
pate in these international conferences are also emphasised the social dimension of guidance by the National Career Guidance Award compendium
looking for new potential partners for EU-funded focusing on socially disadvantaged people in the as well as the international one. Among winners
project cooperation and exploring possibilities to labour market. More than 100 professionals and is a group of young people and their mentoring
go on study visits to other countries and starting practitioners in career guidance, policy makers, programme INVENTA for secondary school stu-
international cooperation. business leaders, educational organisations and dents with the intention to support the mobility
recruitment agencies attended the conference. The and increase their awareness of study, work and
First Latvian Career Award From left: Material of the Year winner Anita awards were handed out by the Slovak Minister volunteering opportunities abroad. With personal
Laurena, Person of the Year Diāna Šķēle of Education and the ceremony was covered mentoring, the programme inspires young people
The first National Career Awards competition in © State Education Development Agency by nationwide TV stations and by the press. In to travel abroad and makes them think about their
Latvia was held in spring of 2019 by the Latvian addition to presenting examples of good practice future careers and education in a broader context
Euroguidance centre, hosted by the State Edu- of Latvia from Slovakia, the Euroguidance centre provided that extends beyond the borders. Graduates who
cation Development Agency (VIAA). The Latvian
competition was inspired by the national career Career guidance coordinators at municipal boards
of education and national VET competence centre
awards of the Czech and Slovak Euroguidance
centres, and adapted to the Latvian context in directors were invited to nominate candidates
for the award. A total of 38 applications were
cooperation with the Information and Guidance
Department of VIAA. received in three nominations: Person of the Year,
Activity of the Year, and Material of the Year. The
The 2019 competition in Latvia was a piloting award ceremony was held at the National Careers
activity limited to the school and upper second- Education Conference in Liepāja on April 12, 2019.
ary VET sector. Award nominees were guidance Award recipients received free entrance to the
professionals of general and vocational education annual Conference, a certificate of accomplishment
institutions and other organizations who had and a commemorative vase. Information about the
implemented outstanding career guidance activ- Award competition process and the achievements
ities or events or prepared unique information or of the winners were also reflected in the Latvian
methodological materials for work with school and Career News (see http://viaa.gov.lv/library/files/
VET students in 2018. original/VIAA_KarjerasZinas_2019_I.pdf). © Euroguidance Slovakia © Euroguidance Czech Republic

38 2. EUROGUIDANCE – NATIONAL LEVEL ACTIVITIES 2. EUROGUIDANCE – NATIONAL LEVEL ACTIVITIES 39