Page 9 - insights-autumn-2019

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Training for Guidance Practitioners in the Nordic

and Baltic Countries

Developments in training for career guidance practitioners in the Nordic and Baltic countries were
1
exchanged at the expanded VALA meeting in Tallinn on 21-22 August facilitated by Euroguidance Estonia
and Latvia. VALA is a Nordplus funded network of Career counselling and guidance programmes at higher
education institutions in the Nordic and Baltic countries.

Finland: Jyväskylä University and JAMK

Since 1970 career education has been compulsory
in the Finnish school curriculum, with Career
counsellors following this curriculum. Well-
functioning guidance is seen as an indicator of an
effective and equitable education system. Training
pathways include a stand-alone Master’s degree of
120 ECTS, integrated Bachelor-master’s degrees
of 300 ECTS, and a Post-Graduate Diploma (60
ECTS). In 2016 98% of guidance practitioners at
While guidance in the Nordic countries may have schools were qualified, indicating strongly
many similarities, 2018 research on training of professionalised guidance provision in this sector.
guidance counsellors by Inga Andreassen et al 2 Universities are working on ensuring quality
revealed the following differences across five
countries: services for all sectors.

∠ Level and length of training Greenland: National Centre for Guidance
∠ Curricular focus on programme and
service management The 2013 Greenlandic Act on Career Counselling
created major changes in the structure and service
∠ Emphasis placed on career information
and assessment and, to a lesser extent, provision of the Centre for National Counselling
career counselling (now National Centre for Guidance - NCG). The
NCG provides “academy professional” level
guidance courses according to the Danish
A brief synopsis on the current situation in
practitioner training delivered by VALA members education system. The basic training course is not
and guests follows. regulated through an executive order, but due
to the Act on Career Counselling, training is
Sweden: Stockholm University mandatory for counsellors. Basic training
sandwiches 4 course modules and 4 practical
After a recent review, Stockholm University are re- parts, totalling 420 student working hours. The
examining the Bachelor of Arts in Study and Career NCG also provides 4 different further education
Guidance. The aim is to highlight the courses open to students who have completed the
interdisciplinary nature of the programme, and to basic training.
strengthen focus on clients with special needs and
on migrants. Based on the research by 1 https://peda.net/vala/partners
Andreassen, a compulsory course in service 2 Andreassen, Inga H. et al., Diverse histories, common ground and a shared
management skills is being introduced. To increase future: the education of career guidance and counselling professionals in the
internationalisation, the fourth term is being Nordic countries, International Journal for Educational and Vocational �
Guidance https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-018-09386-9
organized to allow for international exchange.