Page 8 - euroguidance-insight-newsletter-2019-spring

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Exploring the challenges of providing meaningful

guidance in a multicultural context

In February, Euroguidance Ireland hosted a study visit which focussed on the Further Education and
Training (or VET) system in Ireland, with particular reference to upskilling and 'The New Skills Agenda'.
Participants were from Estonia, Luxembourg, Belgium (Flemish speaking), the Czech Republic and
Romania. The theme of the visit was to explore the challenges of providing meaningful guidance in a
multicultural context in Further Education and Training (or VET) and to discuss it in a wider European
context. The base of the study visit was the Irish National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE) and
it included 'site visits' to a number of provision locations in the Dublin area.

Providing an overview of relevant A number of these presentations can be accessed via
provision in Ireland the link at the end of this article.

The NCGE Further Education and Training
Programme Co-ordinator outlined the role of
the Adult Educational Guidance Services in
Ireland (AEGS). These dedicated services
provide guidance at a local level to adults who
wish to return to education or are attending
FET (or VET) programmes. The AEGS model
also offers outreach guidance via Adult
Community Education Centres around Ireland. Irish practitioner experience and 'site visits'
Community education can include the
provision of teaching of the English Language Individual AEGS Guidance staff gave an overview of
guidance information provision for multicultural clients in
along with additional free education options for
persons who may be currently engaged with Dublin. The group also visited the Business in the
Community Centre (BITC) where they joined a class run
the Asylum Seeking Process.
by Employment for People from Immigrant Communities
There was an input from Quality and (EPIC), a support service for immigrants and refugees.
Qualifications Ireland (QQI) which hosts the Students in the class were from countries such as Brazil,
ENIC-NARIC service in Ireland. QQI is also Venezuela and Argentina.
responsible for the maintenance, development
and review of the National Framework of The group also visited an inner city 'Community Education
Centre' (HACE) and a Training Centre, where the
Qualifications (NFQ) which is deeply
embedded in the Irish education system. Recruitment Officers presented on the Apprenticeships
and Traineeships programmes available.
An Adult Education Guidance Counsellor described the
Providing an overview of relevant Guidance Counselling services delivered to the Irish
provision in participant countries Syrian Refugee Programme and gave a case study on the
challenges faced by refugees and the support of the
The visiting participants delivered information on AEGS service.
their guidance systems and practice in their David Cullen,
countries with reference to multicultural Euroguidance Ireland
guidance. This gave the group the opportunity to
reflect on the similarities and differences in More information and all presentations:
guidance provision between European countries.
∠ https://euroguidance.ie/study-visit-2019