Page 10 - euroguidance-insight-newsletter-2015-autumn

Finnish guidance professionals touring the world with critical

eyes and open minds

In spring 2015, nearly twenty Finnish guidance professionals working in vocational education institutions and in
employment and economic development administration participated in the Academia study visits organised in
several European countries. The experiences gained were discussed with the Finnish guidance practitioners at the
return seminar organised in September by the Teacher Education College of JAMK University of Applied Sciences.

Although the visit put language skills times have brought guidance and its the years. On JAMK’s initiative, a so-
to the test, the days were long and significance to centre stage in many called professional article was
full of activities and the absorption countries. The Finnish participants introduced as a new feature this
of the information about the destina- emphasised that there seems to be, year. Each Finnish guidance profes-
tion country took its toll, the ex- to an unprecedented extent, social sional participating in the exchange
change visits were generally consid- demand and a function in society for writes such an article on a topic s/he
ered extremely valuable. The main guidance in Europe. It is important chooses, inspired by the Academia
impressions of the visits were the to see guidance in a wider context as visit. The articles are a good medium
abundance of professional experi- this brings deeper significance to the for distributing the results of the ex-
ences yielded by them, international work of guidance professionals. change in the guidance professional’s
contacts and the chance to see guid- work community and networks. At
ance work from a new perspective. The sharing of information and expe- the moment, the intensive Academia
riences with participating guidance exchange is categorised as continu-
You can always learn something professionals from other countries ing vocational training at JAMK Uni-
new helps you to understand the nature versity of Applied Sciences, and all
There are always great expectations of guidance work and its challenges Finnish guidance professionals who
related to participating in expert ex- in different parts of Europe. The aim have completed it, receive five credit
change abroad. Participants want to of supporting clients in their edu- points for the exchange.
make the most of the week spent in cation and career choices is shared
another country, both professionally by everyone, but there are great Text: Mika Launikari. The article is
and socially. The goals are in particu- differences between countries in based on the interview of Jaana
lar related to developing guidance how guidance services are organised Ahlqvist. Jaana is in charge of the
competence, establishing new expert and how guidance professionals are Academia exchange coordination at
contacts as well as learning more trained. JAMK University of Applied Sciences.
about the destination country and its
culture. Continuing training at its best Photograph: Jaana Ahlqvist, JAMK.
The concept of the Academia guid-
When it comes to an exchange, peo- ance professional exchange has been Academia study visits are funded
ple seek inspiration, good practices developed in many ways throughout through the Erasmus+ programme.
and new methods for their daily
work. Indeed, many of the exchange
participants say that it is important
to take some distance from one’s
own everyday guidance work and
get the chance to see how things are
done elsewhere. This enables critical
reflection of one’s own guidance
work and gives an opportunity to
contemplate how skills could be
further developed. It is important to
look for influences elsewhere and
gain insights: “Hey, you could do it
that way, too!”

Guidance is increasingly significant
The current economically difficult

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