Page 57 - european-lifelong-guidance-policies-progress-report

Section 4: Evaluation

number of NGO representatives (30 delegates from activities resulted in developing measures which
15 countries) represented an increase from 2010 (17 made co-operation at central level more efficient.
delegates from 12 countries) (for details, see Annex In the UK, ELGPN issues were considered as part of
1). ELGPN members were aware that in some cases the regular UK Governments careers policy forum meet-
national team involved in the Network did not have ings. In some countries, the 2011-12 activities have
the relevant mandate necessary to influence national reinforced existing co-operation between ministries
policy systems. Some members indicated that their (CZ), and have expanded communication with the
country’s membership of ELGPN has influenced the academic community (PT). Co-operation between
level of knowledge, changed attitudes and developed ministries has been operationalised in national
new possible solutions, rather than directly shap- forums, in the development of national frameworks
ing the development of policies. In some cases, due (SI) or in jointly organised projects (DE). The ELGPN
to national workloads, changes in staff or cuts in has also strengthened the role of Euroguidance cen-
national budgets, the designated national ELGPN tres in implementing national activities (IT). But in
representatives had limited resources for contribut- some countries where the composition of national
ing to the thematic activities and for disseminating delegations changed, communication with key stake-
the outcomes at national level. holders had to start again from the beginning.
Most members reported that during the 2011–12 The members provided a number of concrete
Work Programme they had more interaction with examples where the Network had acted as a catalyst
national policy development and practice than for national policy development, or where ELGPN
during the previous two ELGPN phases (2007-10). products had been used in the national context.
The ELGPN representatives contributed to many The WP1 outcomes were used as a concrete set of
national policy seminars (AT, BG, DE, DK, EE, ES, guidelines for guidance interventions in develop-
FI, FR, GR, HR, IE, IS, IT, LT, MT, NL, NO, PL, SE, PL, ing a national CMS framework (PT) or supported
PT, SI) and to national events in conjunction with the development of CMS programmes as part of
ELGPN Plenary Meetings or field visits (HU, MT). national curriculum development (LU). Countries
These events provided opportunities for policy-mak- added CMS programmes as a new curriculum sub-
ers to be updated on international developments, ject (ES, HU) or included CMS development in their
as well as allowing the host countries to showcase national lifelong guidance strategies (FI), national
their national policies. ELGPN national delegations lifelong guidance quality standards (HR) or prepara-
also organised working-group meetings to support tion of national legislation on education (LV). The
their national contributions to the Resource Kit. In WP1 products were also used in developing the com-
Evaluation
addition, the ELGPN materials were translated into petences of professionals and teachers responsible
national languages to inform national stakeholders for the promotion of CMS (HR).
on the progress of the thematic activities. The mutual learning during the ELGPN thematic
ELGPN also impacted on communication and activities inspired policies for widening access, espe-
co-operation between different ministries and other cially through the development of national online
organisations in its member countries. Examples guidance services (DE, DK, FR, HR, HU, IS, LV, PL,
included raising important questions and chal- PT), of national services within educational settings
lenges, and proposing specific steps that policy-mak- (PL, SI) or of non-stop guidance centres (NL).
ers ought to consider, such as the role government ELGPN impact on the development of national
should play in shaping the characteristics and quali- co-operation and co-ordination mechanisms was
fications of guidance practitioners (EL). In Poland, particularly significant during the previous phases of
the involvement of national delegations in ELGPN ELGPN. By the end of 2010, most member countries

56